Michael Hoe Knudsen has been appointed as Managing Director for Mexico, Latin America & the Caribbean (MLAC) at IHG Hotels & Resorts
IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, announces the appointment of Michael Hoe Knudsen as Managing Director for Mexico, Latin America & the Caribbean (MLAC), following the retirement of long-standing former region leader Jorge Apaez. Michael brings three decades of global hospitality experience across the Americas, Europe and Greater China, and will lead the region with a strong focus on future growth, operational excellence, and deepening owner and stakeholder relationships.
Michael began his IHG career in 1996 at the InterContinental New York Barclay hotel and has since held leadership positions with IHG spanning hotel and corporate roles across the U.S., Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina and Jamaica. Most recently, he was based in the company’s Greater China region where he oversaw 120 managed hotels and 45 openings across China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau. Fluent in Spanish, he brings both global expertise and a deep cultural connection to the MLAC region.
IHG has a longstanding presence across Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, with brands deeply embedded in the region’s hospitality landscape. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts was founded in South America and launched in Brazil, while Holiday Inn has been a trusted name in Mexico for more than 50 years, reflecting IHG’s enduring commitment to the region. IHG’s current system size in MLAC comprises 295 open hotels and a pipeline of 104 hotels in development.*
*Figures as of Q4 2025.
Michael Hoe Knudsen is an alumnus of Cornell | Nolan School of Hotel Administration – Class of 1996.