Appointments

Thatcher Brown has been appointed as Chief Development Officer at Virtuoso

Virtuoso, the leading global network specialising in luxury and experiential travel, has appointed Thatcher Brown as Chief Development Officer, effective immediately. In this newly created role, Brown will lead the development of new markets, categories and business opportunities that support Virtuoso’s long-term growth strategy and expand value for its members, partners and travellers. The appointment advances the executive leadership structure introduced earlier this year and further strengthens Virtuoso’s ability to pursue emerging opportunities across the global luxury travel landscape.

Zabada Abouelhana has been appointed as Associate Managing Director at Colliers

Colliers, a leading diversified professional services and investment management company, is pleased to announce that Zabada Abouelhana has joined the firm as Associate Managing Director in its Valuation & Advisory Services business. Abouelhana will lead the Valuation Hospitality Practice Group across Arizona and the Mountain States, expanding the team’s presence and strengthening its ability to serve hospitality clients throughout the region.In her role, Abouelhana will help advance hospitality valuation and advisory initiatives, drive new business development and support the recruitment and retention of top talent and oversee hotel-residential assignments. Working with professionals across Colliers’ broader hospitality platform, Abouelhana will help connect clients with integrated valuation, advisory and transaction expertise.

Elizabeth Herzberg has been appointed as Senior Vice President of Development at PM Hotel Group

PM Hotel Group, a Top-15 hotel management company celebrating 30 years in 2026, announces the appointment of Elizabeth Herzberg as Senior Vice President, Development. In the role, Herzberg will lead efforts to expand the company's management portfolio, strengthen ownership relationships and support execution of PM Hotel Group's long-term growth strategy. 

Fred Le Fichoux has been named Head of EMEA Hospitality at Cushman & Wakefield

Jon Hubbard, Head of EMEA Hospitality at Cushman & Wakefield, will retire from the business at the end of September following an outstanding 40-year career in the hospitality industry. Fred Le Fichoux, Head of Hotel Transactions EMEA, takes over leadership of the team.   Since joining Cushman & Wakefield in 2017, Hubbard has played a pivotal role in building the firm’s EMEA hospitality platform, expanding its regional reach and global connectivity and adding top talent in Europe’s key hospitality markets, while maintaining a leading role on significant transactions.   Le Fichoux brings more than two decades of experience with Cushman & Wakefield and a proven track record advising clients across the hospitality sector. Since 2024, he has led the firm’s EMEA hotel transactions business, building on previous leadership roles overseeing hotel transactions in Continental Europe and the hospitality practice across Central and Eastern Europe.   Over the course of his career, Le Fichoux has advised on transactions spanning the full hospitality spectrum, from landmark city-centre assets to luxury resort destinations. Notable assignments include the sale of the Sunčani Hvar hotel portfolio in Croatia and the sale of the Augustine Hotel in Prague to Kempinski Hotels. His experience also encompasses hotel valuation, operator selection and development advisory services.   In his new role, Le Fichoux will lead the next phase of growth for the firm’s EMEA Hospitality business, building on a series of senior appointments in key markets, most recently Luis Arsuaga as Head of Capital Markets Hospitality in Spain in April, reinforcing the firm’s commitment to delivering best-in-class advice to hospitality owners, investors and operators.

Jack Meakin has been appointed as Vice President of Business Development at First Hospitality

First Hospitality, a national hotel operating, management, and development company, announces the appointment of Jack Meakin as vice president of business development. Meakin brings nearly a decade of hospitality development experience, driving third-party management agreement growth, cultivating strategic partnerships, and expanding hotel portfolios nationwide.

Jan V. Hajek has been appointed as Senior Vice President at CHMWarnick

CHMWarnick, the leading provider of hotel asset management and owner advisory services, today announced that Jan Hajek has joined the firm as Senior Vice President. Based in Chicago, Hajek will provide asset management and strategic advisory services to hotel ownership groups across the firm’s expanding portfolio, while strengthening CHMWarnick’s presence throughout the Midwest. Working closely with the firm’s leadership team, he will advise clients and work collaboratively with management teams on operational performance enhancement strategies, capital planning, brand positioning and investment strategies   to optimize asset performance and portfolio value.

Jon Stein has joined Smith Hill Capital as Principal

Smith Hill Capital, the dedicated private credit and commercial real estate debt investment management business of Procaccianti Companies, announced today that Jon Stein has joined the firm as Principal. In his new role, Stein will focus on originating, structuring, and executing commercial real estate debt investments while helping expand the firm's lending platform and institutional relationships.

Jeff Miller has been appointed as Chief Development Officer (CDO) at StepStone Hospitality

StepStone Hospitality, a premier hospitality management company specializing in full and select-service hotel operations, today announced that Jeff Miller has been named Chief Development Officer. Mr. Miller is responsible for leading business development efforts and focused on continuing to strategically expand the StepStone Hospitality portfolio which currently includes 40 hotels totaling more than 6,500 guest rooms.

Ashwin Datta has joined Colliers as Analyst

Colliers, a leading diversified professional services and investment management company, announces that Ashwin Datta has joined the firm's Manhattan office as an Analyst with the Colliers Hospitality Practice Group. A recent graduate of Cornell University's Baker Program in Real Estate, Datta returns to Colliers after completing a 2025 internship with the team. The hire reflects Colliers' continued growth in its New York office, as the firm expands with top-tier talent across its practice groups.In his new role, Datta will support the Hospitality Practice Group across a range of initiatives, including operational improvements, marketing efforts, technology assessments and complex capital markets assignments. He will also assist with research, analysis and client- and management-facing materials, building on the experience he gained during his internship.