HVS announces an expanded leadership role for Don Stephens Jr., who will now serve as Managing Director of Shared Ownership Services. Don is expanding his leadership responsibilities to include the Shared Ownership division while also continuing his complex advisory work. He succeeds Gary Johnson, who will retire after two decades of leadership in Shared Ownership Services.
eachtree Group (“Peachtree”) announced that Mike Morey has joined the firm as executive vice president, capital markets, where he will lead the firm’s insurance capital markets strategy, focusing on expanding lender relationships, optimizing capital sourcing and enhancing execution across its growing investment platform.
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced the next stage of growth of Hyatt’s business in India with the appointment of Vikas Chawla in the newly created senior role of President – India & Southwest Asia to lead the business in the region, effective April 1, 2026. The new leadership position reflects Hyatt’s commitment to accelerating its expansion and deepening its brand presence in one of Hyatt’s most strategically important growth markets.
LL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group today announced the promotion of Julien Naouri to Head of Investment Sales, Asia, effective April 1. Based in Singapore, in this expanded leadership role, Naouri will lead the firm's hotel investment sales strategy and operations across the Asia region, reporting to Nihat Ercan, CEO, JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group, Asia Pacific. He joined JLL in 2020 as Vice President in the Singapore Investment Sales team and has since established himself as a key leader within the platform. To his expanded role, he brings nearly two decades of industry experience, having worked in hotel brokerage since 2008 and been based in Asia since 2010. Since joining JLL, Naouri has played a leading role in executing numerous high-profile mandates across Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean. His notable transactions include landmark hotel sales in the Maldives such as the W, Sheraton, Amari and The Standard. In Singapore and Indonesia, his successes include Parkroyal Kitchener Singapore, Frasers Suites Jakarta, Pullman Jakarta and Waldorf Astoria Jakarta. More recently, he has expanded the firm's presence in Malaysia, delivering several successful transactions including the Thistle Johor Bahru. In his new role, Naouri will be responsible for driving revenue growth, expanding client coverage across the region, and fostering collaboration across JLL's broader Capital Markets platform. Since 2022, he has also served as Global Hotel Desk liaison for Asia, partnering with colleagues in EMEA to strengthen engagement with outbound Middle Eastern capital targeting the Asia Pacific region. Julien will partner closely with James Abe, Head of Investment Sales, Japan, Peter Harper, Head of Investment Sales, Australia and New Zealand and Gaurav Sharma, Head of Investment Sales, India, as JLL continues to expand its investment sales platform across the region. He will also collaborate closely with JLL’s network of 120 hotel and hospitality experts in 16 offices regionally. "We're at an inflection point for hotel investment across Asia, with capital actively repositioning and compelling opportunities emerging regionwide," said Naouri. "Clients are looking for partners who combine deep local expertise with global reach and can navigate market complexities with clarity and precision. I'm looking forward to working with our exceptional regional team to bring the full strength of JLL to every transaction and deliver meaningful results for our clients." JLL estimates $13.3 billion in hotel investment volumes in 2026, supporting the strong activity observed in the first quarter.
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced that Julienne Smith has been appointed Head of Americas Growth, where she will lead Hyatt’s brand portfolio expansion across North America, Latin America and the Caribbean.
UMusic Hospitality & Lifestyle today announced the appointment of David Kuperberg to its leadership team. Bringing more than two decades of experience in hospitality growth strategy and lifestyle brand expansion, Kuperberg will play a key role in advancing the company’s next phase of global development.
Harrell brings more than 15 years of hospitality real estate and investment experience spanning principal acquisitions, advisory, and portfolio strategy. Prior to Davidson, he served in a similar business development and investment role at PM Hotel Group, focusing on expanding the firm’s third-party management and ownership relationships nationwide. Earlier in his career, Harrell held leadership roles at Hodges Ward Elliott and TPG Hotels & Resorts, executing billions of dollars in hotel transactions across the United States. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Florida State University’s College of Business.
Extended stay hotel developer and property management firm MXR Hospitality (MXR) today named Dawne Brado as its inaugural Vice President, Development.
Dreamscape Hospitality, a Dallas-based hospitality management and development company, announces the appointment of Dr. Jerry Christopher Butler as Special Advisor for the Caribbean, reinforcing the company’s commitment to strategic growth across North America and into the Caribbean.