Appointments

Dirk Bakker has been appointed as CEO at Necron Hospitality Group

Per 1 January, Dirk Bakker has been appointed CEO of the newly established division Necron Hospitality Group. With the formation of Necron Hospitality Group as a separate entity, Necron Group brings its hospitality activities together within a dedicated organisation. The objective is to further optimise the portfolio and accelerate international growth. Dirk Bakker brings more than 35 years of international experience in hotel investments and advisory services. In his role, he is responsible for the strategic direction and continued expansion of Necron Group's hospitality activities, with a focus on quality, scale and returns. With this step, Necron Group reinforces its ambition to further develop hospitality as an integral, internationally scalable component of the organisation.

Zach Sennett has been appointed as Vice President, Operations – Americas at Baillie Lodges

Joining Baillie Lodges' senior leadership team in Denver this month is Zach Sennett, who has been appointed Vice President, Operations - Americas with a special focus on Canada's Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge and Chile's Tierra Atacama and Tierra Patagonia. Zach brings more than two decades of leadership experience in luxury hospitality, lodging operations, and revenue optimization, with a proven track record of driving performance and leading transformation across complex organizations. Throughout his career, Zach has built a reputation as a people-first, data-driven leader who excels at elevating teams, strengthening cross-functional partnerships and delivering sustained operational and financial results.

Tang Hoang Duc has been promoted to Hotel Manager at Wafaifo Resort Hoi An

Tang Hoang Duc has been promoted to Hotel Manager, bringing extensive experience across leading international hospitality brands. Before joining Wafaifo, Mr. Duc held senior operational roles with Anantara in both Hoi An and Quy Nhon, as well as a leadership position with TUI Blue. His strong background in resort operations and service excellence positions him to lead Wafaifo's day-to-day hotel performance as the resort continues to expand its offerings and elevate guest experiences.

Patrick O’Neil has been promoted to President at Vision Hospitality Group, Inc.

Vision Hospitality Group, a Chattanooga-based hotel development and management company, announced today the promotion of Patrick O’Neil to President while he continues to serve as Chief Operating Officer. In his expanded role, O’Neil will oversee day-to-day operations across the company’s hospitality portfolio and work closely with executive leadership to support the organization’s long-term strategic objectives.

Markus Laahanen has been appointed as General Manager at Andaz Peninsula Papagayo

Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort proudly announces the appointment of Markus Laahanen as its new General Manager. A globally respected hospitality leader with more than two decades of experience across luxury resorts, wellness destinations, and lifestyle developments, Laahanen brings a deep commitment to thoughtful leadership, sustainability, and emotionally driven guest experiences.

Wesley Milsom has been appointed as EVP Asset Management & Strategic Advisory, Australia and New Zealand at JLL

Effective immediately, Wesley Milsom will assume the role of Executive Vice President, Asset Management & Strategic Advisory, Australia and New Zealand. For JLL, he will be responsible for leading numerous key asset management mandates, operator selection transactions, and strategic advisory assignments across these two priority markets. He will also draw on his broad experience in the surrounding Pacific region to expand JLL's existing coverage of island markets. He is based in Sydney and reports to Xander Nijnens, Head of Advisory & Asset Management, JLL's Hotels & Hospitality Group, Asia Pacific.