Appointments

Kelly Makino has been appointed as Head of Human Resources at Rebel Hotel Company

Rebel Hotel Company has appointed Kelly Makino as Head of Human Resources, reinforcing its commitment to people-first leadership as the company scales its lifestyle, luxury, and independent hospitality portfolio. The appointment comes during a phase of accelerated growth and deliberate reinvestment in the platform, designed to support Rebel's expansion plans into 2026 and beyond.

Michael “Kazem” Moghtader has been appointed as Chief People Officer at AmaWaterways

Michael "Kazem" Moghtader brings more than 20 years of experience leading HR strategy, talent development, and organizational transformation across hospitality, healthcare, retail, and luxury brands. Most recently, he served as Chief People Officer at Postcard Cabins (formerly Getaway). His earlier roles include Chief People Officer at Conifer Health Solutions, Vice President of Human Resources at Signet Jewelers, and leadership positions at JC Penney, Victoria's Secret, and Banana Republic. At AmaWaterways, Kazem leads the evolution of the People team, focusing on attracting and developing top talent, enhancing the employee experience, and building systems and practices that support growth, connection, and a culture where everyone can do their best work.

Nguyen Thi Kim Hang has been promoted to Director of Talent at Wafaifo Resort Hoi An

Nguyen Thi Kim Hang has been promoted to Director of Talent, overseeing all people, culture, and talent development initiatives across the resort. Alongside her core responsibilities, Ms. Hang will play a key supporting role in the upcoming launch of Revolution Express, a new experiential tourism venture scheduled to debut in mid-2026, further reinforcing Wafaifo's focus on innovation and people-led growth.

Barbara Vale Quigley has been appointed as Director of People and Culture at The Meritage Resort and Spa

Barbara Vale Quigley is the new Director of People and Culture at The Meritage Resort and Spa, bringing more than 20 years of hospitality-focused human resources leadership to the role. Quigley will oversee talent strategy, employee engagement, labor relations, and organizational culture for the resort's expansive team. Quigley most recently served as Director of Talent and Culture at The Inn at Mattei's Tavern, Auberge Resorts Collection, and previously held senior HR leadership roles with Discovery Land Company and Alisal Ranch. Her career includes extensive experience with Loews Hotels & Co., where properties under her leadership earned top team member satisfaction scores and multiple Best Place to Work honors. Outside of work, Quigley enjoys travel, swim aerobics, reading, and building community in Napa Valley.

Bhaskar Gajapathy has been appointed as Director of HR at Renaissance Bengaluru Race Course Hotel

With a strong focus on luxury and premium hospitality, Bhaskar's expertise spans across workforce planning, recruitment, compensation & benefits, statutory compliance, employee relations, training & development, and improving DEI outcomes by implementing targeted hiring practices, designing corporate policies and implementing rewards and recognition schemes.

Pooja Dholakia has been appointed as Learning and Development Manager at Grand Plaza Mövenpick Media City Dubai

Grand Plaza Mövenpick Media City Dubai announces a key appointment, strengthening its leadership team with an accomplished woman driving talent development. As Accor's leading and only five-star property in Dubai Media City, the hotel continues to advance its commitment to diversity, innovation, and excellence across all departments.

Cashema Clarke has been appointed as Director of Human Resources at ONE | GT

In anticipation of its highly awaited debut this winter, Grand Cayman's newest luxury boutique hotel, ONE | GT has added an accomplished Caymanian professional to its leadership team: Cashema Clarke as Director of Human Resources. She will play a pivotal role in shaping the hotel's internal culture and external market positioning as ONE | GT prepares to redefine luxury in Grand Cayman.

Bryan Drackett has been appointed as VP, talent acquisition and HR technology at Atrium Hospitality

Drackett's career showcases a steady rise from hotel operations to human resources leadership. He joined Atrium Hospitality in 2022, where his passion for sourcing and onboarding talent, combined with his ability to merge operational insight with technological innovation, has helped redefine Atrium's recruitment strategies. His leadership has been marked by his people-first approach and his dedication to creating better candidate and associate experiences through automation and analytics.

Rachel O’Connell has been promoted to Chief Human Resources Officer at Great Wolf Resorts, Inc.

Rachel O'Connell has been named Chief Human Resources Officer for Great Wolf Resorts, the beloved indoor water park resort with 23 locations across North America. O'Connell brings more than 18 years of experience in strategic human resources and talent management to the role, and will serve as a key member of Great Wolf's executive leadership team, driving the company's business transformation and growth initiatives.