Yotel makes key appointments in bid for worldwide expansion

A number of senior appointments have been made as Yotel expands its ‘affordable luxury’ hotels around the world.

Former Wyndham Hotel Group brand operations vice president of Belinda Atkins joins in the newly created role of senior vice president of global operations, supported by Keir Wingrove as assistant vice president for openings and transitions.

The London-based positions come as the company plans to open properties in Boston, Singapore and San Francisco this year following a new hotel at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport.

Other new properties are planned for Clerkenwell in London, Dubai, Miami, Williamsburg and Singapore Changi airport in 2018-19.

At the same time, Nikhil Manchharam joins from Starwood Hotels as managing director of business development for Asia and Jurian Schouwe as vice president of business development for northern Europe from NH Hotels.

Rohan Thakkar is promoted to the role of vice president of Development focusing on the rest of the EMEA region, based at Yotel’s London headquarters.

Chief executive, Hubert Viriot, said: “We are thrilled to have Belinda on our team. Her wealth of experience, industry knowledge and leadership skills will be essential to lead our recently appointed and future general managers with the direct support from our HQ functional teams.

“We are also delighted to welcome Keir in such an important role, preparing for the openings of multiple new hotels in the US, Europe and Asia.”

He added: “We are currently in a position where we are experiencing global expansion at an unprecedented pace, it is therefore fantastic to welcome Nikhil and Jurian as part of our global development team and further expand our pipeline in Asia and Europe.

“These are exciting times and the acquisition of these industry talents to our team is testament to the strength and attraction of the Yotel brand in the industry.”