NATIONAL REPORT—Hospitality companies are bolstering their leadership rosters. Here’s a look at recent personnel shifts at MGM Resorts International, Rosewood Hotel Group and RoomIt by CWT.
MGM Resorts Names Chief Diversity and Sustainability Officer
MGM Resorts International has named diversity, inclusion and sustainability leader Jyoti Chopra as its SVP, chief diversity and sustainability officer. Chopra will be based in Las Vegas and will report directly to President and COO Bill Hornbuckle. She will also serve as liaison to the Corporate Social Responsibility Committee of the company’s board of directors.
“Jyoti joins MGM Resorts at an exciting time, as we embark on a bold new vision for our social impact and sustainability strategy, Focused on What Matters: Embracing Humanity and Protecting the Planet,” said Hornbuckle. “Jyoti’s considerable experience and expertise specifically in the development of business-aligned diversity and inclusion strategies and gender initiatives will be instrumental in guiding us as we commit to social impact and sustainability goals through 2025 and beyond that align to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”
In her new role, Chopra will helm MGM Resorts’ Social Impact & Sustainability efforts, working to expand data-driven methods to measure progress in attaining key social impact and environmental sustainability goals by 2025.
The company recently announced social impact & sustainability goals in four focus areas— fostering diversity and inclusion; investing in community; caring for one another; and protecting the planet—that align with 10 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in which MGM Resorts believes it has, and can have, the greatest impact around the world. These include the company’s efforts to end poverty and hunger through its Feeding Forward Program to promoting gender equality and stimulating economic growth in its operating communities.
Chopra will also oversee the MGM Resorts Community Engagement, Diversity and Inclusion, and Environmental Sustainability teams and departments, including oversight of the nonprofit MGM Resorts Foundation and Community Grant Fund, corporate giving program, and Employee Volunteer Program.
Chopra most recently served as SVP at Pearson Plc., an education technology and U.K. FTSE 100 company, where she was a member of the senior leadership team. Prior to her role at Pearson, Chopra served as chief diversity officer and managing director of global citizenship and sustainability for Bank of New York Mellon from 2012-2018, overseeing the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR), philanthropy and social investing areas, while also managing the corporate art collection.
Rosewood Hotel Group Appoints VP of Field Sales & Marketing
Benjamin Bahn has been appointed VP, field sales and marketing for Rosewood Hotel Group. In his new role, Banh will be responsible for the sales and revenue performance of Rosewood Hotel Group’s portfolio of properties in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions. In addition, Bahn will support the group’s pre-opening properties by reviewing both sales and marketing strategy and identifying potential talents.
Before joining Rosewood Hotel Group, Bahn was VP of global sales Asia-Pacific with Preferred Hotels and Resorts. Previously he held senior sales, marketing and operational roles at The Upper House Hong Kong, Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong and Starwood Hotels & Resorts.
RoomIt by CWT Makes Two Key Appointments
RoomIt by CWT, the global hotel distribution division of CWT (the B2B4E travel management platform), has appointed Jeff Zidell as SVP and customer experience officer, and Ellen Zfaney, as VP, supply strategy and innovation.
Zidell joins RoomIt via start-up CorePoint Lodging, where he was SVP, asset management. Prior to that, he spent nearly a decade with Hyatt Hotels Corp., where he was SVP, loyalty marketing and partnerships. His multi-industry background within highly competitive industries and rapidly evolving markets position him well to lead RoomIt across all channels (online booking tools, CWT TMC & RoomIt channels), and head up RoomIt’s user experience, marketing and public relations groups. He reports to Dave Falter, president, RoomIt by CWT.
Zfaney joins RoomIt from Expedia, where she was head of global strategic partnerships for more than three years. Prior to that, she was VP, Americas partnerships, Orbitz Partner Network (OPN) at Orbitz Worldwide for almost 11 years. Her RoomIt responsibility will see her lead the market management organization and the newly created sales effectiveness global supply group. Zfaney’s focus will be on positioning RoomIt’s hotel strategy and driving innovation in hotel supply channels to drive better customer experience. She will report to Shannon Hyland, SVP of global supply, RoomIt by CWT.