IHG Makes Global Sales Leadership Appointments

IHG Hotels & Resorts has made a series of appointments to its global sales leadership team. These new roles are effective December 1:

  • Betty Wilson, currently VP of Americas sales, will be taking on the role of VP of global accounts.
  • Jonathan Kaplan, currently VP of global sales strategy, will move into the role of VP of Americas sales.
  • Tamara Laster, currently head of corporate travel on the global sales strategy team, has been promoted to VP, global sales strategy.

Wilson joined IHG in 2018 as VP of Americas sales. In that role, she was instrumental in reshaping the Americas sales function at IHG, growing revenue and driving customer-focused solutions. She brings substantial expertise in planning and executing multi-brand strategies to increase demand and accelerate share growth to her new role.

In this role, she and her team will bring the best of what IHG can offer to its customers and partners on a global scale, across all regions, B2B segments and markets. Before joining IHG, she spent more than 20 years at Starwood Hotels & Resorts, ultimately serving as VP of Global Sales.

Kaplan joined IHG more than three years ago and has led numerous key strategic initiatives during his tenure as VP for global sales strategy. He helped execute a number of significant programs, including launching IHG’s small and medium-sized enterprise program, IHG Business Edge.

He brings a strong network and skillset to his new role where he will lead the Americas-based global sales team to drive greater market share and meaningful returns for all IHG brands. Prior to joining IHG, he spent more than 15 years at Starwood Hotels & Resorts, most recently as director of global leisure & luxury sales.

Laster joined IHG in 2011 as director, B2B customer solution design, leading a team responsible for increasing market share by developing custom solutions for B2B customers. During her time at IHG, her team delivered several crucial programs, such as the overhaul and expansion of Corporate Gold chainwide pricing program and the introduction of IHG’s centralized RFP program.

In her new role, she will lead a team responsible for driving IHG’s B2B sales strategy, programs and initiatives for IHG’s corporate, groups and meetings, and small and medium-sized enterprises, including the IHG Business Edge program. Prior to joining IHG, Tamara spent time in strategy roles at Accenture, North Highland and ADP.

“Betty, Jonathan and Tamara bring a wealth of experience and knowledge into their new roles,” saidDerek DeCross, SVP, global sales, IHG. “All these appointments were internal, which highlights the incredible level of talent we have across our team. These leaders will continue to build the reputation of IHG Hotels & Resorts in the B2B community and advance our team’s focus on providing a great buying experience for our B2B customers—whether they be corporate travel managers, meeting planners, or travel advisors—in the same way that we focus on delivering a great guest experience at our more than 5,900 hotels across our 16 brands around the world.”