People on the move at hotelAVE, Louvre Hotels and HSMAI

Executive roles are being filled at hotelAVE and Louvre Hotels Group, while the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) has introduced its 2021 Americas board. Here’s a look:

Stephen Stoycos joins hotelAVE as EVP of hospitality advisory & consulting
Hotel Asset Value Enhancement (hotelAVE) has appointed Stephen Stoycos as EVP of the firm’s hospitality advisory & consulting business.

In his new role, Stoycos is responsible for overseeing the delivery of the firm’s advisory services and expanding the division. With more than 30 years of experience as a finance real estate and lodging leader, he has successfully managed more than $7 billion of transactions in global real estate facilities/operations, capital market acquisitions and investment acquisition and disposition for private and public institutional clients.

Prior to joining hotelAVE, he served as the managing director of investments and real estate capital for a privately held real estate company, where he was responsible for leading the investment strategy, real estate capital markets (debt and equity) and portfolio asset management. During his 10-year tenure with Choice Hotels International, he served on the senior leadership team and was responsible for managing the company’s global corporate real estate functions, capital allocation strategy and upscale development to accelerate franchise growth.

In his previous role as SVP at Marriott International, Stoycos was directly responsible for developing, implementing and executing capital market strategies and was sourcing, structuring and negotiating more than $3 billion in capital transactions, including Marriott’s largest development mixed-use deals to date. He spent the formative years of his career in various senior leadership positions at real estate and mortgage financing institutions, with roles including VP at Citicorp Real Estate; VP at Washington Mortgage Financial Group; and SVP at Transwestern Carey Winston.

The company has also promoted Loren Balsam to chief investment officer. Balsam, who previously led the hospitality advisory & consulting business, will focus primarily on strategic investments and supporting hotelAVE’s clients in identifying and executing new acquisition opportunities, while also spearheading the company’s marketing and business development initiatives.

Cergneux named CDO at Louvre Hotels Group
Max Cergneux has been named chief development officer of Louvre Hotels Group in Paris.

He has more than 15 years in corporate and hotel development across the globe. Most recently, he served as head of international corporate development for Choice Hotels based out of London where he was tasked with setting up focus on international expansion, acquisitions and investment strategy. He has also previously held senior positions at Marriott International responsible for corporate and development finance across all markets in Europe, Middle East and Africa. During that time, he contributed to growth strategies throughout the region and worked on numerous projects, such as the development of new brands, joint ventures and acquisitions in some of the most important cities in the world.

HSMAI welcomes a new 2021 Americas board
The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) has revealed the members of its 2021 Americas board of directors and executive committee. The board is composed of senior travel and hospitality executives from a representative selection of HSMAI member organizations.

“Now more than ever, the hospitality industry needs strong leadership that will guide the road to recovery. HSMAI’s 2021 Americas Board is prepared to guide our organization through the new normal,” said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHBA, president/CEO of HSMAI.

“The Americas board members have exemplified their resilience during the pandemic. It is an honor to have a diverse group of hospitality, sales, marketing and revenue optimization experts comprise the board,” he said.

The HSMAI Americas executive committee members are:
Chair: Marina MacDonald, CHDM, chief marketing officer, Red Roof
Chair Elect: John Washko, VP, exhibitions & convention sales, Mohegan Sun
Vice Chair: Andrew Rubinacci, CHSP, EVP/chief commercial officer, Omni Hotels & Resorts
Treasurer: Michael Innocentin, VP, e-Commerce & digital, North & Central America, Accor
Immediate Past Chair: Mark Thompson, CHBA, CHSE, CHDM, SVP, tourism, VisitDallas
President: Robert Gilbert, CHME, CHBA, president/CEO, HSMAI

The 2021 HSMAI Americas board members are: 
Chris Anderson, professor, Cornell University
Brian Berry, EVP of commercial strategy, Pyramid Hotel Group
Dustin Bomar, head of industry—travel, Google
Katie Briscoe, president, MMGY Global
Lisa Checchio, chief marketing officer, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Vito Curali, executive director, international sales and industry relations, Hilton
Derek DeCross, SVP, global sales, IHG
Agnelo Fernandes, chief strategy officer/EVP, Terranea Resort
Andre Fournier, EVP, sales, marketing & revenue, CoralTree Hospitality
Brian Hall, chief marketing officer, Explore St. Louis
Rhetto Hirko, global VP, revenue optimization, Preferred Hotels & Resorts
Andrew Kauffman, SVP, marketing optimization, Marriott International
Erica Kruse, CRME, director, revenue strategy, Regency Hotel Management
Tammy Lucas, CHDM, VP, marketing, Best Western Hotels & Resorts
Flo Lugli, founder/principal, Navesink Advisory Group LLC
Kelly McGuire, principal, ZS
Katie Moro, regional VP, Demand360 data partnerships, TravelClick
David Nix, VP, revenue management and corporate sales, G6 Hospitality
Helene Okabe, regional VP, sales & marketing, Concord Hospitality
Wendy Olson Killion, SVP, Expedia Group Media Solutions
Garth Peterson, CRME, managing director of Americas, IDeaS Revenue Solutions
Scott Pusillo, CRME, VP, North America business development, Sabre Hospitality Solutions
Vail Ross, SVP, global business development & marketing, STR
Mark Theis, VP, sales, strategy & operations, Hyatt Hotels Corporation
Michael Wylie, SVP/head of eCommerce, Aimbridge Hospitality
Lou Zameryka, director of booking accounts, Booking.com