Jimmy Bae

Jimmy is responsible for driving the growth of IHG’s Upper Luxury, Branded Residential, and Central US region for Luxury, Lifestyle, and Premium brands. He previously was responsible for Lifestyle and Premium brands across the Midwest where his responsibilities included prospecting for new franchisees, expanding existing franchisee portfolios, and identifying opportunity markets and sites for future development. Prior to joining the Development team, Jimmy was an integral part of IHG’s Finance team, serving as Director of Investment Analysis most recently. Jimmy graduated from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration. In his free time, he enjoys playing golf, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

James Farrah

James joined IHG in January 2024 and is responsible for leading the growth of IHG's upper Luxury, Lifestyle, and Premium portfolio across the Americas region, including Six Senses, Regent Hotels & Resorts, and Branded Residential across all brands. Prior to joining IHG, James was part of Marriott International and held roles in both the law department and the development organization as Vice President of luxury hotel and branded residential development throughout North America. Prior to the hospitality industry, James was an associate in the real estate practice group at Arnold & Porter LLP in Washington, D.C. James earned his undergraduate degree and JD from Georgetown University. He is based outside of Washington, D.C. and enjoys spending time with his family, being outdoors, traveling, experiencing new cultures, and keeping an eye out for luxury development opportunities.

Jael Fischer

Based in Bangkok, Jael is responsible for expanding the Six Senses brand across the Asia Pacific – covering a diverse region from the Maldives to India, Japan, and New Zealand.

Before joining Six Senses, Jael enjoyed 11 years of hospitality experience across four continents, including five years at IHG Hotels & Resorts. She specialized in development, corporate finance, business analytics, and hotel advisory, including feasibility assessments, investment and market research, asset management, and owner representation.

Jael is an alumnus of EHL Hospitality Business School in Switzerland. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality Management with honors and a specialization in Corporate and Real Estate Finance. She has also completed Cornell University’s Certificate Program in Hotel Real Estate Investments and Asset Management.

Originally from Switzerland but raised in Africa and Latin America, Jael speaks English, Spanish, German, and French. Living in eight countries has allowed Jael to enjoy traveling, meeting new people, and learning about different cultures. She is passionate about holistic well-being, vegan cuisine, and dog fostering (saving over 30 dogs).

Alex Kuhl

Alex Kuhl serves as Regional Senior Vice President of Development for IHG Hotels & Resorts, leading growth for the Luxury, Lifestyle, and Premium portfolio across the U.S. and Canada. With more than 22 years at IHG, Alex has held senior roles spanning development, operations, and commercial functions. His career also includes experience with Millennium & Copthorne Hotels and Starwood Hotels & Resorts. He holds a BA in History from Denison University and a Certificate in Hotel Real Estate Investment and Asset Management from Cornell University. Based in IHG’s New York office, Alex brings deep industry expertise and a strong track record of success across all chain scales and several international markets.

Samuel Richard

Samuel Richard is a Business Development Manager at IHG Hotels and Resorts, where he focuses on driving IHG brand growth in U.S. and Canada. With over a decade of experience at IHG, he previously served as a Quality Consultant and Regional Director of Franchise Openings.

A key contributor to the launch of Garner Hotels, Sam played an instrumental role in the successful opening of the first property in Auburn, WA, in December 2023. He excels in project management, growth strategies, and building strong relationships with hotel owners.

Before joining IHG, Sam worked as a Quality Consultant with LRA/Deloitte and held various operations roles with Fairmont, Westin, and W Hotels. 

Sam holds a Diploma in Hospitality Management from the Institut de tourisme et d'hôtellerie du Québec and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a major in Tourism and Hospitality Management from Université du Québec à Montréal.

Sam resides in Cochrane, near Calgary in Alberta, Canada. In his free time, Sam enjoys hiking and cross-country skiing in the Canadian Rockies, as well as cooking, gardening and traveling.