Alex Mai

Alex is responsible for setting the strategy, planning, negotiating/executing hotel deals and managing the growth and expansion of all brands for IHG Hotels & Resorts in Latin America & Caribbean countries. Alex has more than 25 years of practical, hands-on experience with hotels, resorts, brand management, real estate, and operation. He has worked on hundreds of hotel assets, negotiations, and hotel performances across the United States, Latin America & Caribbean.

Prior to joining IHG, Alex was the Head of Development and Vice President of development for Latin America & Caribbean for Choice Hotels International and Radisson Hotels Group Americas, where he was responsible for the growth of all brands. Alex was also President & Founder of ALBA Hospitality from 2020 to 2022, where he was responsible for strategic asset positioning, management contract negotiations, and hotel real estate transactions. Prior to that, Alex worked for Hilton Hotels Corporation from 2007 to 2020 holding various Management positions in Development, Brand Management for Full & Focused Service, Owners Relations, and Training. In his free time, Alex enjoys exercising outdoors with his wife and Siberian Husky and watching European Soccer matches. 

Miguel Martins

Miguel Martins is the Head of Development for Northern Europe at IHG®, one of the world’s leading hotel companies. He is responsible for leading and developing IHG’s brand portfolio across Northern Europe, covering 17 countries, and identifying new business opportunities.

Miguel and his team work collaboratively with development partners to deliver value for both franchised and managed hotels across luxury, upscale and mainstream brands. In his tenure with IHG, he has since signed over 40 new deals across the Northern Europe region.

With extensive international experience in hotel development and hotel operations, he has been involved in over 20 projects in Europe, including Portugal, Spain and Poland. Prior to joining IHG in 2015, Miguel co-founded Polish Hotel Company, a strategic growth Partner, responsible for the roll out of some of IHG’s most well-known brands in Poland, such as Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Hotel Indigo and Crowne Plaza.

Miguel also worked as a Senior Consultant at an international hotel & asset management company based in Portugal where he was involved on various projects under local and international brands and experienced several functions in hotel operations.

Elena McGarry

Elena McGarry is the Development Manager for DACH at IHG®, one of the world’s leading hotel companies. She is responsible for the development and growth of IHG’s brand portfolio across the DACH region, particularly in Germany and Austria.

Mudassir Naqib

Mudassir Naqib is the Development Director for South West Asia at IHG®, one of the world’s leading hotel companies. He is responsible for the development and growth of IHG’s brand portfolio across the region.

Ram Narayanan

Ram Narayanan is the Senior Development Manager for Indonesia at IHG®, one of the world’s leading hotel companies. He is responsible for the expansion of IHG’s brand portfolio across Indonesia.

Ram brings over 14 years of real estate and project experience across Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. Prior to IHG, he was with Pomeroy Studio in Singapore as property & real estate associate. Prior to that, he was Head of Business Development and International Sales at Sinar Mas Land in Indonesia, where he specialised in negotiations for international joint ventures and managed property development cycles, with some exposure to hotel resort planning and management contracts.

His past experience also includes roles in the proptech sector with Cloud Kitchens, management consulting with Deloitte, and with the Malaysian Government as a public transport regulator. 

Ram holds an Honours degree in Economics from the University of Durham and has lived and worked across 5 countries.

Elliot Newton

Elliot Newton is the Development Director for UK & Ireland at IHG®, one of the world’s leading hotel companies. He is responsible for growing IHG's development opportunities encompassing luxury, upscale and mainstream opportunities through managed and franchised deal structures in one of IHG’s key global markets.

Prior to joining IHG, he was most recently Development Director for Louvre Hotels Group, where he established the development & asset management strategy for the Group in the UK & Ireland.

Born and raised in Teesside, Elliot studied at Newcastle University before working in a broad spectrum of roles across the hospitality sector. He began his career at Holiday Inn Scotch Corner, with Cairn Hotel Group, before progressing into various corporate office roles at IHG Hotels & Resorts and Hilton.

James Oh

James Oh is Development Director for South East Asia & Korea at IHG®, one of the world’s leading hotel companies. Based in Seoul, James is responsible for the strategic growth of IHG brands in Korea. 

James brings 14 years of experience in real estate and hospitality industry, in various roles in some of the largest real estate asset management firms in Korea, from investments to ownership and asset management of hotels. With his knowledge and experience in hotel ownership companies, James has a strong understanding of the needs of hotel owners and is well versed to provide creative investment structures to drive successful outcomes.

Prior to joining IHG, he was Investment Director for Aju Hotels & Resorts, where he successfully led an acquisition of four hotels in the U.S. with diversified structures. Prior to Aju, James was the Head of Hotel Investment at Mirae Asset Global Investments where he led multi-billion dollar hotel investment deals and handled the firm's hotel group strategies. Before joining Mirae, he was with IGIS AMC where he spearheaded outbound commercial real estate investments.

James also held various roles in hotel brokerage and consultancy. He was previously the Country Representative for Hodges Ward Elliott, where he led the firm’s brokerage business development in Asia, and provided tailored solutions for investors hotel acquisitions.

James holds a Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management from New York University and is a registered fund manager in the Republic of Korea.

Omar Osman

Based in Dubai, Omar Osman is the Senior Manager for Development – Middle East and Africa at IHG® Hotels & Resorts. He focuses on expanding IHG’s presence across North Africa, working closely with owners and investors to deliver impactful projects aligned with IHG’s globally recognised brands.

Before this role, Omar was Global Account Director at IHG, where he managed key airline and corporate partnerships, driving account growth and delivering innovative solutions that enhanced brand performance across diverse markets. His expertise in strategic planning, market analysis, and relationship management has positioned him as a trusted partner to stakeholders across the hospitality industry.

Omar holds a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Sagesse University with academic certification from Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne. Fluent in Arabic, French, and English, Omar combines his global perspective with a results-driven approach to deliver value and create opportunities for IHG’s continued growth in the region.

Vijesh Patel

Vijesh Patel joined IHG as a Director of Development effective April 2025 to help lead pipeline development and growth for Six Senses, Regent, and Branded Residences in the Americas. Vijesh previously served as Director of Development for Six Senses in the Americas with effect in May 2022. Vijesh was a Vice President in the Hospitality Investment Advisory practice at Hodges Ward Elliott. He specialized in supporting and executing various sales processes for full-service, institutional-grade hotel and resort properties with an emphasis on the ultra-luxury segment throughout North America, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Prior to HWE, he spent two years as an analyst on the Investment Analysis team at InterContinental Hotel Group where he partnered with the Development team to prepare pro formas and Capital Papers to support the approval of deals.