Prakash Krishamurthy

Prakash Krishnamurthy is the Director Transactions & Asset Management for Europe at IHG®, one of the world’s leading hotel companies. He is responsible for the development and growth of IHG’s brand portfolio across Europe, with a focus on priority markets within the region.

Alex Kuhl

As a Regional SVP of Development for IHG Hotels & Resorts, Alex Kuhl oversees the negotiation and execution of branded management agreements, joint ventures and franchise opportunities for IHG brands throughout the U.S. and Canada. With specialized expertise across the luxury, lifestyle and premium segments, Alex’s nearly three decades of hospitality leadership experience includes building strategic partnerships and delivering transformative deals in high-barrier markets. Since joining IHG in April 2003, he has assumed roles of increased responsibility across the company’s development, operations, commercial, and sales and marketing functions. Alex holds both a BA in History from Denison University and a Certificate in Hotel Real Estate Investment and Asset Management from Cornell University.

Nishant Kumar

Nishant Kumar is the Director of Development for South West Asia at IHG®, responsible for the development and growth of IHG’s brand portfolio across the region.

Nishant has over 18 years of experience in Real Estate, Infrastructure and the hospitality industry. Since joining IHG in 2017, he has been instrumental in expanding IHG’s brand footprint across the South West Asia region. His key signings include the debut of the Staybridge Suites brand in Bengaluru, the ‘Silicon Valley of India’, InterContinental Bengaluru, and relaunching the InterContinental brand in Sri Lanka with the signing of InterContinental Colombo. He also led the signing of a four-hotel portfolio deal under Holiday Inn brand family, which uniquely positions IHG as the first international operator in the Buddhist Circuit of India.

Prior to IHG, Nishant was with Starwood Hotel & Resorts where he was a key member of its i100 plan to induce strong growth momentum for its brands in SWA region.. Before joining Starwood, Nishant was with DLF Limited, where he represented the ownership core team to form the DLF-Hilton joint venture in India, as well as the acquisition of Aman Resorts portfolio in 2007.

Nishant holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, majoring in Finance with a minor in Economics and received his PGDBA from IMT Ghaziabad.

Valentina Laborde

Valentina drives the promotion, prospecting, and sales of all IHG brands throughout Mexico. A 15-year veteran of IHG, she previously served as Direct Marketing Commercial Director for MegaDirect and Director Corporate/Founding Partner at Globacom. Valentina has a degree in Business Administration from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico and has completed a graduate seminar on studies in tourism. Passionate about travel, walk, art, music, and culture, Valentina loves sharing experiences with her two sons, such as exploring museums, observing architecture, and tasting new foods. When at home, she enjoys hosting gatherings and cooking meals for her family.

Shi'ai Liang

Shi'ai Liang is the Senior Development Director for South East Asia & Korea at IHG^®, one of the world’s leading hotel companies. She is responsible for the expansion of IHG’s brand portfolio across South East Asia & Korea, particularly in Malaysia, Maldives and Cambodia.

Shi'ai joined IHG with over 14 years of experience in hotel development. Prior to IHG, she was Vice President, Head of Development APAC for Blueground, the world's leading flexible living operator. During her time with Blueground, she signed strategic partnership agreements for Blueground's entry into Japan and Thailand. Before Blueground, she held hotel development roles with Marriott International, Rosewood Hotel Group, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and Pan Pacific Hotels Group.

Shi’ai holds a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture degree from the National University of Singapore and a Master of Management in Hospitality from Cornell University, with a concentration in real estate finance.

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.

Alex Moeckel

Alex Moeckel is Vice President of Development for IHG Hotels & Resorts responsible for the growth of Luxury, Lifestyle, and Premium brands in the East region as well as the Midwest US and Eastern Canada. Well-versed in IHG’s brands portfolio, Alex was most recently Vice President of Development for the Mid-Atlantic region and prior to that,  Director of Development where he was responsible for development growth of IHG’s selective service and extended stay portfolio. Mr. Moeckel first joined IHG 13-years ago as a Development Manager for North America and Latin America, based out of the Atlanta office. Prior to IHG, Alex was in New York City where he advanced through positions of increasing responsibility with Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Eastdil Secured, and Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts. Alex graduated from the University of Delaware School of Hospitality Management and currently serves on the Advisory Board of the University of Delaware Hospitality & Sport Business Management School. In addition to spending time with his wife and two children, Alex loves the thrill of traveling, enjoying new food, golfing, skiing, and surfing. Mr. Moeckel serves on the Board of Directors of FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education), the nation’s leading food allergy nonprofit and largest private funder of food allergy research, education, and advocacy.