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.

Philip Ryan

Philip Ryan is Director of Development for Japan and Director of Capital Investments & Transactions for Asia Pacific. Based in Tokyo, he is responsible for working with hotel investors and owners on new hotels and conversions and executing IHG’s strategic growth in Japan and the region.

Merve Sakaoglu

Merve Sakaoglu is the Senior Development Manager for Türkiye at IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies. 

In her role, Merve spearheads the expansion of IHG’s diverse brand portfolio across the country, including luxury, upscale, and mainstream opportunities through managed and franchised deal structures. 

With over 15 years of extensive hospitality experience, Merve has held various operational leadership positions at globally renowned brands such as Marriott, Shangri-La, Raffles, and Accor. At Accor’s Türkiye Head Office, she played a pivotal role in overseeing operational standards nationwide while providing significant support for the group’s development initiatives. 

Merve holds a bachelor’s degree from the prestigious Hacettepe University and further honed her expertise in Marketing through studies at Oxford.  

Mitchell Salaman

Mitchell Salaman serves as the Regional Vice President of Franchise Sales and Development for the Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions. He leads a dedicated team focused on advancing IHG’s development efforts for brands such as Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn, avid hotels, Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites, and Atwell Suites.

Mitchell joined IHG in 2016, bringing with him over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Prior to his tenure at IHG, he held various roles at Starwood Hotels and Resorts, including nine years in Global and North America Development. At Starwood, Mitchell was instrumental in managing and securing both Managed and Franchise deals across all of the company's brands. His career began as a management consultant in the Financial Services and Insurance industry.

Mitchell holds an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business, with specializations in Finance, Accounting, and Information Systems, and a BS in Business Administration from the University of Vermont. Based in Westchester, New York, Mitchell enjoys traveling, skiing, and biking in his spare time.

Abhijay Sandilya

Abhijay Sandilya is Managing Director - Japan at IHG®, one of the world’s leading hotel companies. He is responsible for the company’s strategic growth, performance and operations in Japan.

Prior to taking on this role in October 2021, Abhijay spent nearly 6 years with IHG in Australia where he most recently led IHG’s Development team as VP Development - Japan, Australasia, Pacific. Together with his team in Sydney and Tokyo, he was responsible for IHG’s biggest years of signings and openings on record in Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, New Caledonia and Micronesia – signing almost 60 deals and reshaping the JAPAC region from 60 operating hotels in 2016 to more than 140 open and pipeline hotels today.

Key signings in his time with IHG have included the Appi Kogen portfolio, IHG’s biggest conversion deal in more than a decade in Japan, the first voco and Vignette Collection hotels globally, and market entries for Hotel Indigo, Kimpton and Regent.

Prior to his time at IHG, Abhijay worked for Whitbread PLC and the Jumeirah Group in Singapore and Dubai holding key leadership positions working on hotel real estate acquisitions for the groups working across markets in the Middle East, Africa and the Asia Pacific regions.

Abhijay has lived and worked in eight countries and holds a Master’s degree from Erasmus University’s Rotterdam School of Management.

Amy Schimmel

Amy Schimmel serves as Regional Director for IHG Hotels & Resorts – Mainstream Brands, overseeing franchise development and brand growth throughout the Mountain States region, including Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.

With more than 31 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Amy brings a comprehensive and well-rounded perspective to hotel development. She began her career with Bristol Hotel & Resorts in Addison, Texas, and ClubCorp in Dallas, Texas, where she built a strong operational foundation that would shape her long-term success in the industry.

Amy joined IHG in 2015 as a Regional Manager of Property Improvements, where she worked closely with owners and operators to enhance asset value and ensure brand excellence. Over the course of her career, she has developed extensive expertise across multiple disciplines, including design and construction management, procurement, renovation oversight, and hotel development. Her breadth of knowledge and collaborative approach have established her as a trusted advisor to franchise partners throughout the region.

Recognized for her strategic insight and relationship-driven leadership style, Amy is dedicated to helping owners successfully position and grow their investments within the IHG portfolio.

Amy proudly calls Colorado home. She and her husband have been married for 32 years and have two children and a Corgi. Outside of work, they enjoy hiking, skiing, college football, and spending time in Northern California’s wine country.

Kevin Schramm

Kevin leads the team focused on increasing distribution of IHG’s mainstream brands throughout the United States and Canada. Prior to joining IHG, he was Vice President, Real Estate and Development, for Hyatt Corporation, where he oversaw development and franchising for Hyatt’s select service and extended stay brands in 17 states and Canada. Previously, he was Senior Director of Franchising for Wyndham Worldwide. Earlier in his career, he was managing partner of a restaurant/bar concept in Houston, Texas. Kevin attended the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, where he majored in finance and played baseball. Outside the office, he enjoys living in California—surfing, golfing, biking, and just being at the beach.

David Self

David works closely with hotel owners to expand the footprint of IHG’s Essentials & Suites Brands across Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Prior to joining IHG, he spent nearly 15 years in Franchise Development for Choice Hotels International in the Upper Midwest, Texas, and Southeast Regions. David holds a BA in Business & Economics from Wheaton College, near Chicago. Outside the office, he's always ready for a pickup basketball game and enjoys hunting for his next favorite band. Above all, he adores spending time with his family.

Alex Shamsuddin