Nicolas Petrone

Nicolas Petrone implements the long-term franchise distribution strategy for IHG’s mainstream brands in North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, and Virginia. His responsibilities include driving the strategic placement of new-build and conversion hotels, maximizing the quality and scale of each property, and forging strong relationships with franchisees in these markets.

Prior to joining IHG, Nicolas developed his hotel industry expertise over more than a decade as Director of Franchise Development for Choice Hotels and Director of Franchise Development for Wyndham Hotels and Resorts. His extensive experience in franchise development has equipped him with a keen understanding of market dynamics and strategic growth.

Outside of work, Nicolas seeks excitement through travel, boating, and spending quality time with his family.

Maurizio Piedra

Maurizio is the Development Manager for the Caribbean and Latin America, responsible for executing the growth strategy of all brands across this region. He started his career in hotel investment sales and later transitioned into an asset management role, responsible for a portfolio of 11 hotels across the United States with all major hotel brands. In his previous roles, he successfully developed the real estate growth strategy for other international brands, like Sonder and Hilton, in Florida and the Caribbean. Maurizio is originally from Peru and is an economist by profession. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his friends, discovering the culinary scene of the places he visits, and going for morning runs.

Fabrizio Piolanti

Fabrizio Piolanti is Director Development for Italy at IHG^®, one of the world’s leading hotel companies. He is responsible for the expansion of IHG’s brand portfolio in Italy.

Fabrizio boasts an extensive knowledge of the Italian market with over 15 years of experience in corporate roles, operations, and consulting. Prior to IHG, he was Development Director at Marriott International and has executed both limited and premium brands projects, in urban and resort destinations. He also gained experience in EY’s and JLL’s Hospitality teams in Milan, where he led multiple operator selection processes, valuations, feasibility studies and transaction assignments.

Fabrizio holds a master’s degree in Tourism economics from Bocconi University in Milan.
 

Lindsey Powers

Lindsey Powers is the Director of Franchise Development for IHG across Oklahoma and Northern Texas. In her role, Lindsey steers development efforts for IHG’s seven mainstream brands: Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn, avid hotels, Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites, Garner, and Atwell Suites. Since joining IHG in 2022, Lindsey has supported hotel developers across the Western and Central U.S., helping them expand into new brands and geographies with her relationship-driven approach to franchise growth.

Before IHG, she worked in the staffing industry, helping organizations address critical workforce needs, and gained experience in residential real estate while working at Berkshire Hathaway, where she developed a strong foundation in client relations and market analysis. Lindsey holds a degree in Business Administration from Eastern Illinois University, where she played volleyball. Now based in Austin, Texas, Lindsey enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants, and cheering on the Purdue Boilermakers.

Praveen Reddy

Praveen supports the development of IHG’s Mainstream brands and growth activities for the US East team. Praveen has been with IHG since 2017 and prior to joining the Development team, led major initiatives within Hotel Lifecycle and Growth (HLG), Procurement, and Reservation Customer Care (RCC) departments. Praveen holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Tennessee. Residing in Alpharetta, Georgia, Praveen is married with 2 teenage children and also enjoys playing golf, tennis and watching his Tennessee Volunteers and Dallas Cowboys.

Marie Richard

Marie Richard is Senior Development Manager for Portfolios and Strategic Alliances in Europe at IHG®, one of the world’s leading hotel companies. Marie’s pan-European role is responsible for developing all IHG’s brands in collaboration with IHG regional developers for any portfolio deals and strategic alliances, including multi-country development partnerships or complex luxury deals.

Prior to IHG, Marie worked for Jin Jiang / Louvre Hotels Group for seven years where she had a progressive career from an International Development Analyst to Asset & Investment Manager and was most recently an M&A Manager, where she worked on several portfolio acquisitions for the group in Europe and Brazil. She was also in charge of International Operations for South America and India, in coordination with local operational offices.

Marie is an Honours graduate of HEC Paris Business School in France where she followed a Master in Management in Corporate Finance.

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.