Maurizio Piedra

Maurizio is the Development Director 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.

Marie Richard

Marie Richard is Director, Development Portfolios & Luxury COE 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.

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, Northeast and Canada 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, Atwell Suites, and Garner.

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.