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 Moekel ist Vice President of Entwicklung bei IHG Hotels & Resorts und verantwortlich für das Wachstum der Luxury & Lifestyle und Premium Hotelmarke in den Ostregionen sowie im Mittleren Westen der USA und im Osten Kanadas. Anreisende Herr Moekel kam vor 13Jahren als Entwicklungsmanager für Nordamerika und Lateinamerika zum ersten Mal zu IHG, tätig im Büro in Atlanta. Vor seiner Ankunft bei IHG war er in New York City tätig, wo er in immer verantwortungsvolleren Positionen bei Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Eastdil Secured und Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts aufstieg. Alex absolvierte die University of Delaware School of Hospitality Management und ist derzeit Mitglied des Beirats der University of Delaware Hospitality & Sport Business Management School. Neben der Zeit mit seiner Frau und den zwei Kindern verbringt er gerne Zeit mit Reisen, neuem Essen, Golfen, Skifahren und Surfen. Herr Moekel ist Mitglied des Vorstands von FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education), der landesweit führenden gemeinnützigen Organisation im Bereich Lebensmittelallergien und dem größten privaten Geldgeber von Forschung, Schulung und Lobbyarbeit im Bereich Lebensmittelallergien.

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.

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.

Vijesh Patel

Vijesh Patel verwaltet das Luxury & Lifestyle und Premium Portfolio von IHG in den Regionen des Mittleren Westens. Seit seinem Eintritt bei IHG im 2022 als Director of Entwicklung für Six Senses spielt er eine Schlüsselrolle bei der Förderung des Wachstums in den Bereichen Superior Luxury und Branded Residences und unterstützt die Erweiterung der Pipeline für Six Senses, Regent und Branded Residences in ganz Amerika. Vor seiner Zeit bei IHG war Vijesh als Vice President im Bereich Hospitality Investment Advisory bei Hodges Ward Elliott tätig, wo er sich auf die Beratung beim Verkauf von Hotels und Resorts großer Unternehmen mit Schwerpunkt auf dem Ultra-Luxussegment in Nordamerika und Lateinamerika spezialisierte Amerika und die Karibik. Zu Beginn seiner Karriere war er zwei Jahre lang als Analyst im Investmentanalyse-Team der InterContinental Hotels Group tätig, wo er mit Entwicklung zusammenarbeitete, um Pro Formas und Hauptstadtgenehmigungsmaterialien für neue Geschäfte zu erstellen.

Maurizio Piedra

Maurizio ist der Entwicklungsdirektor für die Karibik und Lateinamerika, verantwortlich für die Umsetzung der Wachstumsstrategie aller Hotelmarken in diesen Regionen. Er begann seine Karriere im Hotel- Schlussverkauf und wechselte später in eine Asset-Management-Funktion, wo er für ein Portfolio von 11 Hotels aller wichtigen Hotelmarken in den USA verantwortlich war. In seinen zurückliegenden Rollen hat er erfolgreich die Immobilienwachstumsstrategie für andere internationale Hotelmarken wie Sonder und Hilton in Florida und der Karibik entwickelt. Maurizio stammt ursprünglich aus Peru und ist von Beruf Ökonom. Außerhalb der Arbeit verbringt er gerne Zeit mit Freunden, entdeckt die kulinarische Szene der Orte, die er besucht, und geht morgens joggen.

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.