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 è Vice President sviluppo per IHG Hotels & Resorts, responsabile della crescita di Luxury & Lifestyle e Premium marchio nelle regioni orientali, nel Midwest degli Stati Uniti e nel Canada orientale. Esperto nel marchio portafoglio di IHG, Alex è stato recentemente Vice President Sviluppo per le regioni del Medio Atlantico e, prima ancora, Direttore Sviluppo, dove è stato responsabile dello sviluppo crescita del servizio selettivo e soggiorno portafoglio esteso di IHG. Il sig. Moeckel è entrato a far parte di IHG 13anni fa come responsabile sviluppo per il Nord America e l'America Latina, con sede fuori dalla sede di Atlanta. Prima di entrare in IHG, Alex è stato a New York City, dove ha ricoperto posizioni di crescente responsabilità presso Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Eastdil Secured e Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts. Alex si è laureato alla University of Delaware School of Hospitality Management e attualmente fa parte dell'Advisory Board della University of Delaware Hospitality & Sport Business Management School. Oltre a trascorrere del tempo con sua moglie e i suoi due figli, Alex ama l'emozione di viaggiare, godersi il nuovo cibo, giocare a golf, sciare e fare surf. Moeckel fa parte del Consiglio di amministrazione di FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education), la principale organizzazione no-profit per le allergie alimentari della nazione e il più grande finanziatore privato di ricerca, istruzione e advocacy sulle allergie alimentari.

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 supervisiona il portafoglio Luxury & Lifestyle e Premium di IHG nelle regioni del Midwest. Da quando è entrato a far parte di IHG nel 2022 come Director of sviluppo per Six Senses, ha svolto un ruolo chiave nel guidare la crescita in Upper Luxury e Branded Residential, supportando l'espansione della pipeline per Six Senses, Regent e Branded Residences in tutta l'America. Prima di IHG, Vijesh ha ricoperto il ruolo di Vice President nel settore Hospitality Investment Advisory presso Hodges Ward Elliott, dove si è specializzato nella consulenza sulla vendita di hotel e resort di livello istituzionale, con particolare attenzione al segmento ultra-lusso in Nord America, America Latina America e Caraibi. All'inizio della sua carriera, ha trascorso due anni come analista nel team Investment Analysis di InterContinental Hotels Group, collaborando con sviluppo per preparare materiali pro forma e di approvazione del capitale a supporto di nuove operazioni.

Maurizio Piedra

Maurizio è il Direttore Sviluppo per i Caraibi e l'America Latina, responsabile dell'attuazione della strategia di crescita di tutto il marchio in questa regione. Ha iniziato la sua carriera nel settore delle vendite di investimenti alberghieri e in seguito è passato a un ruolo di asset management, responsabile di un portafoglio di 11 hotel negli Stati Uniti con tutti i principali marchio alberghiero. Nei suoi ruoli precedenti, ha sviluppato con successo la strategia di crescita immobiliare per altri marchi internazionali, come Sonder e Hilton, in Florida e nei Caraibi. Maurizio è originario del Perù ed è un economista di professione. Al di fuori del lavoro, gli piace passare il tempo con i suoi amici, scoprire la scena culinaria dei luoghi che visita e fare corse mattutine.

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.