The Leading Hotels of the World (LHW), a collection of more than 425 independent luxury hotels in over 80 countries, announced the appointment of Dean Bannon as Vice President, Member Success & Development. Formerly Managing Director, EMEA, Bannon will relocate from London to New York and assume expanded global responsibilities as of January 2026.
In this newly elevated role, Bannon will lead LHW’s global member relationship management teams, overseeing Member Success and Membership Development across the portfolio. He will focus on strengthening partnerships with member hotels worldwide, supporting hotel performance, and guiding thoughtful portfolio growth aligned with LHW’s commitment to remarkable quality, remarkable individuals, and uncommon experiences.
Bannon brings more than two decades of senior leadership experience across luxury hospitality, commercial strategy, revenue generation, and strategic market growth. Since joining LHW, he has played a pivotal role in advancing commercial performance across the EMEA region while cultivating trusted, long-term relationships with member hotels. His leadership has been instrumental in supporting regional recovery efforts and reinforcing LHW’s value proposition during a period of global transformation.
A former hotelier, Bannon brings a practical, on-property perspective grounded in a deep understanding of owner and operator needs. Prior to joining LHW, he held senior commercial leadership roles across Europe, including Commercial Director at Grand Hôtel Stockholm and Director of Sales for First Hotels Sweden. Earlier in his career, he spent more than a decade with Starwood Hotels & Resorts in Europe.
“As an organization proudly owned and led by its member hoteliers since 1928, LHW is built on collaboration, innovation, and a shared passion for independent luxury hospitality. Dean’s proven leadership at one of our member hotels and within LHW make him well positioned to further elevate the member experience,” said Chris Walker, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer. “This promotion allows us to build on the strong momentum he has helped create across our global portfolio, while continuing to thoughtfully develop our membership and drive meaningful value for our hotels worldwide.”
Bannon’s appointment reflects a refined leadership structure within LHW’s Commercial organization, designed to support continued growth for member hotels while strengthening capabilities across both Member Experience and Global Sales. He will report to Chris Walker, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, who will also continue to lead LHW’s Global Sales organization, ensuring consistency and strategic alignment across key commercial functions.
As part of this evolution, Craig Adamson succeeds Bannon as Managing Director, EMEA Sales and will relocate from Sydney to London. Additionally, Fiza Han expands her responsibilities as Interim Managing Director, APAC Sales, while Armanda Santangeli continues to lead Americas Sales. Together, this leadership team will continue to advance LHW’s mission to champion the world’s most exceptional independent luxury hotels and the hoteliers who define them.
