Simoner has vast experience in hospitality sector, most recently as Senior Vice President of Kempinski Europe and as General Manager at the Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains St. Moritz.

Newly created position will lead brand’s growth plan across the region, with particular emphasis on China; veteran hotelier William Mackay assumes oversight of hotel operations in the region.

The 790-room establishment is Madrid’s third largest hotel and one of the capital’s most historical, since it opened in 1978. It will be completely refurbished before opening in 2016.

Meliá Cartagena in Cartagena de Indias will provide 154 rooms, a “destination-restaurant” and a buffet restaurant, a bar, spa, Beach Club and rooms for meetings and events.

He leads a kitchen team of 100, oversees the hotel’s five restaurants, in-room dining, banquets and events, and is responsible for all menu development and food & beverage quality control.

Handing over the reins at PARKROYAL Serviced Suites Kuala Lumpur to Acting General Manager Goh Tee Kay, Sharmini will now helm the 534-room PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road in Singapore.

Conrad London Westminster, located between Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace, is expected to welcome guests beginning in September 2014.

Designed for time-poor guests, Spa by JW adds express treatments to provide on-demand services that start at 12-minute entry points and are available without an appointment.

The video is designed to bring The Ritz-Carlton experience to life in a new and unexpected format that would be exciting to today’s social media savvy guests.

By Daniela Neiderer: Time spent studying hospitality seems to fly by as you rotate through different departments and, with internships, different countries.