Worldwide: Virgin Hotels and Marriott International have announced James Bermingham and Anthony Capuano as CEO respectively.
Virgin Hotels
Bermingham joins the Virgin Hotels executive team following nearly two decades with Montage International. He served as executive vice president of operations for Montage, overseeing all aspects of operations for Montage as well as the seven hotels and resorts under the Pendry brand.
In his new role, Bermingham will lead Virgin’s growth and support three openings in Las Vegas, New Orleans and New York City. Properties are also under development in Miami and Edinburgh, with additional opportunities being pursued in Philadelphia, Glasgow, Cannes and Ibiza.
“I have long admired Virgin Hotels’ ability to seamlessly blend smart and innovative design with elevated service and – maybe most importantly – fun,” said Bermingham. “Watching the brand grow into itself as a reliable haven for both leisure and business travelers without sacrificing its inherent ‘cool factor’ has been exciting, to say the least, and I’m really looking forward to joining such a dynamic team.”
Peter Norris, chairman of Virgin Hotels, added: “James’ appointment comes at an exciting time of accelerating growth for us. His decades of industry experience and acute global expertise will be a true asset for the brand as we push to expand our footprint both domestically and internationally.”
Marriott International
Anthony Capuano has been named as Marriott International’s CEO following the death or Arne Sorenson in February. Capuano previously served as the company’s group president of global development, design and operations, growing Marriott’s footprint from around 3,200 in 2009 to over 7,600 properties by year-end 2020.
“I am honoured to be appointed to take the helm of Marriott, but it is a bittersweet moment,” Capuano said. “Arne was a mentor, a champion and a friend to each member of his close-knit leadership team. It is because of Arne’s efforts that we are prepared to move forward with this transition.”
J.W. Marriott, executive chairman and chairman of the board at Marriott, added: “Tony has played a critical role in Marriott’s growth over the last decade. He will be a terrific leader as we continue to advance our growth strategy while also navigating the market dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic. He works thoughtfully and pragmatically with our owner and franchisee community and has been steadfast in ensuring Marriott delivers operational excellence and elevated customer experiences at our properties. Tony has a deep appreciation for Marriott’s thousands of associates who ultimately deliver on our customer and brand promise and I know he will be a superb steward of our culture.”
Marriott’s board of directors have also appointed Stephanie Linnartz as president. She will be responsible for developing and executing the company’s consumer strategy, including brand, marketing, sales, revenue management, customer engagement, digital, emerging businesses and loyalty strategies.
Linnartz will also oversee Marriott’s global development organisation, helping to grow the group’s 30 lodging brands as well as global design and operations services.
“Stephanie has a leadership track record and clear vision for how our core lodging business, travel platform initiatives and loyalty strategies can work together to accelerate growth,” continued Marriott. “Her deep experience across our business will enable her to work seamlessly with our owners and franchisees, innovate for our guests and customers, and champion new opportunities for our associates.
“Tony and Stephanie are exactly the CEO and president we need as we continue to push forward towards recovery and growth in the years ahead.”
