Industry News for January 24, 2025Industry News for January 24, 2025

Venue News

Hotel management company Palladium Hotel Group anticipates the arrival of The Unexpected Hotels brand in Ibiza next summer. Since its launch in 2011, Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel has established itself as a pioneering luxury brand that seamlessly blends exceptional accommodation with the highest level of musical entertainment. Following over a decade of success, Palladium Hotel Group announced in April 2024 the evolution of this beloved brand - one of the most successful in the management group's portfolio – to give rise to the sophisticated new brand, The Unexpected Hotels. 

People on the Move

Fairmont Grand Del Mar, the award-winning, luxury resort located in the coastal canyons of Rancho Peñasquitos Preserve, announced the appointment of experienced golf veteran, Ian Leggatt, as Director of Golf. Leggatt will oversee all operations at The Grand Golf Club, which includes San Diego's only Tom Fazio-designed golf course. 

Pacifica Hotels announced the appointment of experienced hospitality veteran, Scott Roby, as President to oversee all portfolio assets and operations moving forward. A Southern California native, Roby was most recently the founder and principal at Storyteller Hospitality where his mission was to provide consulting and advisory services to hospitality companies to clearly frame and execute the next chapter of their story. Prior to that, Roby was a co-founder and SVP of Operations for Evolution Hospitality, a lifestyle hotel operator. Roby was critical in the spin-off of the management platform in 2011 from the parent company, Tarsadia Hotels. He started his career with two Hilton resorts in San Diego after graduating from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration. 

Hot off the Press

Atlantis Paradise Island unveiled a landmark collaboration with KemperSports LIVE, appointing the renowned sports marketing and event management agency as the official event manager for the Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis. This remarkable union brings together two visionary brands, combining their expertise to elevate the iconic NCAA Division I basketball tournament. With a proven track record of managing high-profile events like the Maui Invitational and the McDonald’s All American Games, KemperSports LIVE will not only uphold the tournament’s storied legacy but also introduce innovative elements to elevate the experience for fans, athletes, schools, and partners alike. 

Mexico Grand Hotels announced its participation in FITUR 2025 International Tourism Trade Fair, the global stage for innovation and collaboration in the travel industry. Held in Madrid, Spain, from January 22 - 26, 2025, this prestigious event offers a valuable platform for Mexico Grand Hotels to connect with international travel professionals and share its award-winning approach to hospitality. Those attending are encouraged to visit Mexico Grand Hotels at Booth 3B02 within the Mexico Pabellón. Throughout the trade show, Sales & Marketing Director, Gabriel Ibarra Macias, will be available to schedule appointments. 

The team at David Beahm Experiences modeled industry goodwill by swapping their traditional New Year's partner gifting with giving back to a community devastated by Hurricane Helene. On December 24th, just in time for the holiday, Production Manager, Q, and Holiday Hero, Daevid, and two Team Beahm members packed the DBE van and delivered the blankets to Marshall, North Carolina. From there, they were distributed at the Ralph and Hazel Ramsey Community Center and Enon Baptist Church which has established outreach to their community. Their team of volunteers handed out the blankets to the elders of the church and those without shelter in the icy mountain weather. Watch the video story here. 

The AC Forum has proudly joined the global sustainability movement by officially signing the Net Zero Carbon Events (NZCE) Pledge during a festive signing ceremony held at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow. This significant milestone was celebrated as part of the AC Forum Annual Meeting, hosted at a venue with deep historical ties to the NZCE initiative, which was launched during COP26 at the SEC. The addition of AC Forum to the NZCE signatory ranks marks an important moment for the campaign, given AC Forum’s unique position as a collective of prominent international associations, many of which operate outside the traditional business events scope. NZCE anticipates that AC Forum's involvement will inspire its member organizations to embrace the pledge, amplifying the reach and impact of this global effort to achieve net zero carbon emissions in events by 2050. 

Awards & Accolades

Six Senses resort spas has received the highest level of certification by Control Union—a certification body accredited by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. Six Senses properties* underwent an extensive audit by Control Union to verify their efforts in sustainability planning, reducing negative environmental impacts, enhancing cultural heritage, and maximizing social and economic benefits for surrounding communities. The GSTC Certification is a respected seal of sustainable travel and tourism, offering an antidote to “greenwashing” in the hospitality industry. The extensive certification criteria aim to give credibility to sustainability claims, ensuring they are both measurable and can be upheld through meaningful action. Certification is based on third-party audits of hotels and corporate processes by accredited auditors, and is granted for a period of three years, providing a continuous commitment to improvement and accountability.