(18/01/24) IHG has appointed Leanne Harwood as Senior Vice
President / Managing Director, Luxury & Lifestyle Americas
(LLA), effective 1 March 2024.
An industry veteran with nearly three decades of
hospitality industry experience, Leanne currently works as SVP / MD for IHG’s Japan, Australasia and Pacific (JAPAC) region.
Leanne Harwood
Leanne has led impressive regional growth since assuming that
position in January 2018, expanding IHG’s reach to include nearly
160 open or in pipeline hotels highlighted by the signings of the
InterContinental Sorrento Mornington Peninsula, Kimpton Margot
Sydney, RIHGA Royal Hotel Osaka and Regent Kyoto.
Leanne also
played an instrumental role in the global and regional launches of
the company’s fast-growing voco hotels and Vignette Collection
brands over the last few years.
“Leanne has built a proven reputation among IHG and
the broader industry as a trusted and strategic leader, and I have
no doubt she is the right person to lead the next era of growth
for our Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio – already one of the largest
in the world – in the Americas region,” said Jolyon Bulley, CEO –
Americas, IHG Hotels & Resorts. “From operations, commercial
and sales to food and beverage, her depth and breadth of
experience is very well suited for this role. I look forward to
working with Leanne and her leadership team to introduce our
leading Luxury & Lifestyle brands to even more owners, guests and
markets in the coming years.”
Prior to joining IHG, Leanne assumed roles of
increasing leadership and responsibility across various sales,
operations and commercial teams. She began her hospitality journey
at a hotel bar in New Zealand and ultimately became its Food &
Beverage Director and later New Zealand’s first female hotel
concierge.
Leanne is also a respected leadership voice in
professional organizations across the industry. In 2021, she was
elected as the first female president of Accommodation Australia –
one of the nation’s most prominent hospitality assemblies.
Additionally, Leanne serves as chair of IHG’s ANA Hotels Group Japan Board
and was an early sponsor of IHG’s RISE program, which supports the
development of female GMs through training, mentorship and
resource access.
In her new position, Leanne will oversee the daily
operations of the LLA organization, drive performance and
operations of IHG’s six Luxury & Lifestyle brands and support
their growth in the Americas.
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