Accor has appointed Ben Cary as VP, development, Eastern United States and Nicolas Martinez as VP, development, Mexico, Central America and Caribbean.
In their roles, both senior executives will support the acceleration of the group’s strategic growth strategy in North & Central America, further strengthening Accor’s presence in the region. Cary and Martinez will manage all aspects of development and work with various stakeholders, primarily developers, investors and owners, with a focus on identifying new business opportunities, leading the execution of agreements and subsequent transition to the operations teams, in their respective regions.
“With several years of experience in the hospitality industry, Ben and Nicolas bring a wealth of knowledge and key market expertise that will strengthen our team and drive continued expansion of our hotel portfolio during an important year of growth,” said Mark Purcell, SVP, development, Accor North & Central America. “This year has presented interesting opportunities that extend beyond the notable developments and conversions we have seen in the past few years, setting the stage for sustained growth throughout 2021 and beyond. I am thrilled to welcome these two leaders to our development team to support our solid and consistent pace of development and fortify the group’s strategic expansion in North and Central America, particularly in the luxury and lifestyle segments, which are well poised for growth.”
Cary brings more than 20 years of hospitality experience with corporate, investment and property teams to Accor. An accomplished leader with a strong network of contacts and a demonstrated history of generating new business, according to Accor, Cary has steered companies through brand expansions and business transformations, and has negotiated and executed multiple agreements.
He has held various senior leadership positions in development, asset management and real estate at luxury hotel brands, including Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and Meininger Hotels. Most recently, Cary was SVP at Meininger America, where he led all facets of the company’s expansion in North America, including devising and implementing the growth strategy for the region and overseeing development of the first hotel in the U.S.
Martinez has extensive experience in development and finance, spanning more than a decade in the hospitality industry. A results-driven professional, he led financial and growth strategies for real estate and hotel brands throughout Mexico.
In his most recent role as Hilton’s director, development for Mexico, Martinez spearheaded development plans and directly managed the relationships with hotel owners and investors for the company countrywide. Prior to this role, Martinez held a series of management positions at Hilton throughout his career, including director of finance and office manager at the Hilton Worldwide Corporate Office in Mexico, where he was responsible for the establishment and growth of the area finance division. He has also worked with JLL Mexico Hotels and Hospitality Group, leading the asset management division for their hotels, focusing on improving operating performance.
Over the past two years, Accor has significantly augmented its portfolio in North & Central America, with the introduction of several new lifestyle and luxury brands, including SO/, MGallery Hotel Collection and 21c Museum Hotels, with confirmed plans to bring Raffles Hotels and Sofitel Legend to the region by 2022.
