Driftwood Hospitality Management (DHM) has appointed Gregory Maliassas as its new CEO. He is replacing David Buddemeyer, the founder of the company, who is staying on as strategic consultant.
“We are thrilled to welcome Greg,” said Carlos Rodriguez Jr., cofounder/CEO, Driftwood Capital. “As DHM continues to scale its platform and expand across brands, geographies and ownership relationships, Greg’s track record of transforming and scaling world-class hotel operations, combined with his global perspective and hands-on leadership style, makes him the natural leader for this next chapter. We are confident his appointment will accelerate our momentum and create exceptional value for our ownership groups, employees and guests. We see a significant opportunity to grow our management platform across the Americas, supported by the strength of our capital relationships and our integrated operating model.”
Carlos Rodriguez, founder/executive chairman, Driftwood Capital, added, “DHM has been built over decades with a deep commitment to people, performance and long-term relationships. Greg brings the leadership and global perspective to build on that foundation and take the platform to the next level.”
Maliassas joins DHM from Playa Hotels & Resorts, where he served as EVP/COO, overseeing operations for a portfolio of branded all-inclusive resorts across the Caribbean and Mexico. During his tenure, he led a team of more than 15,000 employees, and spearheaded partnerships with brands including Marriott, Hyatt, IHG, Hilton and Wyndham.
Prior to Playa, he served as SVP, operations for the luxury and premium brands of Accor Hotels in Central & Eastern Europe, overseeing a portfolio of more than 45 hotels operating under the Raffles, Fairmont and Sofitel flags. He has previously held senior operational leadership roles with Sofitel Hotels & Resorts, including VP, North, Central and Eastern Europe and SVP, Middle East, Africa and Indian Ocean regions.
“The nearly three decades of building Driftwood Hospitality Management has been the defining achievement of my professional life,” said David Buddemeyer, founder/CEO, DHM. “I am incredibly proud of what we built and excited about what lies ahead. Greg is a proven global leader with exceptional operational expertise, integrity and vision. He understands this business deeply and shares our values and commitment to excellence. I could not be more confident in his ability to lead DHM into its next chapter of growth while honoring the culture and people that make this company special.”
Maliassas added, “I am honored to join Driftwood Hospitality Management at such an exciting moment in the company’s history. I want to acknowledge and celebrate the remarkable legacy that David Buddemeyer has built over the years—his vision, dedication and entrepreneurial spirit have shaped Driftwood Hospitality into the exceptional company it is today, and I am deeply grateful to be stepping into this role on the foundation he created. DHM has built an extraordinary foundation with innovation, a portfolio of iconic properties and deep relationships with ownership groups that are truly distinctive in this industry. I look forward to working alongside the talented DHM team to drive operational excellence, expand our management footprint, and deliver outstanding results for every stakeholder we serve.”
