Executives in the hospitality industry have taken on new roles. Here’s a look:
Hermann Elger named Forbes Travel Guide CEO
Forbes Travel Guide has appointed Hermann Elger as CEO. He will replace Filip Boyen, who is stepping away from his position in mid-February after three-and-a-half years and will remain an ambassador for the company.
Elger (shown above) brings 30 years of luxury hospitality and business expertise to his new role. Serving most recently as EVP, travel, entertainment and health security at digital health leader Sharecare, he led the launch of Sharecare’s health security verification program in partnership with Forbes Travel Guide, which now covers more than 3,500 properties in more than 85 countries. Prior to Sharecare, Elger was the managing director of Baccarat Hotel New York and COO of Baccarat Hotels and Resorts. As general manager, he led Baccarat Hotel New York to its first Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award in 2018. Elger has also served as general manager at other Five-Star hotels across North America, including The St. Regis New York, Montage Beverly Hills (now The Maybourne Beverly Hills) and The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun.
Crestline promotes two executives
Crestline Hotels & Resorts LLC has promoted two members of its executive team. Aaron Olson assumes the role of EVP, operations and Carolee Moore to SVP, revenue strategy.
Olson joined Crestline in 2017 as VP, operations for the West Coast and was subsequently promoted to SVP, operations for Crestline in 2018. In his new position, he leads Crestline’s hotel operations team to meet owner needs and support the operational focus for the company’s strategic growth initiatives and new hotel developments.
His career began at Marriott International and spans two decades, including roles such as VP, operations for Interstate Hotels & Resorts and management positions with RIM Hospitality, Wright Investments and Texas Western Hospitality.
Moore joined Crestline Hotels & Resorts in 2000 and was promoted to VP, sales & marketing in 2011 and subsequently to VP, revenue management and e-commerce in 2016. In her new position as SVP, revenue strategy, she is responsible for leading a team that identifies successful revenue strategies and e-commerce initiatives for maximization of profit with available demand. She brings more than 25 years of hotel experience to her position. Prior to joining Crestline, she held sales and operations positions with Promus Hotels and Disney Resorts. She also opened extended-stay hotels as a director of sales and led select-service hotels as a general manager.
Andrea Scherz named LWH executive committee chair
The Leading Hotels of the World Ltd. (LHW) has named Andrea Scherz chairman of its executive committee. He is the proprietor/general manager of Gstaad Palace in Switzerland and has served on LHW’s executive committee for the past 11 years, most recently as vice chairman.
Scherz serves as the sixth chairman in the company’s history, which dates back to 1928. He follows in the footsteps of his father, Ernst Andrea Scherz, who also served as LHW chairman. In his role, the younger Scherz will be at the helm of the executive committee, which is comprised of seven hoteliers that represent the 60+ shareholder members of LHW.
Scherz grew up in the hotel business at the hotel he now runs. Before returning to Gstaad, he worked for various hotels in the U.K., Switzerland, Italy and the U.S. He returned home in 1996 assuming the position of general manager in 2001. In addition to his role at LHW, he holds a board seat with Swiss Deluxe Hotels and the Gstaad-Saanenland Airport Association.
