Hospitality companies have added new leaders, including a new global managing director at EDITION Hotels.
EDITION Hotels names SVP/global managing director
EDITION Hotels, a collection of one-of-a-kind hotels conceived through a collaboration between hotelier Ian Schrager and Marriott International, has named Josh Fluhr SVP/global managing director.
Fluhr, who succeeds long-time executive Dan Flannery, will guide the brand through its extensive growth, overseeing all aspects of the brand’s culture, training platform, hotel openings, design evolution, marketing and PR strategy, nightlife programming and food & beverage concept development.
“Dan Flannery will be sorely missed as a one-of-a-kind leader and gentleman,” said Schrager. “He embodied everything EDITION tried to achieve. However, EDITION is so lucky to have a man of Josh’s caliber, intelligence, know-how, experience and expertise to step in right away. Having worked so closely with Dan for so long at EDITION, I’m sure the transition will be seamless and not miss a heartbeat. I personally can rest easy and be totally confident with Josh at the helm for the future of the brand.”
Fluhr brings more than 30 years of luxury hospitality experience to the role. He began his career working in operations at the W New York – Times Square and the W New York – Union Square during the brand’s entry into the Manhattan hotel scene. From there, he joined Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ corporate offices to help launch the Aloft Hotels brand, working across both operations and development to set Aloft on a path towards global growth.
In 2007, he became VP, hotel operations at SBE Hotel Group, helping to create, launch and open the flagship SLS Hotel Beverly Hills. He played a pivotal role in helping integrate this property into The Luxury Collection portfolio, and as a member of the SBE leadership team, worked on growing the SLS footprint. In 2010, Fluhr joined Marriott International as a senior team member with the newly launched EDITION brand, helping to manage the logistics, training, F&B and openings of the first two EDITION properties in Waikiki and Istanbul.
In 2011, he led hotel operations & development for the SLS Las Vegas and SLS Miami, and later that year, he joined Morgans Hotel Group, where he worked in senior operations roles, ultimately becoming COO. In 2016, Fluhr rejoined Marriott and the EDITION team, and has been a key leader in establishing the brand’s solid foundation for future growth, overseeing food & beverage development, brand operations, training, preopening budgeting and development and the opening of 11 of the current 14 EDITION properties worldwide, the company reports.
Graduate Hotels adds Michele Evans as EVP of hospitality
Graduate Hotels has appointed Michele Evans as EVP of hospitality for the brand. She is responsible for the strategic support and operational success of all food and beverage programs across the Graduate Hotels portfolio.
“It is an honor to welcome Michele to our Graduate Hotels team as we continue to strengthen and evolve the hospitality experience across our portfolio,” said Kevin Osterhaus, president, Graduate Hotels. “She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this role that will drive the next phase of food and beverage for the brand with a meticulous attention to detail and the ability to drive big picture change and innovation.”
Most recently, Evans served as VP of food and beverage for the luxury hotel and resort collection Auberge Resorts. In this position, she oversaw concept development, operations and food and beverage brand strategy for the portfolio’s 28 food and beverage programs across 22 hotels and resorts. She began her career in hospitality with James Beard award-winning STARR Restaurants where she spent 15 years of her career progressing from GM to director to VP of operations.
As VP at STARR, she worked alongside Stephen Starr overseeing the expansion of the New York; Washington, DC; and Florida markets. She played a key role in the company’s New York portfolio growth including acclaimed concepts Le Coucou, Pastis and La Mercerie. Evans briefly stepped away during her time with STARR for a stint at private workspace and creative gathering space, Neuehouse to serve as global director of operations. At Neuehouse, Evans gained experience in the membership space, focusing on service, concept and member experience.
Kluetz joins Holiday Inn Club Vacations as VP, brand experience and design
James “Jamie” Kluetz has been named VP, brand experience and design at Holiday Inn Club Vacations Inc.
In this new role, he spearheads the company’s effort to transform its sales journey, which includes building personalized and innovative experiences at its sales centers.
“This year, our company is celebrating 40 incredible years of helping families go on memorable vacations,” said John Staten, president/CEO, Holiday Inn Club Vacations. “While we are proud of this milestone anniversary, we also understand that our consumers, and the way they interact with brands, have changed over the years. Jamie’s valuable experience, passion for the industry and reputation for pushing the boundaries makes him the perfect individual to lead the charge of reinventing our sales process.”
Working closely with sales, customer experience and brand teams, Kluetz will enhance the sales journey and bring a brand-new look and feel to the company’s sales centers. This work will begin with the company’s new properties, such as the oceanfront resort in Myrtle Beach that is currently in development and expected to open in 2024.
“We are so excited to work with Jamie to create an innovative and impactful new way to tell the Holiday Inn Club Vacations story at our sales centers,” said John Sutherland, EVP, sales, Holiday Inn Club Vacations. “His creative and customer-first mindset aligns with our brand, and ultimately, will be vital as we build a more personalized, inviting and immersive guest experience.”
He has more than 30 years of creative and marketing experience and spent a majority of his career working in the timeshare industry. He cofounded the brand experience and marketing agency Brand Tango in 2004, serving as its president/chief creative officer until the company’s acquisition by Lamark Media Group in 2019. He continued to lead the agency’s creative strategy and development as executive creative director, a role he held prior to joining Holiday Inn Club Vacations. During his time with the agency, he led branding, product design, marketing, innovation and sales center projects for a variety of high-profile clients, including AM Resorts, Hilton Grand Vacations, Wyndham Destinations, Marriott Vacations Worldwide, Disney Vacation Club and Ritz-Carlton Reserve Residences. Prior to launching Brand Tango, he spent more than a decade leading agency and corporate in-house creative teams in the communications and hospitality industries.
