Meet The New CEO of Minor Hotels Europe & Americas

Gonzalo Aguilar has officially taken on the role of Chief Executive Officer of Minor Hotels Europe and the Americas, effective January 1, 2025. Aguilar joined Minor Hotels in October 2024 and succeeded the former CEO, Ramón Aragonés, who retired at the end of 2024 but remains a member of the board of directors and a non-executive vice-chairman.

Aguilar brings over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, including his most recent role as the Director of Operations for Europe at Marriott International. He aims to use his vast expertise to boost growth and profitability for the Minor Hotels team. His leadership has successfully integrated the AC Hotels brand into Marriott and reached key corporate milestones. He has rapidly progressed since starting as a restaurant manager in Colorado, USA.

At Minor Hotels in Europe and the Americas, Aguilar aims to enhance the global integration of Minor’s brand portfolio while speeding up hotel openings in crucial markets. This is especially true in the luxury and resort sectors, which are aligned with the company’s “asset right” strategy that fosters sustainable growth through a well-balanced approach to ownership, management, and franchise models.

“Gonzalo’s experience, leadership and deep understanding of the asset-light and multi-brand hotel landscape make him the ideal choice to guide Minor Hotels Europe and the Americas into our next phase of strategic growth in this high-value region,” said Dillip Rajakarier, CEO of Minor Hotels and President of Minor Hotels Europe and the Americas.

Aguilar expressed his excitement about the role, stating: “Joining this hotel group is an opportunity that I embrace with great enthusiasm. I look forward to collaborating with its talented team to build on the company’s excellent performance. With our portfolio of globally recognised brands and ambitious expansion plans, we are well positioned to achieve continued success in the most profitable segments of the market.”

Aguilar’s official appointment as CEO will be announced at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, set to take place before June 30, 2025. He collaborated closely with Aragonés during onboarding to facilitate a smooth leadership transition.