APPOINTMENT

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced the appointment of Julienne Smith as the new Head of Americas Growth, where she will lead the company’s brand expansion across North America, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

In her new role, Julienne Smith will oversee growth across Hyatt’s Luxury, Lifestyle, Classics, and Essentials portfolios, while strengthening relationships with owners and developers and supporting long-term development strategy across the region. Growth for the Inclusive Collection will continue under Javier Águila, President, Inclusive Collection.

Julienne brings more than two decades of experience in hospitality, with a background spanning development strategy, brand expansion, and owner engagement. She most recently served as Chief Development Officer for the Americas at IHG Hotels & Resorts, where she led development strategy across a broad brand portfolio.

Earlier in her career, she spent nearly 14 years with Hyatt, most recently as Senior Vice President of Development and Owner Relations, where she played a key role in expanding the company’s select-service portfolio and building relationships with owners across the United States and Canada.

Commenting on the appointment, Mark Hoplamazian, Chairman, President & CEO of Hyatt, said, “Julienne is a highly respected industry leader with deep expertise and a proven ability to deliver results. Her experience across development, brand strategy and owner engagement positions her exceptionally well to drive Hyatt’s next phase of growth in the Americas.

She leads with a strong sense of care that embodies Hyatt’s purpose – supporting colleagues and fostering trusted relationships with owners. We are delighted to welcome her back to Hyatt.”

Excited for her new role, Julienne Smith said, “I’m excited to rejoin Hyatt at such a pivotal moment,” said Smith. “Our approach is insights-led and brand-focused, growing our Luxury, Lifestyle and Classics brand portfolios where we see strong demand and scaling our Essentials brands to unlock new markets, all while delivering strong returns for our owners.”

Her appointment aligns with Hyatt’s broader focus on growth, supported by a strong development pipeline and continued expansion into new markets across the Americas.