Hyatt has announced the strengthening of its EMEA management team with the appointments of Heidi Kunkel and Monique Dekker. The new arrivals will support the group's ambitious growth plans in the region and increase the number of women in senior positions.

Heidi Kunkel has been appointed to the position of Senior Vice-President of Commercial Services. In this role, she will lead sales, revenue management, distribution strategy, corporate marketing, brands, communications, digital, and the World of Hyatt loyalty platform.

She started her career in 2003 with Club Med as Marketing Manager. During her 15 years with the group, Heidi Kunkel has held a number of management positions including President Northeast Asia, Chief Executive Southeast Asia & Pacific, and Chief Executive New Markets Europe and Africa.

In 2018, she joined Hilton as Vice-President of Operations in APAC. For over four years, she was responsible for the performance of 30 properties across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and French Polynesia.

Monique Dekker has been promoted to Senior Vice-President of Human Resources. She will be responsible for creating career opportunities for Hyatt's 18,000 employees in the EMEA region and fostering talent development and retention.

She joined Hyatt in 1996. Initially Housekeeping Floor Manager at the Grand Hyatt New York, Monique Dekker's 25 years with the hospitality company have seen her career develop considerably. She has worked at properties in Tokyo, Düsseldorf, Chicago, and Singapore.

In 2013, she became General Manager of the Park Hyatt Vienna. Five years later, she then combined this position with that of Area Vice-President Austria. Finally, she also sits on the company's Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council and chairs the Women @ Hyatt initiative.

Heidi and Monique are incredible talents who will be instrumental in Hyatt's continued growth in the EMEA region. As we grow, we want to attract strong leaders who will carry our culture and focus of care to our new properties and corporate offices, instilling this philosophy in our partners. I can't think of two more perfect professionals to help us achieve this ambition.

Javier Águila, EMEA Group President at Hyatt

I am excited to accelerate growth opportunities for Hyatt in EMEA, focusing on priority source markets such as the UK, Germany, France, and Spain, and driving engagement with our World of Hyatt loyalty programme.

Heidi Kunkel, Senior Vice-President of Commercial Services at Hyatt

I am incredibly passionate about Hyatt's focus on caring and am committed to creating a culture where everyone, regardless of who they are, where they come from, or where they are in their career, has an equal opportunity to be their best and is encouraged to speak up and be heard. I look forward to making my long-term commitment to Women @ Hyatt and our diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at individual property level an important part of my new role.

Monique Dekker, Senior Vice-President of Human Resources at Hyatt