
Preferred Hotel Group announced the appointment of Susan Devine as Executive Vice President of Preferred’s European Region. The appointment is part of a larger presence for Preferred Hotels in Europe.
The company has expanded its global sales and marketing presence in Europe by increasing the number of associates dedicated to representing its member hotels directly to corporate and leisure travel agents, and group planners in the region. In addition, Preferred added a new role dedicated to public relations for Europe.During her five years with Preferred Hotel Group, most recently in the role of Area Managing Director, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), Ms. Devine was responsible for tripling the growth of Preferred’s LAC membership, and was instrumental in developing key partnerships with several internationally acclaimed hotel companies. A 20-year veteran of the hospitality industry with extensive experience working directly with hotel management in marketing and sales, Ms. Devine has lived in 11 countries and 16 cities around the world, and is currently based in Madrid. She will head a team of professionals across Europe dedicated to increasing Preferred’s development in the region.The development team working with Ms. Devine includes Bruno Chiaruttini, Area Managing Director-Continental Europe based in Paris, Chris Fradin, Regional Director-UK and Scandinavian countries based in London, Christian Hribar, Regional Director-Central Europe based in Munich and Roberta Possenti, Regional Director-Southern Europe, based in Milan.The company also recently named Sylvia Smith, who will focus on MICE initiatives, as Director, Group Sales-UK & Ireland, and Aysem Monaco as Senior Manager, Public Relations. In this role, Ms. Monaco will focus on heightening brand awareness across the European region.Preferred Hotel Group currently represents over 180 hotels in Europe and has added nine new properties in the region during the first quarter.