Riko is based at Kempinski’s headquarters in Geneva overseeing the Technology, Digital and Distribution Strategy of the group.

Riko joined Kempinski in 2012 as Vice President Digital Strategy and Distribution, and successfully implemented a brand wide CRM platform, launched the brand’s first responsive website and brand app, migrated the group’s distribution systems, and conceptualized a web based business intelligence tool and guest intelligence solution.

Prior to joining Kempinski, Riko oversaw 1,100 properties under 7 brands ranging from budget to high end luxury, as Vice President Distribution and E-Commerce at Louvre Hotels Group, based in Paris, France.

Riko began his career gaining experience in the front office and revenue disciplines at the Hotel Okura Amsterdam, followed by revenue management, distribution, IT and digital marketing positions with Pegasus Solutions, NH Hotels, and Golden Tulip Hotels.

Riko graduated with an Honours degree in Hotel Management from Middlesex University, London, and obtained a post graduate degree in Japanese Business Studies, and served as Vice President and Executive Advisor to HTNG (Hotel Technology Next Generation).

I have been working in the hospitality industry for over 20 years with a strong on property operational but also a solid multi property / regional expertise.

On property, I was serving in different functions starting from Reservations Agent, over Conventions Sales Agent to Director of Revenue Management. During my career,  I was able to gain experience with different hard-brands including Hilton, Accor and Starwood.

Six years ago, I moved into the regional role as Director Hotel Revenue Optimization with Preferred Hotels & Resorts supporting around 45 member hotels in Central & Eastern Europe in the area of distribution optimization. I am CRME certified by HSMAI and proud member of HSMAI DACH Advisory Board since May 2022.

I am very keen to coach and consult the hotels in the areas of revenue management as an extended team member. It’s also key to provide our hoteliers with global market intelligence data to increase business from both feeder and emerging markets in order to maximize the hotels but also our company´s income and profit.

Jill Simpson is Head of Digital Procurement at IHG. She is responsible for digitizing the procurement function and building the procurement – hotel owner engagement strategy. Managing a global team who are based in North America, China, India and the UK, she is based at the headquarters near London. Jill has 20 years’ experience in Procurement and Operations working for global organizations leading significant transformations that have secured financial savings, embedded standard ways of working, enhanced capability and achieved performance targets. Jill has worked with numerous suppliers along with developing in-house solutions and is excited about bringing the digital benefits to life at IHG. New to the hospitality industry, a seasoned professional in Procurement Excellence and leading transformation programmes within oil and gas, mining, utilities, engineering, construction and manufacturing industries. Operations She started with IHG in May 2021.

Victoria Fischer joined Penta Hotels end of 2021 and in her new role as head of revenue she leads a team of revenue management and distribution experts responsible for 21 hotels across Europe. Within the new commercial structure at Penta, her focus is to develop a holistic data-driven automated total revenue strategy.

A true specialist in revenue management she holds a BA in hospitality management from Hamburg international academy and Victoria started her career at the Kempinski Bristol Berlin before moving on to revenue management roles for the Swissôtel in Berlin and Bremen. Her most recent role was with H-Hotels where she was responsible for the total revenue performance of 23 hotels in southern Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Hungary.

With 20 years of industry experience Simons knowledge expands across multiple commercial disciplines, which he gained at an interesting mix of forward-looking organization.

He stated he career at Ritz-Carlton and Hyatt Hotels and Resorts and he had roles in Quality and Revenue Management.

At TravelClick he then specialized in e-commerce and headed up the expansion of the Demand360 Business Intelligence Application into international hotel chains.

Afterwards he was part of a large revenue management transition at NH hotels and is now helping hotels build streamlined technology landscapes and effective business tactics for Design Hotels

• Corporate Director IT from Vienna House
• Joined Vienna House and the hospitality industry in 2016
• Responsible for all IT Applications + IT Infrastructure projects

Siim Karu has been applying his passion for automation, technology and data-driven efficiency as CRO since 2019 and is responsible for pricing strategy, business intelligence and IT at a&o Hostels, having also previously worked in various hotel chains such as pentahotels and Generator. With his extensive knowledge, he is leading a&o Hostels into the next generation of pricing, data-driven automation and business analytics

Evert Schuele as Chief Commercial Officer is responsible for the overall commercial strategy within HRG Hotels’ portfolio. His responsibilities span more than 100 hotels within the owner operated brands of the HR Group. This ranges from hotels in the budget to premium segment in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, The Netherlands & Poland together with franchise partners such as Accor, Dorint, Vienna House, Deutsche Hospitality, IHG, Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt to a selected number of white label hotels.

Evert Schuele has been responsible for numerous brand-specific strategies in his career and has worked for companies such as Kempinski, Starwood and Hyatt in London, Munich, Dubai, Vienna and Zurich. Evert Schuele has been in his current position at HRG Hotels in Germany since August 2021.

IT specialist with 30 years of experience in international hotel chains and corporate offices.
Head of IT & Systems for the Dorint hotel chain and their brands in the 3 to 5 star segment., Responsible for all day to day IT business, digitalization projects, hotel take over and supervision of uniform standards in order to guarantee a secure and consistent IT operation.

Career path:

Since 2018: Head of IT of HON-Service GmbH – the IT service provider for Dorint, Essential by Dorint and Hommage hotels as well for other subsidaries of the Honestis AG.

From 2007 to 2018: VP IT & Systems for GCH Hotel Group, operating more than 130 hotels in different European countries.

From 2005 to 2007: Director IT Back of House systems for Kempinski Hotels & Resorts S.A., Geneva.

From 2000 to 2005: Area IT Manager for IHG hotels Germany.

Before: different positions as IT Manager / IT Supervisor for IHG and Dorint hotels

Georgios Ganitis joined the Adina Hotels in 2011. His first position was General Manager of the
Adina Hotel Frankfurt Neue Oper, which he headed successfully until November 2012. Afterwards
he moved to the European head office in Berlin. As Regional General Manager Europe he was
responsible for the European hotel operations of Adina Hotels until October 2020. Since
November 2020, his new role as Director of Operations Europe includes the strategic and
operational management of currently 17 Adina Hotels in Europe, with the goal of continuously
improving and optimizing economic performance and profitability. He is also responsible for the
operational implementation of the Adina growth strategy in Europe.
Georgios Ganitis has 30 years of professional experience in the hotel industry. Beginning with his
apprenticeship as a management assistant in hotel and hospitality, he has been through all stages
of the operative hotel sector, prior to Adina, among others at Holiday Inn and Scandic Hotels,
before he was promoted from the service “on Property” to the management level of the head
office in 2012.
In addition to his training as a hotel manager, Ganitis completed a correspondence course of
several years in the area of business administration at ILS. He also obtained a certificate in Hotel
Real Estate Investment and Asset Management from the renowned Cornell University.

Inge Van Ooteghem is Managing Director of Premier Inn and, as Chief Operating Officer (COO), responsible for the operative business of the hotel brand in Germany. She is also in charge of the
Health, Safety & Security department as well as External Communications. With enthusiasm and years of experience, she ensures that the British hotel market leader’s expansion to Germany
is a success.
At least 43 hotels in around 20 German cities are under operation by end of 2022, with 78 secured sites in total. Enough to do for Inge, who enjoys turning a few rounds on her Harley Davidson when her head is spinning.

Alexander Lobov is COO at NUMA Group, the leading European digital hotel operator and technology developer (www.numastays.com).
Alexander Lobov manages NUMA’s operations which primarily includes the key areas of Market Entries, Business Operations, and Guest Experience.
In recent years, Alexander Lobov has held numerous management positions, primarily at companies in the technology-driven mobility sector. Most recently, the Belarus-born Australian worked as Vice President Operations at e-bike provider BOND Mobility. There, in addition to central operations management, he was also responsible for data operations. At the Swedish e-scooter rental company VoiTechnology, he was responsible for the successful market launch in more than 30 European cities. Lobov also previously gained more than four years of experience in various management positions at Uber, the US mobility service provider, and was responsible for the UberEats product in the entire EMEA region.