Phil Andreopoulos appointed chief executive of Yotel

Phil Andreopoulos has been named chief executive of London-based hospitality company Yotel.

He takes over from Hubert Viriot, who was appointed chief executive in 2014. Viriot will remain at Yotel as vice chairman.

Andreopoulos joins Yotel from Marriott International, where he was most recently chief commercial officer for EMEA. Prior to that, he served as chief operating officer for owner and franchise services for EMEA and Sub-Saharan Africa.

His appointment comes soon after Yotel’s majority shareholder, the Al-Bahar Group, acquired an additional 30% stake in the company earlier this year, increasing the group’s holding in Yotel to more than 95%.

The Al-Bahar Group has invested in Yotel since 2005, becoming a major shareholder in 2013.

Following the additional investment, Yotel has set its sights on doubling its global hotel portfolio to 15,000 rooms by 2030.

Talal Al Bahar, chairman at Yotel and Al-Bahar Group, said: “Yotel’s success over the last 15 years has been exemplary, from start-up concept into the global company it is today with an expansive portfolio of properties in prime locations.

“Now, it is time to scale the business further. Phil Andreopoulos brings a wealth of commercial and operational experience and under his leadership, Yotel will enhance its distribution, direct business contribution and loyalty proposition. He will also drive expansion of both the managed and franchise businesses in key markets.

“I would like to personally thank Hubert Viriot for his instrumental role in driving Yotel’s growth. We are delighted to welcome him as vice chairman, where his experience and vision will continue to add significant value to the company and its stakeholders.”

Andreopoulos added: “The pioneering concept and global footprint mean Yotel’s global recognition supersedes its size and that, paired with the agility of being independent, creates a unique opportunity to scale quickly and offer owners, investors and franchisees the speed and innovation they crave in the industry.

“I look forward to working alongside the talented Yotel team and the Board to build on the company’s strong foundation, expand our global presence and continue delivering unforgettable experiences for travellers around the world.”

Earlier this year, Yvonne Thomsen joined Yotel as chief financial officer, having previously been VP Finance Europe and chief financial officer for Six Senses Hotels.

Yotel operates the Yotel, Yotelpad and Yotelair brands across 16 cities globally, including New York, Geneva, Manchester and Istanbul.

As well as its 23 operating hotels, the business has 11 hotels in the pipeline due to open in the next 24 months across destinations like London, Lisbon, Bangkok and Perth.

Yotel was created by Yo! founder Simon Woodroffe.