London, United Kingdom – August 7, 2024: Preferred Travel Group, the family-owned company that manages and operates global travel and hospitality brands including Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Beyond Green, Historic Hotels of America, Historic Hotels Worldwide, PTG Consulting, and Beyond Green Travel, is pleased to announce one promotion and two new appointments within its expanding Africa team. Celeste Vogel has been promoted to Account Director, Kimon de Zeeuw has been appointed as Manager, Hotel Revenue Optimization, and Francois Joubert has joined the Global Sales team as Senior Manager, Sales for Africa and Saudi Arabia. These positions demonstrate the company’s commitment to developing new and enriching existing hotel partnerships across the region, with a focus on its Preferred Hotels & Resorts and Beyond Green brands.
“We are delighted to strengthen our team in Africa with the recent promotion of Celeste Vogel and the addition of Kimon de Zeeuw and Francois Joubert to the Preferred family,” said Saurabh Rai, Executive Vice President of South Asia, Middle East, and Africa for Preferred Travel Group. “Their extensive expertise will help us further enhance our portfolio in the region across both Preferred Hotels & Resorts and Beyond Green, support inbound and outbound travel opportunities, and expand partnerships with tourism boards and governments to help boost tourism arrivals and develop stronger tourism products for these destinations.”
Preferred Hotels & Resorts has experienced significant growth in Africa over the past year, announcing a new strategic partnership with Virgin Limited Edition and welcoming five Virgin properties to its prestigious Legend Collection across the region including Mont Rochelle and Ulusaba in South Africa, Mahali Mzuri and Finch Hattons Luxury Safari Camp in Kenya, and Kasbah Tamadot in Morocco. Additional notable new members include The Last Word Madikwe in South Africa, Grand Hotel Djibloho in Equatorial Guinea, and Glee Nairobi in Kenya. The team will be looking at further expansion in Johannesburg, Durban, Greater Cape Town, and along the Garden Route. Additionally, the sustainable Beyond Green brand currently has a strong presence in the Africa region with five properties across Tanzania, Namibia, Kenya, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, and the brand has recently announced an expanded partnership with andBeyond, adding 23 new members to the portfolio over the next 12 months. Beyond Green welcomes properties committed to sustainability leadership in action and impact based upon the three core pillars of nature, community, and culture.
As part of Celeste Vogel’s promotion to Account Director, she is based in Cape Town and has oversight of the member hotel portfolio, fostering engagement and collaboration. Celeste joined the company in 2019 as Hotel Revenue Optimization Manager, bringing a decade of hospitality experience and expertise in revenue management and distribution. Kimon de Zeeuw, also based in Cape Town, serves as the Hotel Revenue Optimization Manager, leveraging her 15 years of industry experience to optimize hotel revenue through strategic use of the Central Reservation System and distribution channels. Francois Joubert, based in Johannesburg, has joined the Global Sales Team, bringing over two decades of experience in sales, marketing, and revenue management, and will lead the global sales strategy and member hotel relationships in Africa. Together, these new team members bolster Preferred Travel Group’s commitment to growth and excellence in the region.
Media interested in any interview opportunities can contact Antonia Robinson, PR Director – EMEA: arobinson@preferredhotels.com. # # #
About Preferred Travel Group
Owned and operated by the Ueberroth Family, Preferred Travel Group is the parent company of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Beyond Green, Historic Hotels of America, Historic Hotels Worldwide, PTG Consulting, and Beyond Green Travel, representing more than 1,000 hotels, resorts, and residences across 90 countries, in addition to a global portfolio of destination marketing organizations and tourist boards. With more than 300 seasoned travel professionals situated across 35 locations worldwide, the company connects independent hotels, hospitality companies, and destinations to key markets worldwide through strategic branding, sales, integrated marketing, revenue management, distribution services, and other consultancy services. Fueled by its brand promise, Believe in Travel, the company and its hotel and travel brands champion an unwavering belief in the transformative power of travel and its ability to enrich lives, inspire a greater respect for the planet, and expand hearts and minds to other cultures and ways of living. For more information, visit PreferredTravelGroup.com
About Preferred Hotels & Resorts
Preferred Hotels & Resorts is the world’s largest independent hotel brand, representing over 600 distinctive hotels, resorts, residences, and unique hotel groups across 80 countries.
Through its five global collections, Preferred Hotels & Resorts connects discerning travelers to the singular luxury hospitality experience that meets their life and style preferences for each occasion.
Every property within the portfolio maintains the high-quality standards and unparalleled service levels required by the Preferred Hotels & Resorts Integrated Quality Assurance Program.
The I Prefer™ Hotel Rewards, Preferred Residences℠, Preferred Pride℠, and Preferred Golf™ programs offer valuable benefits for travelers seeking a unique experience. For more information, visit PreferredHotels.com.
Stephanie Dowling
Senior Vice President, Public Relations & Corporate Communications
+1 312 356 9596
sdowling@preferredtravelgroup.com