CBRE appoints Kenneth Hatton to lead EMEA Hotels

CBRE has announced the appointment of Kenneth Hatton as managing director, head of Hotels, EMEA at the group, with his role commencing June 2021. Hatton is described as a “leading figure” in the global hotel market, and was most recently executive vice president - Global Development and General Counsel at Belmond, an affiliate of LVMH Moët Hennessy - Louis Vuitton SE. His career began in corporate M&A and hospitality law, and he has since gained “substantial experience” on both the brand and owner side around the world, according to CBRE, adding that he will bring a “deep understanding” of varied industry insights to the role. Throughout his career, Hatton has been involved with transactions on both the advisor and principal side, involving over 350 hotels and mixed-use projects across EMEA, the Americas and Asia-Pacific. His appointment is the latest in a series of key hires across CBRE’s EMEA hotels business, including the appointments of Chris Gow and Stephen Barr to lead Debt Advisory for CBRE’s Operational Real Estate business. In addition, the group recently appointed Joe Green to its Capital Advisors team, where he has brought hotel-specific restructuring expertise to CBRE’s Real Estate Investment Banking capability. Alister McCutchion has also joined the business to lead CBRE’s UK Operational Real Estate advisory business. Chris Brett, managing director, EMEA Capital Markets, CBRE said: “CBRE recognises the substantial evolution of the hotel sector within investment portfolios over the past few years, driven by strong market performance and investors seeking to diversify. With our clients evermore connected globally, they need a hotel advisory team that can augment market-leading real estate advice with M&A, debt and strategic advisory services. “Kenneth will not only bring his global insight, management and leadership but also help shape our hotel services offering to match the post-Covid priorities of global hotel owners, operators and investors.” Hatton added: “The strength of CBRE’s pan-sector, global platform is truly impressive. As a client, I have seen first-hand the power of when the hotels team joins forces with the wider business. “As the entire world of real estate looks at itself in the mirror in light of the pandemic and its aftermath, I can think of no firm better placed to help hotel-industry stakeholders navigate the new realities. The sense of anticipation in the industry has never been greater, and I am excited to join CBRE at this extraordinary moment in time.”