Hyatt bolsters senior EAME team

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has made two senior appointments to its Europe, Africa, and Middle East (EAME) region, with Heidi Kunkel joining as senior vice president of Commercial Services, and Monique Dekker as senior vice president of Human Resources.

The group said the appointments bolster the region’s executive team as it prepares for continued growth under the leadership of EAME group president Javier Águila. 

Both appointees are said to bring extensive experience in the hospitality sector in some of Hyatt’s primary growth markets alongside a “track record of championing and progressing equitable practices in the workplace”. 

Kunkel will lead Hyatt’s Commercial Services function in EAME, which combines sales, revenue management, distribution strategy, corporate marketing, brands, communications and digital, along with oversight for the World of Hyatt loyalty platform.

She joins from Hilton Hotels and Resorts, where she held the position of vice president of Operations for Australasia, and, previously, spent 15 years at Club Med with Commercial and Operations responsibility across Asia Pacific and Europe and Africa.

Dekker will be responsible for “bringing Hyatt’s purpose to life” as it scales, creating professional opportunities for its growing EAME workforce. Besides driving the development and retention of the industry’s talent, she will “advance a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace”.

Dekker said: “I am incredibly passionate about Hyatt’s purpose of care, and am committed to creating a culture where everyone, regardless of who they are, where they are from, or at what stage they are in their careers, have equal chances to be their best and are encouraged to speak up and be heard. I can’t wait to turn my long-term involvement with Women @ Hyatt and with our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at property level into a major part of my new role.

“The strategic impact of HR is growing, and its value has never been more important. I look forward to leveraging my Operations background to support our hotels and corporate offices in the region, and will approach the role with a growth and learners’ mindset. I am thrilled to go out of my comfort zone and to become a role model for others to do the same”.

Kunkel said: “I am incredibly excited about accelerating growth opportunities for Hyatt across the EAME region, focusing on priority source markets such as the UK, Germany, France, and Spain, and driving engagement of our World of Hyatt loyalty programme. We have a great opportunity for growth in increasing direct bookings through our Hyatt.com website and World of Hyatt app, and look forward to working closely with Monique to develop and support the diversity of talents across our region.”

Águila added: “Heidi and Monique are incredible talents and will be instrumental as Hyatt continues growing with intent here in EAME. As we scale, we want to attract and develop strong leaders who will take our culture and purpose of care out into our new properties and across our corporate offices, infusing this philosophy with our partners. I couldn’t think of two more perfect professionals to help us achieve that ambition.”