Yoo Hotels appoints Head of Operations and Development
Yoo Hotels & Resorts has appointed David Grossniklaus as Head of Operations and Development to lead the yoo2 growth strategy. Focusing on the brand’s opportunity pipeline as well as managing relationships with partners, Grossniklaus joins following a stint with Belmond in Dubai as Senior Director Development for the Middle East, Africa and India.
Key to his strategy will be Southeast Asia, where booming tourism and business markets in Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam are high on the list of priorities following Yoo’s opening of a Bangkok headquarters earlier this year.
Jagdish Johal, Managing Partner of Yoo, comments: “David has an extraordinary wealth of experience in the hospitality industry and he will be a real asset to the team. David joins Yoo Hotels at an exciting time of growth as we are expanding our hotel portfolio internationally. With three hotels under development, we are keen to pursue further development and management opportunities globally to expand our hotel offering. This expansion in key markets will ensure even more travellers can experience our unique designs and guest experiences.”
Grossniklaus’ CV also includes work with Starwood Hotels & Resorts in Dubai and Deloitte/STR Global as well as Swissotel and Nakheel Hotels. With more than 18 years of experience in the hospitality industry, including operation, acquisitions and development, asset management and strategy, he is a graduate from Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne and a MBA graduate from Cass Business School in London.
On his appointment, Grossniklaus comments: “I am thrilled to be joining Yoo Hotels & Resorts, leading the hotel expansion of extraordinary design hotels, working with our partners, owners and investors globally to deliver exciting lifestyle experiences with the yoo2 brand. Expanding on our yoo2 property in Rio de Janeiro, which perfectly showcases our concept of creating a unique collection of lifestyle experiences paired with operations that reflect the local soul of each destination, will be an exciting opportunity.”
Yoo Hotels & Resorts operates yoo2 Rio de Janeiro and currently has three more hotels under development in Canada and Thailand, with two properties set to launch in the next 18 months.
