Grace Hotels Announces Appointments of Group HR Director and Head of Americas

Grace Hotels has announced the appointment of Tim Williams as Group HR Director and Gary Schweikert as Head of Americas. This follows Robert Swade joining as Chief Executive Officer in September 2016 from the Jumeirah Group, and further strengthens the senior executive team.

The investment in leadership supports the significant expansion programme at privately-owned Grace Hotels, which currently has fifteen luxury boutique hotels open, or under development, across four continents.

Tim Williams takes up the newly-created global role of Group HR Director, based in London, to oversee the growing team of passionate colleagues.

Joining from the Aman Group, Tim was Head of Human Resources responsible for all people-related matters of the group of 31 luxury hotels and 9,000 employees in 25 countries.

Tim brings 25 years of international experience in his field, with over a decade at Accenture before assuming roles in Asia Pacific at Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts followed by Minor International.

Gary Schweikert is a prominent figure in the US hospitality industry with over 35 years’ experience in executive roles, counting 18 years at Hilton Hotels Corporation where his career included Resident Manager of the landmark Waldorf Astoria.

He then assumed the position of Regional Vice President of Fairmont Hotels and Resorts and Managing Director of the 800-room historic Plaza Hotel. In 2009, he became President of Jumeirah Hospitality and Leisure USA and simultaneously Managing Director of The Essex House, before joining Strata Hospitality Group as Principal.

Gary joins from Trump Hotels where he was Regional Vice President and Managing Director of the two Trump properties in New York City.

The new Head of Americas will be based in New York and responsible for the group’s operations across all its hotels in North, Central and South America. This portfolio currently consists of three hotels in the United States, Grace Cafayate in northwest Argentina, Grace Panama and La Dolfina Grace, under development near Buenos Aires. His remit will also encompass the substantial development pipelines for Grace Hotels on these continents.

Robert Swade commented on the appointments: “We are delighted to welcome such accomplished senior professionals with vast combined management experience of over six decades in luxury hospitality, operations and strategy. Gary and Tim join at a key moment in the global expansion of Grace Hotels and I look forward to working closely with them as we grow and develop the brand.”

Both roles will start at the beginning of December.