- Hyatt named Julienne Smith head of Americas growth.
- She previously served as IHG’s chief development officer for the Americas.
- She received the 2023 Peggy Berg Castell Award from the AHLA Foundation.
Julienne Smith is Hyatt Hotels Corp.’s head of Americas growth. She will oversee the brand portfolio expansion in North America, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Smith was chief development officer for the Americas at IHG Hotels & Resorts, overseeing development strategy and execution across its brand portfolio, Hyatt said in a statement. Smith will expand Hyatt’s Luxury, Lifestyle, Classics and Essentials brands, strengthen relationships with owners and developers and drive the company’s long-term growth strategy. Growth of Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection will continue under Javier Águila, president of the Inclusive Collection.
“Julienne is a highly respected industry leader with deep expertise and a proven ability to deliver results,” said Mark Hoplamazian, Hyatt's chairman, president and CEO. “Her experience across development, brand strategy and owner engagement positions her to drive Hyatt’s next phase of growth in the Americas. She leads with a strong sense of care that embodies Hyatt’s purpose — supporting colleagues and fostering trusted relationships with owners. We are delighted to welcome her back to Hyatt.”
In February, Hyatt named Hoplamazian to succeed Thomas Pritzker, who resigned as executive chairman.
Earlier in her career, Smith spent nearly 14 years with Hyatt, most recently as senior vice president of development and owner relations, overseeing the select service portfolio and managing relationships with owners in the U.S. and Canada.
Smith said she is excited to rejoin Hyatt.
“Our approach is insights-led and brand-focused, growing our Luxury, Lifestyle and Classics brand portfolios where we see strong demand and scaling our Essentials brands to unlock new markets, all while delivering strong returns for our owners,” she said.
Smith is also involved in the hospitality and real estate communities and serves on Boston University’s School of Hospitality Dean’s Advisory Board, Hyatt said. She was named the 2023 Peggy Berg Castell Award recipient by the AHLA Foundation.
Her appointment supports Hyatt’s focus on growth as a driver of long-term value, including brand expansion into new markets and increased presence across segments, the statement said. This builds on Hyatt’s 2025 development pipeline, with the highest number of U.S. signings in five years — up 30 percent year-over-year — and 50 percent in new markets. More than 80 percent of the announced U.S. pipeline are new builds, reflecting continued developer confidence.
Smith’s role complements Hyatt’s recently created Global Growth Strategy & Operations team, led by Dan Hansen, which drives alignment and execution across Hyatt’s global development organization, the company said. The team provides clarity and efficiency to Hyatt’s growth efforts, supporting regional leaders like Smith in identifying opportunities and delivering growth.
Hyatt is updating its World of Hyatt loyalty program, expanding award redemptions from three to five levels across eight categories starting in May. The update aligns hotels within category caps, manages peak demand and reduces category changes.
