Starwood Hotels appoints vice-president of development for EMEA

Sustainable hotel brand management company Starwood Hotels has appointed Stéphanie Segaux as vice-president of development for the EMEA region.

The company, whose brands include 1 Hotels, Baccarat Hotels and Treehouse Hotels, labelled the region a “key area of expansion”.

Segaux will be based in Amsterdam and will spearhead Starwood Hotels’ development strategy, reporting to chief development officer Abhay Bakaya and collaborating with regional teams to “identify, shape and execute new opportunities as the company enters its next phase of strategic global expansion”.

Starwood Hotels said Segaux’s appointment “built on the momentum” of the company’s recent openings in London and Copenhagen: 1 Hotel Mayfair in July 2023 and 1 Hotel Copenhagen in September 2025.

The company currently operates 20 hotels worldwide and has more than 20 projects under development, including active pipeline projects in Paris, Crete, Rome, Florence, Dubai and Riyadh.

Segaux joins Starwood Hotels from Rosewood Hotel Group where she has spent the last decade, most recently serving as director of development for EMEA.

She said: “I am thrilled to join Starwood Hotels at such an exciting moment in its growth. Their EMEA pipeline presents incredible opportunities to shape landmark projects with strategic direction and strong operational foundations.

“I look forward to working with the team to deliver distinctive hospitality opportunities that will make a lasting impact.”

Bakaya said: “Stéphanie’s appointment comes at a pivotal time as we accelerate our expansion across Europe and the Middle East. Her proven expertise and strong industry relationships are key as we continue to grow our hotel and residential platform.”

Raul Leal, chief executive of Starwood Hotels, added: “With her extensive experience in the EMEA region and proven track record in hotel development, Stéphanie is exceptionally well-positioned to lead our growth initiatives.

“We are pleased to welcome her to Starwood Hotels and look forward to remarkable growth and innovative projects across the region.”