Marriott appoints area vice-president to oversee UK hotels

Marriott International has announced the appointment of Joanna Chugh as area vice-president for the UK, Ireland and Nordics.

Chugh will be responsible for Marriott International's 60 managed hotels across the region, representing brands such as JW Marriott, W Hotels, Marriott Hotels, Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, Residence Inn by Marriott and Autograph Collection.

In her new position, Chugh will work to drive the company's recovery while growing its presence and supporting the company's vision to become EMEA's favourite travel company.

Gonzalo Aguilar, chief operating officer, Europe, Marriott International, said: "It gives me great pleasure to announce that Joanna will take up this new role. With a career spanning several operational and financial leadership roles across multiple regions, she brings extensive hospitality experience, strong relationships with our ownership community, and comprehensive knowledge of hospitality."

Prior to this role, Chugh was vice-president finance operations, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), responsible for Marriott's 1,000 hotels in the region. Chugh started in hospitality in 1992 working at various hotels in Europe, before joining Marriott in 1996, as rooms service manager at the London Marriott Marble Arch.

She rose through the ranks, taking on various operational and financial leadership positions across Marriott's UK and Ireland portfolio. In 2013, she moved into a corporate role, initially taking on responsibility for finance for Western Europe before leading the finance operations team for the UK and Ireland, then Europe and finally EMEA.

Chugh is originally from Dublin and completed her Diploma of International Hotel Management at the Shannon College of Hotel Management in Ireland in 1995 before completing her CIMA qualification in 2005.