Rebel Hotel Company appoints four senior leaders to its executive team. The company is proactively strengthening its operational, commercial and revenue capabilities to support its expanding portfolio.
Gary Thomas has joined Rebel Hotel Company as chief operations officer. Thomas brings decades of leadership experience across premier lifestyle and luxury brands. Most recently, he served as senior vice president at Aimbridge Hospitality, where he oversaw the Evolution vertical, a diverse portfolio of lifestyle/luxury properties across the U.S. and Canada. Thomas previously oversaw and led operations for Makeready Hotels. Earlier in his career, Thomas held senior leadership roles with Ian Schrager and Morgans Hotel Group, served as area general manager for SBE Hotels, and played key roles in the rebranding of The Redbury New York and the pre-opening of SLS Park Avenue. His experience also includes serving as general manager of SLS Beverly Hills and opening managing director of The LINE Los Angeles.
Tanya Sims joins Rebel as vice president of operations, bringing more than 25 years of hospitality leadership experience. Prior to Rebel, Sims served as vice president of operations at Aimbridge Hospitality for five years and previously held the same role at Interstate Hotels & Resorts, where she supported portfolio operations through the integration of Rim Hospitality’s management contracts.
Kelly Makino has been appointed head of human resources at Rebel Hotel Company. Makino brings a strong background in talent strategy, organizational development, and employee engagement within the hospitality sector. Previously serving in senior HR leadership roles, including vice president of people and culture at The Wurzak Hotel Group, she is known for aligning people initiatives with business performance and building high-performing teams. In her new role, Makino will lead Rebel’s human resources function, supporting the company’s continued growth and commitment to people-first leadership.
Patrick Horstmann has been named director of luxury and lifestyle. With more than 20 years of experience in luxury and lifestyle hospitality, Horstmann has held senior leadership roles with brands including Denihan Hospitality Group, Gansevoort Hotel Group and Morgans Hotel Group’s Shore Club Miami Beach. Known for his strategic, hands-on leadership style, Horstmann has consistently driven revenue growth, cost control, and productivity while elevating guest experiences across complex, multi-property portfolios. Over the course of his career, Horstmann has successfully launched eight hotel properties and led three major renovations with rebranding, demonstrating deep expertise in operational execution, performance improvement, and brand positioning. In his new role, he will oversee Rebel’s higher-end managed hotels, bringing strong business acumen, collaborative leadership, and a relentless focus on quality to advance the company’s luxury and lifestyle platform.
"As Rebel continues to grow and evolve, these leadership appointments are a direct reflection of our momentum and our plans for meaningful expansion in 2026,” Rebel President and CEO Brian Sparacino said in a statement. “We are investing ahead of growth - building a best-in-class team that allows us to scale thoughtfully while preserving the entrepreneurial, performance-driven culture that defines Rebel.”