Yotel has appointed Paul Harnedy chief operating officer. In his new role, Harnedy will oversee global hotel operations and commercial strategy across Yotel’s portfolio of city-center hotels, airport hotels (YotelAIR) and extended stay properties (YotelPAD).
Harnedy joins Yotel from Cedar Capital Partners, where he was executive vice president and head of asset management, overseeing the operational and commercial performance of an international hotel portfolio spanning multiple markets globally. Before this, he held senior positions including chief operating officer and managing director at Amaris Hospitality, vice president operations at Interstate Hotels & Resorts and operations director roles with both InterContinental Hotels Group and RBH.
Yotel also promoted Michael Whitehead to senior vice president, people, talent & learning and Ryan Dance to senior vice president, commercial strategy. Whitehead will lead Yotel’s global HR function, focusing on employee engagement, organizational development and learning and development. Dance will oversee the company’s integrated commercial strategy across revenue management, sales, marketing, commercial operations and digital and e-commerce to support sustainable global growth.
The leadership announcements follow the recent announcement of Yotel’s five-year strategic growth plan, which includes a goal of having 100 hotels open and signed worldwide by 2031, particularly in Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific region. The strategy is also supported by Yotel’s exclusive agreement with Hilton.