SAN FRANCISCO—InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) appointed Jacque Riley to the newly created role of brand director for Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants Europe. She will report directly to Tom Rowntree, VP brand management, Luxury & Boutique Brands, Europe.
IHG acquired Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants in 2015 and, soon after, signed Kimpton Paris and Kimpton Amsterdam. Jacque’s appointment is a result of the success of developing the Kimpton brand in the region, the company said.
Jacque joins IHG Europe from the U.S. Kimpton team, where she was director of communications for East U.S., based in Washington DC. She joined Kimpton three years ago as director of public relations for restaurants, Washington DC and Virginia, and is the first Kimpton colleague to make the move to a role within the IHG team. Prior to Kimpton, Jacque owned a public relations firm in Columbia, S.C.
Tom Rowntree said, “Following IHG’s recent launch announcement of Kimpton hotels in Amsterdam and Paris, Jacque’s appointment is key to delivering the launch of the brand across the region and supporting our wider business strategy. Our focus is to maintain all that makes the Kimpton brand special and loved, whilst bringing the brand to life in new markets, languages and cultures; Jacque, with her depth of experience, is the perfect person to help deliver this.”
“I am incredibly passionate about the Kimpton brand and am excited to join the Europe team at a pivotal time as we prepare to introduce Kimpton to our guests,” Jacque Riley said. “I can’t wait to share our approach to heartfelt hospitality with the continent that first inspired Bill Kimpton more than 35 years ago.”