Belmond has announced the appointment of Kenneth Hatton as senior vice president, global development.

He will take up the role on January 23rd, 2017.

Hatton has over 18 years of experience in mergers and acquisitions and global hotel-related transactions. 

He joins Belmond from Hyatt International where he held the position of senior vice president, corporate transactions group, covering Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific since 2011.

Prior to that, as Partner in Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal (which subsequently combined to become Dentons), Hatton led the European operations of the firm’s hospitality practice, a role in which he represented a wide range of both owners and operators in the global hotel industry.

Roeland Vos, president of Belmond, noted: “We are thrilled to have Kenneth join us to take the lead of our global development team.

“Kenneth’s experience in negotiating acquisitions, management, and franchise agreements in many markets will be a tremendous asset to Belmond as we look to implement our strategic plan to double the size of the company’s footprint by 2020.

Hatton is an Irish national and graduate of Trinity College Dublin, with a degree in Law, and he holds a masters in business administration from each of London Business School and Columbia Business School.

He added: “There is a great sense that Belmond is at a dynamic point of transformation.

“It is hard to think of any luxury hotel company better positioned to satisfy the global and growing demand for experiences over product.

“With an unparalleled portfolio of irreplaceable hotels, and with decades of practice in the art of tailoring unforgettable journeys whether combining trains, cruises or safaris; it is thrilling to consider the potential for Belmond’s growth.”