Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas has appointed Guy Heywood as chief operating officer, following the company’s recent acquisition by InterContinental Hotels Group.

He joins the group from his previous role as the chief operating officer for Alila Hotels & Resorts, a position he held for the past eight years.

With over 30 years of experience within the international hotel and tourism industry, Heywood started his journey down under in Australia as the restaurant and lounge manager at InterContinental Sydney.

He then moved on to the Regent Sydney, followed by Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi and Four Seasons Hotel Singapore in a similar capacity.

Heywood, who has a hotel diploma from Cornell University and holds Australian and British citizenship, is always on a quest for meaningful experiences via travel adventures, whether racing 165 miles on a mountain bike across Bhutan or climbing to the top of Table Mountain in Cape Town.

An advocate for exercise and a competitive triathlete, he loves to run, swim or bike ride most days.

On being appointed to his new role with Six Senses, Heywood commented: “The company has set new standards for thoughtful luxury, guest experience and environmental practices.

“This role is the ideal culmination of my past experiences all amalgamated into one.”