The World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance has announced that its long-standing Chair, Wolfgang M. Neumann is stepping down.
In his nine years as Chair, Neumann has been instrumental in shaping the Alliance into a global leader on sustainability and setting ambitious targets for the industry in pursuit of its Net Positive Hospitality vision.
Stepping into the role of Chair is Daniella Foster, Executive Board Member and Global Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Market Access and Sustainability for Bayer’s Consumer Health Division.
Foster joined the board as a trustee in May last year, and stepped up to Vice Chair in the Autumn, working alongside Wolfgang M. Neumann. Neumann has resigned his seat on the Alliance board, but will chair the faculty board of the newly created World Academy for Sustainable Hospitality.
Daniella Foster, Chair, World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance said: “I’d like to thank Wolfgang for his exemplary leadership which has put the Alliance on strong footing as it works to implement its five-year strategy. The World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance is in a period of substantial growth. I’m looking forward to working with the team to create industry-wide standards for sustainability and to drive collective impact, helping facilitate a collaborative approach to achieving Net Positive Hospitality. Cross-industry collaboration on climate and economic growth is critical for our world and we are and will continue to be the voice for the industry on net positive impact in communities.”
Earlier this year the Alliance appointed three new trustees including:
- Denise Naguib, VP, Sustainability & Supplier Diversity – Marriott International
- Inge Huijbrechts, Global Senior VP Sustainability, Security & Corporate Communications – Radisson Hotel Group
- Jonathan Worsley, Chairman & Founder – The Bench
Inge will become Vice Chair as Daniella steps up to serve as Chair.
Outgoing Chair, Wolfgang M. Neumann, outlined at the Alliance’s Spring Summit in Nice, France, the enormous progress the Alliance has made, congratulating the team on their collaborative approach and targeted actions for people, planet, place and prosperity.
Commenting on his time as Chair, Wolfgang M. Neumann said: “I want to thank our loyal members and key partners across the value chain for their support and pay tribute to our hard working and dedicated team. Thanks to their collective efforts and dedication the Alliance has had a real impact over the years. Together we have not only moved the hospitality industry towards a more sustainable future, but initiated a mindset change towards Net Positive Hospitality. It fills me with pride that the Alliance is increasingly recognised as the voice of the industry and is leading the way in creating a prosperous and responsible hospitality sector, that gives back more than it takes out. Much has been achieved – so much more remains to be done. I look forward to seeing important programmes such as setting universal criteria for standards and measurements, or the launch of our World Academy, become a reality. I am confident that under Daniella’s new leadership and Glenn’s continued drive the Alliance will further impact our great industry in a very positive and meaningful way.”
Reflecting on Wolfgang’s legacy and congratulating Daniella on her new position, CEO of the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, Glenn Mandziuk, said: “The Alliance has benefited from a strong and forward-thinking leadership during Wolfgang’s time as Chair. We, and the global hospitality industry, are indebted to him and wish to thank him for his hard work and dedication. I am delighted to have Daniella step up as Chair and I have no doubt she will have a strong impact as she supports the Alliance in its goal to move the global hospitality industry towards Net Positive Hospitality.”
