Worldwide: onefinestay, the luxury private rental brand of Accor, has announced the appointment of five new C-Suite executives as part of a company restructuring.
The newest appointments to the C-Suite include: Dorothée Guiol, deputy CEO; François Mare, chief marketing and digital officer; Kelly Wheeler, chief financial officer; Isabelle Garcin, chief legal and compliance officer; and Sophie Howse, chief sales officer, all under the leadership of existing CEO Fabrice Carré.
Together, they join existing chief operating officer David Whiteside in his newly expanded role of global COO, and Guillaume Fontana, chief technical officer, who joined the executive committee at the end of 2022.
Since its inception in 2010, onefinestay has set out to offer flexible home-from-home solutions for the varying needs of today’s modern luxury traveller. Over the past year, the brand has expanded its offerings to meet the demands of discerning travellers with the launch of new collections in Provence, the Rocky Mountains, New York City and Paris and has 15 per cent more homes listed compared to this time last year, according to a press release.
onefinestay launched a flexible rental product in New York City last January, ahead of the introduction of strict new legislation in September. Under the measure known as Local Law 18, short-term rental hosts are now required to register with the city government.
Dorothée Guiol, deputy CEO of onefinestay, said: “It’s a pivotal time for both onefinestay and the vacation rental industry. As we solidify our existing markets and the industry continues to evolve post-pandemic, our executive team’s combined leadership will be crucial in the brand’s continued success.
“We are responsible for driving forward onefinestay’s newly refined vision: to provide travellers with exceptional experiences in the finest homes and destinations around the world. This includes strengthening the presence of homes, villas and chalets in our existing destinations by continuing to carefully curate homes that complement the existing portfolio, with a consistent service promise across all destinations.”
The new vision for the brand defines onefinestay’s core brand passions around unique interior design, arts and entertainment, and local discoveries and craftsmanship.
The new C-suite executives:
Dorothée Guiol, deputy CEO:
Joining onefinestay in early 2022, Guiol’s path to overseeing the company’s global day-today business includes extensive management experience earned over nearly two decades, most recently as director of group strategic projects for Accor.
François Mare, chief marketing and digital officer:
A seasoned executive with multi-sector international experience in tech, fashion, hospitality and a passion for developing and deploying new strategies, Mare arrived at onefinestay in early 2023 from Accor, where he spent much of the past decade as vice president of strategy, integration of acquisitions and new business growth, including work on brands such as Raffles, Fairmont, Ennismore and the Orient Express.
Kelly Wheeler, chief financial officer:
After over a decade in accounting roles for global organisations sized from $3 million to $2 billion in revenues, Wheeler joined onefinestay as finance director in 2021 and was recently appointed chief financial officer. Her experience includes implementation of enterprise resource planning, software conversions, financial modelling and more for companies in industries from commercial construction and international manufacturing to B2B startups and technology.
Isabelle Garcin, chief legal and compliance officer:
An experienced and trusted general counsel skilled in business and corporate law, Garcin joined onefinestay from Accor, where she oversaw legal matters within the company’s new businesses and handled investments in startup companies. The appointment of Garcin as the brand’s chief legal and compliance officer is a newly created role responsible for navigating the regulatory landscape.
Sophie Howse, chief sales officer:
Having worked in the luxury hospitality space for over 14 years, Howse began her onefinestay career in 2016, starting as global sales account manager and recently being appointed chief sales officer. She manages a global team based in Sydney, Los Angeles, London and in between, and has ultimate oversight for all onefinestay bookings, B2B sales with the brand’s highly valued travel partners, and the sales operations team.
