TEL AVIV, Israel (August 30, 2023) – InterContinental David Tel Aviv, a modern oasis in the heart of the city, has announced the appointment of Franco Vella as general manager. Vella brings nearly 30 years of hospitality experience to the property, overseeing all hotel services and operations, bringing the essence of modern sophistication to the nonstop City.
Vella’s decades of experience as a hotel general manager includes 11 years at InterContinental Hotel Group. His most recent role, General Manager of Marriott International – Sheraton Tel Aviv, a property he led for over nine years, saw him named Marriott General Manager of the Year in 2018, when he also received the Marriott Innovation Excellence award. Vella successfully guided the hotel team through multi-million-dollar renovations, becoming the first fully rebranded Sheraton in Europe, Asia and the Middle East and was elevated to Sheraton Grand status in May 2023. This status is awarded to top-tier Sheraton Hotels that deliver a superior guest experience outperforming guest satisfaction benchmarks.
His experience spans multinational hotel companies across Malta, the United Kingdom and Israel. Highlights include General Manager of Le Meridien St. Julians (now Malta Marriott Hotel & Spa) in his home country of Malta, Group General Manager of IHG’s UK hotels within the Geminex Hotel & Leisure Group, and General Manager of 706 room Kensington Close Hotel (now Holiday Inn Kensington) in London amongst others. Throughout these roles, he has generated a significant increase in revenue while improving processes and service quality. During his tenure, Vella also significantly contributed his professional counsel and expertise to an array hotel rebrandings, openings, and the development of systems and procedures to maximize efficiencies.
“We welcome Franco back to the IHG family as the general manager of this spectacular hotel,” said Madelijn Vervoord, Area General Manager of Southern France & Mediterranean. “His wealth of global experience coupled with his expertise and understanding of the Israeli market will help continue to advance the long-term success of the InterContinental David Tel Aviv.”
“Tel Aviv is a truly magical destination which I have been lucky enough to call home for the last nine years. Joining the InterContinental David Tel Aviv team just in time to celebrate the hotel’s 25th anniversary next year is a pivotal moment in my exciting career within luxury hospitality,” said Vella. “Alongside our world-class hotel team, I look forward to continuing to offer unforgettable guest experiences for many years to come.”
