Hilton has appointed Kolin Pound as area president, Caribbean and Latin America (CALA), effective August 24, 2026.
In the role, Pound will oversee Hilton’s operations across the region. He will lead hotel teams and work with owners and other stakeholders on performance, company culture and regional growth.
Pound joins Hilton from Ares Management, where he held a managing director position. He brings experience in hospitality, real estate and investment across the Caribbean and Latin America. He will report to Danny Hughes, president, Americas, Hilton.
“Kolin is a strategic leader with a strong track record of driving performance, building trusted owner relationships and creating long-term value,” said Danny Hughes, president, Americas, Hilton. “His deep understanding of hospitality, real estate and investment, combined with his experience across the Caribbean and Latin America, makes him exceptionally well positioned to lead our business in this dynamic region. As we continue to expand, Kolin’s leadership will help strengthen our momentum and deliver for our team members, owners, guests and communities.”
Pound said he was looking forward to joining Hilton and working with its teams, owners and partners across the region.
“I am honored to join Hilton and work alongside its talented team members, owners and partners across the Caribbean and Latin America,” said Pound. “The region is home to some of the world’s most attractive destinations, and I look forward to building on Hilton’s strong foundation to continue delivering exceptional performance, growing our portfolio and creating meaningful value for all our stakeholders.”
Kolin Pound’s Hospitality and Real Estate Experience
Before joining Hilton, Pound was managing director at Ares Management. There, he worked with leadership teams on strategy, operational performance and value creation across a portfolio of businesses, including hospitality assets in the Caribbean and Latin America.
Previously, he served as senior principal at Walton Street Capital. His work there focused on asset management and acquisitions across real estate and hospitality.
Throughout his career, Pound has led transactions across Latin America, the United States and Europe. He has also worked with owners, operators and management teams on asset performance and long-term growth.
Pound holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Business Institutions from Northwestern University.
Hilton’s Caribbean and Latin America Portfolio
Hilton currently operates 315 hotels and resorts across more than 35 countries and territories in the Caribbean and Latin America.
The company has another 150 hotels in development across the region. Its expansion covers luxury, lifestyle, full-service, focused-service, resort and all-inclusive properties.
Hilton also has more than 26,000 team members across the Caribbean and Latin America.
The company said Hilton was named the No. 1 World’s Best Workplace. In 2026, Great Place to Work also recognized Hilton as the No. 1 Workplace in Latin America.
According to Hilton, it has been the top hospitality company to work for in the region for four consecutive years.
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