IHG Hotels & Resorts has appointed Michael Hoe Knudsen as Managing Director for Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean (MLAC), following the retirement of long-serving regional leader Jorge Apaez.
Knudsen brings nearly three decades of hospitality experience with IHG, having started his career with the company in 1996 at the InterContinental New York Barclay. Since then, he has held leadership roles across hotel operations and corporate functions in the United States, Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina and Jamaica.
Most recently based in IHG’s Greater China region, Knudsen oversaw 120 managed hotels and 45 openings across mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau. The experience positions him to guide the next phase of growth for IHG across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Fluent in Spanish and deeply familiar with regional markets, Knudsen is expected to focus on strengthening operational performance, accelerating development and reinforcing relationships with hotel owners and partners throughout the MLAC region.
IHG strengthens leadership across a key Americas growth region
According to IHG Americas CEO Jolyon Bulley, the leadership transition comes at a strategic moment for the company’s presence across Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean.
IHG’s portfolio in the region includes brands that have played a long-standing role in shaping the hospitality landscape. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts traces its origins to South America, while Holiday Inn has operated in Mexico for more than five decades.
Today, IHG operates 295 hotels across the MLAC region, with 104 additional properties in the development pipeline, reflecting continued investment and development momentum across these markets.
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