In Brief: Michael Hoe Knudsen has been named the new Managing Director for IHG Hotels & Resorts in Mexico, Latin America, and the Caribbean, marking a significant change in the company’s regional leadership.
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Michael Hoe Knudsen – Image Credit IHG Hotels & Resorts
IHG Hotels & Resorts has appointed Michael Hoe Knudsen as Managing Director for Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean (MLAC), following the retirement of Jorge Apaez.
IHG Hotels & Resorts has named Michael Hoe Knudsen as Managing Director for Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean (MLAC), effective following the retirement of Jorge Apaez. The appointment was announced in Guadalajara, Mexico, on March 11, 2026.
Knudsen began his IHG career in 1996 at the InterContinental New York Barclay hotel and has held leadership roles in the United States, Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, and Jamaica. Most recently, he was based in Greater China, where he oversaw 120 managed hotels and 45 hotel openings across China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau.
Fluent in Spanish, Knudsen brings three decades of global hospitality experience and will lead the MLAC region with a focus on future growth, operational excellence, and strengthening relationships with owners and stakeholders.
IHG’s presence in the MLAC region includes 295 open hotels and a pipeline of 104 hotels in development as of the fourth quarter of 2025. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts was founded in South America and launched in Brazil, while Holiday Inn has operated in Mexico for more than 50 years.
