Vote in the 2025 EuroCHRIE Elections

We are seeking you to vote for the following positions:

Vice President (3 year)
(Then: President-Elect & Immediate Past President)
Secretary (2 Year)
Treasurer (2 year)
Director of Membership (2 year)
Director of Networking & Development (Conferences) (2 year)

You must be a full member and a current paid member of EuroCHRIE. There is only one vote per member. Other votes will be disregarded.

Votes and membership status will be verified and the successful candidate will be notified.

Voting CLOSES 31 May 2025 @ 23:59 (BST)

All candidate details can be found below.

VOTE NOW

Steven Rhoden
Chair of the EuroCHRIE Nominating Committee

Vice President

(Then: President-Elect & Immediate Past President)

Two (2) Candidates

Biography

Heidi is the Head of Education with Russell Partnership Technology where she provides simulation support to hospitality educators in over 20 countries. Prior to this, Heidi’s career in the hospitality industry began in 1991 and has included leadership roles in Operations, Sales, and Human Resources.

For the past four and a half years, Heidi has served on the EuroCHRIE board, first as Director of Industry Services and most recently in the role of Director of Member Services & Development. She has been an active member of ICHRIE for 14 years.

Since 2015, Heidi has organized and facilitated the annual EuroCHRIE University Challenge, a student competition open to hotel schools in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Heidi has been a guest lecturer at several hotel schools in the area of Strategic Revenue Management.

Heidi is a past recipient of the Bridging the Gap Award, which is presented to an industry professional who works to bring industry and education closer together.

Platform Statement

I am delighted to be running for the position of Vice President with EuroCHRIE.

As a EuroCHRIE member for the past 14 years, I have experienced first-hand the incredible value of being a part of this organisation. From attending both EuroCHRIE and ICHRIE conferences since 2011 to facilitating the annual EuroCHRIE University Challenge since 2015 to serving on the board as Director of Industry Services from 2021-2023 and Director of Member Services & Development from 2023 to present, I am truly passionate about giving back to hospitality education. I believe that my extensive knowledge and experience gained from working in the hospitality industry combined with my current role supporting hospitality educators around the world puts me in a unique position to be able to assist in guiding this incredible organisation moving forward.

If elected, I pledge to work hard to continue to increase memberships, boost current member retention, support educational and research initiatives, and cultivate a sense of community among the board members while leading them in their efforts to support the EuroCHRIE and ICHRIE missions. And, perhaps most importantly, I will continue as I have done in my current board position with working to ensure that all members, both existing and new, are made to feel welcomed and valued as part of this amazing organisation.

Biography

Dr. Pasi Tuominen is a hospitality and tourism professional from Haaga-Helia UAS, Finland with nearly 30 years of international experience in managing and developing hotels and restaurants.

Rooted in traditional hospitality traditions, he champions meaningful interactions between guests and service providers. Today, he bridges this ethos with innovation as a researcher in immersive technology. Holding a PhD, he leads award-winning projects and develops immersive learning environments for hospitality and tourism students across four continents. At Haaga-Helia UAS, he teaches and researches future hospitality experiences—merging human connection with cutting-edge digital solutions—with a strong network spanning academia and industry.

Platform Statement

I am honored to stand as a candidate for EuroCHRIE Vice-President. For over a decade, I’ve actively contributed to our community — leading workshops and building bridges between academia and industry. My dual background as both a hospitality researcher and a former international hotel and restaurant director with over 30 years of industry experience, allows me to bring a unique perspective to the federation.

This blend of academic insight and operational expertise enables me to connect deeply with both educators and practitioners. I aim to strengthen EuroCHRIE’s role as a hub for research, innovation, and meaningful industry collaboration—especially as we expand further into the Middle East and Africa.

With a strong foundation in immersive learning environments, global networks, and strategic brand management, I’m ready to serve through each phase of this three-year journey. I look forward to fostering an inclusive, forward-looking federation as your Vice-President, President, and Immediate Past President.

Secretary

One (1) Candidate

Biography

Dr Ariane Lengyel is a Senior Lecturer at the University of West London where she leads the undergraduate hospitality management course. In addition, she has over 13 years of experience in transnational education, having managed an academic partnership in India.

As former Academic Quality Lead for her College, she gained extensive expertise in course design, validation, and quality assurance within UK higher education. Prior to entering academia, she held senior positions in Rooms Division and Sales within hotels and hotel management companies. Her research interests include the sociology of food and celebrity chefs.

Platform Statement

I am a highly qualified educator with over 20 years of senior management experience in the hospitality industry across Europe, the South Pacific, and the UK. Transitioning into academia has allowed me to bring real-world insights into my teaching while developing strong administrative and communication skills.

Since 2021, I have served as the UK Area Consultant for EuroCHRIE, deepening my understanding of the federation’s mission and vision. My combined background in academic leadership and hospitality management equips me to manage responsibilities such as record-keeping and stakeholder communication with accuracy and efficiency. In my current role as a university lecturer and through previous industry roles, I have gained experience in organising meetings, maintaining records, and engaging with diverse stakeholders. These skills align well with the responsibilities of the Secretary position.

If elected, I will focus on fostering collaboration and ensuring that EuroCHRIE’s operations continue to run smoothly and effectively. This role presents an opportunity for me to further support EuroCHRIE’s initiatives while leveraging my expertise in hospitality education.

Treasurer

One (1) Candidate

Biography

Prof. Ivan Ninov is the Executive Dean of Al Rayyan International University College (ARIU) in partnership with the University of Derby in Qatar.

He brings extensive international academic and managerial experience from Europe, the U.S., Dubai, and Qatar. His expertise includes strategy formulation and implementation, quality assurance, and academic leadership. He serves on the Board of THE-ICE and is Treasurer on the Executive Committee of EuroCHRIE. Dr. Ninov holds a Ph.D. in Hospitality Administration and multiple degrees in Tourism and Hospitality Management. He is also a researcher, editor, reviewer, and external evaluator for academic programmes in hospitality and tourism.

Platform Statement

As Treasurer of EuroCHRIE, I have diligently served with transparency, responsibility, and a strong commitment to our federations’s financial health. Over the past term, I have worked to ensure sound financial planning, clear reporting, and sustainable budgeting practices that support our mission and initiatives.

I am now seeking a second term to continue strengthening EuroCHRIE’s financial foundation. My goals include enhancing sponsorship opportunities for research and member engagement, expanding partnerships to increase revenue, and leveraging different tools for more efficient and effective financial management. Drawing on my extensive background in academic leadership and financial management—as well as my role as Conference Chair of the 2024 EuroCHRIE Conference in Doha—I offer a balanced approach that blends strategic vision with fiscal responsibility. I am greatly committed to the positive impact of hospitality and tourism education, which thrives when supported by a stable and forward-looking financial foundation. I respectfully ask for your vote to continue this work and help shape a vibrant, resilient future for EuroCHRIE.

Director of Membership

One (1) Candidate

Biography

H. Kader Şanlıöz-Özgen is an Assistant Professor at the Undergraduate Hotel Management Department of Özyeğin University, one of the leading universities of Türkiye despite being a young higher education institution as also shown in the global rankings. The program is ACPHA-accredited for seven years until 2030.

Kader joined Özyeğin University in 2013 after a 15-year professional experience in the hotel industry at the managerial positions of the front office, guest relations, and marketing departments in operational and pre-opening periods. She became an Assistant Professor in 2018 upon her PhD degree in the Tourism Management. Based on her professional background, Kader principally teaches subjects such as rooms division management and technologies, revenue management, innovation, and hotel analytics.

Platform Statement

I am a passionate scholar to support youth development by sharing my knowledge and experience through the courses I deliver, extending students’ horizons through sectoral interactions, and guiding them to pursue a sustainable and beneficial career to create value for themselves first and society in the future. This orientation has put me in a way for a constant seeking for new opportunities and collaborations with new partners. EuroCHRIE has opened those gates for me to be a member of the family of extensive exchanges of ideas, efforts, and networks.

I have been the Area Consultant Türkiye, a country where EuroCHRIE is not known well despite its remarkable share in the global tourism and high number of tourism education institutions. Following my experience of nearly three years in that position which I believe I have introduced EuroCHRIE at a certain level with new members, I am now willing to take more responsibilities to support membership actions representing EMEA CHRIE. This position in a country such as Türkiye will also support current vision of the council to unify under our new name.

Director of Networking and Development (Conferences)

One (1) Candidate

Biography

Dr. Maroun Aouad is an Assistant Professor and Program Area Director for Hotel Management at Modul University Vienna, serving on the University Senate.

He holds a Ph.D. from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, an MBA, and a BSc from the Lebanese American University. He holds certifications such as CHE, CHIA, and CHBA. Dr. Aouad’s research focuses on servant leadership and human resources in hospitality. Fluent in Arabic, French, and English, Dr. Aouad has over 15 years of teaching experience at various international universities and more than 25 years of industry experience. His passion for fostering excellence in hospitality education and industry practices is evident throughout his career.

Platform Statement

As Director of Networking and Development (Conferences), I am committed to enhancing the quality and reach of our events, fostering stronger connections within our community. My goal is to serve by organizing innovative and engaging conferences that provide valuable learning and networking opportunities for all members. Leveraging my years of industry and academic experience in hospitality, I will ensure our events are well-executed and impactful.

With EuroCHRIE transitioning to EMEA CHRIE, this role becomes even more significant. As someone originally from Lebanon, I bring a unique perspective that aligns with this broader reach. My cultural background and professional experiences in the Middle East equip me with a deep understanding of the region’s dynamics and the importance of fostering cross-cultural collaboration. Beyond our platform, I will focus on building partnerships with key industry stakeholders from my extensive network to bring diverse perspectives and resources to our events.

Your vote will enable me to bring fresh ideas and a dedicated approach to this role, ensuring our conferences continue to be a cornerstone of our organization’s success. Together, we can advance EMEA CHRIE’s mission and make a lasting impact on the hospitality and tourism education community.