OTTAWA, January 15, 2026 — The Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) is pleased to announce that Mandy Farmer, CEO of Accent Inns Inc., has been appointed Chair of the HAC Board of Directors effective January 8, 2026, and running through HAC’s 2027 Annual General Meeting.

“Mandy is a well-known hotelier and entrepreneur with a reputation for bringing energy, creativity, and collaboration to everything she does. Since joining the HAC Board in 2021, and serving as Vice-Chair since 2024, she has been a strong voice for members and a champion for the industry. I look forward to working with her in her new role as Chair,” said Beth McMahon, President and CEO of HAC.

“I’m so excited, thrilled, and humbled to step into the role of Chair at HAC,” said Mandy Farmer, CEO of Accent Inns Inc. “I’m stoked and fired up to work alongside our members and Board colleagues to support the industry’s growth, strong teams, and vibrant communities across Canada. Let’s go!!”

Mandy succeeds Tony Cohen, President of Crescent Hotels & Resorts (Canada), who moves into the role of Past-Chair. HAC thanks Tony for his steady leadership and commitment during a period of significant change for both HAC and the industry.

As part of this transition, Alnoor Gulamani, CEO of Bayview Group of Companies, steps into the role of Vice-Chair, bringing continuity, perspective, and a strong understanding of both the industry and the association. HAC also extends thanks to Sara Glenn, Founder & Managing Director of Whetstone Partners, who concludes her term after making history as HAC’s first-ever female Chair.

The St. Regis Toronto, part of the Marriot Bonvoy group, has announced Daniel Newberry as the new General Manager.

Newbury has been serving as Senior Director of Sales & Distribution on the Canada Regional Team, where his strategic leadership has driven exceptional results across the country. While we’re sad to see him leave our team, we couldn’t be happier for The St. Regis - they’re gaining a truly visionary leader.

With over 25 years of luxury hospitality experience, Newbury has shaped some of Canada’s most iconic properties, including the launch of The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto. He’s also a proud father of three, and a passionate home chef.

Steinhausen, Switzerland – January 13, 2026 – is thrilled to announce the independent recognition of its RMS as the “Best Hotel Revenue Management System (RMS)” in the , based on the verified reviews of its global hotel clients and partners. RoomPriceGenie was also recognised as “,” based on its employees’ overwhelmingly positive feedback about their work experiences this year.

RoomPriceGenie’s win for “Best RMS” in this year’s awards affirms that the combination of an intuitive and reliable RMS, coupled with first-class customer support and revenue management expertise, enables hoteliers to achieve their revenue goals. This approach has consistently set RoomPriceGenie apart from the competition; with this year’s win, it validates RoomPriceGenie as an operational imperative for hoteliers who want to maximise their profitability.

“2025 was a significant year for RoomPriceGenie, which kicked off with a $75 million USD in investment from Five Elms Capital,” said Chas Scarantino, CEO of RoomPriceGenie. “This enabled us to increase the pace of development in the solution and infrastructure, while deepening the first-class support that ensures our customers can consistently maximise their profitability. Although RoomPriceGenie has placed in the “Best RMS” category previously, winning first place this year recognises our consistent evolution into the RMS of choice for all hotels, including larger hotels and groups.”

“The HotelTechAwards are widely regarded as the industry’s most credible benchmark because winners are determined entirely by verified hotelier reviews and independent performance data,” said Jordan Hollander, CEO of HotelTechReport.com. “RoomPriceGenie’s recognition as “Best Hotel Revenue Management System” reflects consistent feedback from hotels that value an RMS which is intuitive, reliable, and supported by a team that actively helps them achieve revenue goals. Pairing this with a first-place “Best Place to Work” award underscores a clear link between strong internal culture and the quality of outcomes hotels experience in practice.”

RoomPriceGenie was built on the belief that people are at the heart of hospitality, so technology should empower hoteliers to provide the best hospitality experience. This people-first mindset has shaped RoomPriceGenie’s culture as much as its product strategy.

“Winning first place in the “Best Place to Work” award category this year is very meaningful to us, because a company isn't just about the numbers,” said Ari Andricopoulos, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) at RoomPriceGenie. “It’s a wonderful thing to be part of a team that supports each other, takes responsibility, has fun together, works towards the same goal, and is committed to growing together. Our employees’ feedback shows that they are passionate about both the company’s and our clients’ successes, so I am confident this was another important factor that contributed to our win in the Best RMS category.”

Together, RoomPriceGenie’s two first-place wins in the 2026 HotelTechAwards firmly position the company as a trusted long-term partner for hoteliers today, tomorrow and into the future.

To find out more about RoomPriceGenie’s 2026 HotelTechAwards wins, please read the official announcement on 

On behalf of Ali Akman, President of SAMM Holdings, CFO Capital has announced the acquisition financing for Hidden Valley Resort, an Ascend Collection property, located in Huntsville, Ontario.

This 100-guest-room resort is recognized as one of Ontario’s premier destinations, uniquely positioned as the province’s only combined lakeside/ski-side resort with direct links to nearby ski clubs. Nestled in the heart of Muskoka, Hidden Valley offers year-round appeal to both leisure and adventure travelers, recognized for its family-friendly, multi-season experience supported by extensive recreational amenities including lakeside beach access, pools, watercraft, and outdoor sports.