Phil Cordell, A Hilton Veteran, Retires After 40-Year Career

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Phil Cordell, A Hilton Veteran, Retires After 40-Year Career

By Nithyakala Neelakandan

Published on July 16, 2024

Phil Cordell, a seasoned executive with Hilton, is retiring after an impressive 40-year tenure with the company. Hilton has announced that Cordell will transition to an advisory role, starting in July, where he will mentor and coach the Hilton team.

Cordell’s journey with Hilton began in high school as a bellman. His dedication and hard work led him to become the general manager of the second Hampton Hotel in 1983. Over the next two decades, he played a pivotal role in expanding Hilton’s All Suites and Focused Service brands, particularly growing the Hampton by Hilton brand into a global leader with over 2,300 hotels in 29 countries by the end of his tenure.

Cordell was instrumental in launching the first Hampton hotel in China in 2015, showcasing his ability to adapt Hilton’s brand to international markets. His leadership extended beyond Hampton, contributing significantly to the success of other Hilton brands such as Hilton Garden Inn, Embassy Suites, and Homewood Suites.

In his latest role as Global Head of Lifestyle and New Brand Development, Cordell spearheaded the creation and launch of several innovative brands, including Home2 Suites, Tru, Motto, Tempo, and Spark. Notably, Spark achieved the fastest announcement-to-market timeline in Hilton’s history, debuting its first hotel just ten months after the brand was announced.

Cordell’s departure marks the end of an era, but his legacy will continue to influence Hilton’s growth. Kevin Osterhaus, who recently joined Hilton as President of Global Lifestyle Brands, will succeed Cordell. Osterhaus will oversee the development of several Hilton brands, including Canopy by Hilton, Curio Collection by Hilton, Graduate by Hilton, Motto by Hilton, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, and Tempo by Hilton. Osterhaus brings experience from his previous role as President of Graduate Hotels, which Hilton acquired earlier this year.

Beyond brand development, Cordell played a crucial role in establishing the Hilton CleanStay program, which set new standards for cleanliness and safety during the pandemic. This initiative has been widely recognized for enhancing guest confidence and ensuring safe hotel stays.

Chris Silcock, Hilton’s President of Global Brands and Commercial Services, expressed gratitude for Cordell’s contributions in an internal letter: “As Phil transitions into an advisory role, let us take this opportunity to express our gratitude for his exceptional leadership, mentorship, and friendship. His legacy of innovation, growth, and genuine ‘Hamptonality’ service will continue to inspire us for years.”

Cordell’s career at Hilton is a testament to his dedication, innovative spirit, and commitment to excellence. His move to an advisory role will ensure that his experience and insights continue to benefit Hilton as the company evolves and expands.

Image Credit: Getty Images

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Grand Hyatt Mumbai Appoints Prasad Prabhu as Learning and Development Manager to Strengthen People-First Culture

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on November 11, 2025

Grand Hyatt Mumbai, one of India’s most iconic luxury hotels, has announced the appointment of Prasad Prabhu as Learning and Development Manager.

With over 18 years of experience across leading global hospitality brands, Prasad brings a strong background in talent development, leadership capability building, service culture enhancement, and colleague engagement. His appointment highlights Grand Hyatt Mumbai’s focus on nurturing a people-first culture built on care, continuous learning, and professional growth.

In his new role, Prasad will spearhead the hotel’s learning and development strategy, focusing on leadership development, embedding Hyatt’s values through a culture of learning, enhancing colleague engagement, and aligning training initiatives with business goals.

An alumnus of the Welingkar Institute of Management, Mumbai (PGDBA in General Management), Institute of Hotel Management, Goa (B.Sc. in Hospitality & Hotel Administration), and Institute of Hotel Management, Mumbai (Food Production Craft Course), Prasad has built an impressive career with prestigious hospitality brands such as The Indian Hotels Company Limited (Taj Hotels), InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), The Leela Kempinski, The Zuri Hospitality Group, and Hyatt Hotels Corporation.

Before joining Grand Hyatt Mumbai, Prasad served as Learning Manager at Grand Hyatt Goa, where he played a dual role, leading property-level learning initiatives and contributing as an ASPAC Master Trainer for Hyatt Hotels Corporation. In this capacity, he designed and facilitated impactful leadership and trainer capability workshops across the Asia Pacific region.

Speaking on his appointment, Prasad Prabhu said,

“I am delighted to join Grand Hyatt Mumbai and continue my Hyatt journey. I believe that when colleagues feel respected, supported, and motivated to grow, they naturally deliver better guest experiences. My vision is to build a workplace where learning is not just a function, but a culture.”

As one of Hyatt’s flagship hotels in India, Grand Hyatt Mumbai continues to strengthen its reputation for excellence in service and colleague care. With Prasad’s leadership, the hotel aims to further its vision of fostering empowered teams and delivering exceptional guest experiences through a culture of continuous learning and growth.