Auberge Collection has appointed Héctor Lugo as General Manager of The Woodward in Geneva, promoting the hospitality leader from within its own ranks to oversee one of Switzerland’s most prestigious luxury properties. The move signals both a leadership transition for the lakeside hotel and Auberge’s broader commitment to internal talent development as it accelerates European expansion.
Lugo has been with the brand since 2022, when he joined as Resort Manager at Susurros del Corazón in Punta de Mita, Mexico. Under his leadership, the beachfront property earned recognition as the number two resort in Mexico and number 11 hotel in the world in Travel + Leisure’s 2025 World’s Best Awards – a result driven by reader votes reflecting guest satisfaction and service quality.
“We are delighted to welcome Héctor to The Woodward,” said Mo Elbanna, Executive Vice President of Global Operations at Auberge Collection. “Héctor’s dedication to excellence in leadership and hospitality has been an enormous asset to the growth of Auberge Collection and he will be an exemplary leader for this property.”
The Woodward is no ordinary assignment. The 26-suite, all-suite hotel on Quai Wilson holds three MICHELIN Keys – making it one of the most highly decorated properties in Switzerland – and is home to L’Atelier Robuchon, Geneva’s only two-MICHELIN-star restaurant. The property, housed in a Belle Époque building dating to 1901, also features Le Jardinier restaurant, Bar 37 and a 1,200-square-metre Guerlain Spa spanning two dedicated wellness floors.
Auberge assumed management of The Woodward from the Oetker Collection on 1 February 2025, with the property owned by The Bastion Collection. It was the brand’s first hotel in Switzerland, marking a significant step in its European growth strategy.
Lugo brings more than two decades of luxury hospitality experience to the role, with a career trajectory rooted in food and beverage operations before expanding into broader resort management. He spent nearly a decade with Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, progressing from assistant manager at Amber restaurant in Hong Kong through to Director of Food and Beverage roles at Mandarin Oriental Barcelona and Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid.
That culinary operations background is particularly relevant at The Woodward, where dining is central to the property’s identity and commercial proposition. The hotel’s three restaurant concepts, all curated by The Bastion Collection, represent a significant revenue driver and point of differentiation in Geneva’s competitive luxury market.
His education at Les Roches School of Hotel Management in Switzerland adds a further dimension to the appointment – Lugo is returning to the country where he trained, now leading one of its most celebrated properties.
“I am honoured to join the decorated team at The Woodward, Auberge Collection, where I look forward to continuing to develop this renowned, elegant property’s reputation as a best-in-class European sanctuary,” Lugo said.
The appointment fits a deliberate pattern at Auberge. Under President and CEO Christian Clerc – himself a former Four Seasons global president who joined in 2022 – the brand has pursued what it describes as “thoughtful and strategic expansion,” particularly in European and urban markets. Its European portfolio now includes The Woodward in Geneva, Collegio alla Querce in Florence (opened 2025), Domaine des Etangs in France and Grace Hotel in Santorini.
Cambridge House in London’s Mayfair, part of Reuben Brothers’ £1 billion Piccadilly Estate regeneration, is expected to open in 2026. Pipeline properties also include The Knox in Dallas, The Shore Club in Miami Beach, The Birdsall in Houston and Moncayo in Puerto Rico.
For senior hospitality leaders watching Auberge’s trajectory, the Lugo appointment underscores a workforce strategy worth noting. Promoting a resort manager to lead a three-MICHELIN-Key European property within three years demonstrates the kind of accelerated development pathway that can differentiate brands in a competitive labour market for senior talent.
It also reflects a broader industry trend: luxury hotel groups increasingly recognising that operational excellence at resort-level positions translates effectively into the exacting demands of urban and heritage properties, provided the leadership fundamentals are strong.
Lugo takes the helm of a property with 26 suites, 21 offering Lake Geneva views, and a guest profile that includes some of the world’s most discerning travellers. His task is to maintain The Woodward’s standing while integrating the property fully into the Auberge brand ecosystem – a transition that began only 12 months ago.
