Langham taps industry veteran to steer EMEA expansion
Langham Hospitality Group has appointed Josh Littman as Head of Development for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, a move designed to accelerate the operator’s hunt for management and branded-residence agreements across key urban and resort markets. Littman will be based in London and report into the group’s global development function.
The hire comes as hotel owners and developers across the EMEA region show increased interest in partnering with established brands to unlock capital and ensure long-term market relevance. For Langham, which operates multiple brands spanning luxury to lifestyle, the appointment signals a renewed push to convert pipeline opportunities into signed projects.
Positioning and pipeline
Langham oversees an international portfolio that includes The Langham Hotels & Resorts, Cordis, Eaton and Ying’nFlo. The business is a wholly owned subsidiary of Great Eagle Holdings and, according to company information, has more than 40 properties either operating or in development globally.
The group has highlighted recent landmark openings in the region as momentum drivers, naming properties in Venice and Diriyah as examples of projects that boost brand recognition in markets where developers are actively seeking internationally recognised operators. Littman’s role will focus on translating those recognition gains into further franchise, management and branded residence deals across Europe, the Gulf and Africa.
Experience tailored to a mixed portfolio
Littman brings more than 20 years of development, advisory and hotel planning experience. His recent role was vice-president of development for EMEA at Starwood Hotels, where he worked across several lifestyle and luxury concepts. Earlier positions include senior development roles with InterContinental Hotels Group and Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos, as well as advisory and feasibility work for consultancies and operators active in resort and mixed-use planning.
That mix of operator-side development experience and advisory work gives Littman exposure to the commercial, strategic and analytical sides of hospitality real estate, skills typically sought by hotel groups looking to expand in markets where owners demand clarity on performance, returns and brand fit.
Market context and implications
Across EMEA, developers and investors have increasingly favoured branded solutions to underpin asset value and marketability, particularly in gateway European cities and the Gulf’s resort and urban developments. Branded residences and mixed-use projects have also become key levers for operators seeking diversified revenue streams beyond rooms, including residential sales and management fees.
Langham’s appointment of a dedicated EMEA development lead aligns with that industry shift. For regional stakeholders, a London-based executive with Littman’s background may help the group pursue deals with institutional owners and family offices that dominate hospitality investment in parts of Europe and the Middle East, including the United Arab Emirates.
For the UAE and broader Gulf markets, the hire indicates Langham’s intent to capitalise on continued post-pandemic tourism recovery and ongoing investment in hospitality infrastructure. The group’s multi-brand strategy, spanning upper-upscale to luxury and lifestyle segments, allows it to target a range of owner briefs—from full-service urban hotels to branded residences and resort assets.
What to watch
Observers should look for a few indicators of how Littman’s appointment translates into tangible expansion: announcements of new management or branded residence agreements in major European cities, Gulf urban centres such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and leisure destinations across the region; a clarified pipeline with timelines for openings; and partnership structures that reveal whether Langham will pursue management contracts, franchise deals or mixed-operator arrangements.
As international operators compete for prime sites and developers increasingly lean toward branded strategies, hires that strengthen local deal-making capability will likely remain a priority for groups seeking to grow across EMEA.
Langham Hospitality Group did not disclose a timeline for new openings tied specifically to Littman’s remit, but the appointment underscores the company’s continued focus on expanding its footprint in the region.
Background on the group
Langham Hospitality Group traces its name to The Langham, London, and operates multiple brands across segments. The group’s parent, Great Eagle Holdings, supports a global portfolio of hotels, resorts and residences spanning Asia, Europe, North America, Australasia and the Middle East.