Architecture, Design, Construction & Technical Services Team

Andy Albonetti is Senior Vice President, Technical Services – North America for Hilton. He currently heads a seventy plus person project management, design, product improvement and engineering team that is responsible for assisting Hilton’s franchise partners in opening 300+/- Luxury, Lifestyle, Full Service and Focused Service hotels in the United States and Canada annually.

After joining Hilton in 1995, Mr. Albonetti continued to assist in the re-launch of the Homewood Suites brand by overseeing the design and construction of 15 owned and managed hotel projects.  He has been directly responsible for coordinating design input on large 1,200 guestroom Hilton operated Full Service new construction projects to smaller 70 guestroom Focused Service projects.

Previously Mr. Albonetti was an Architect with Looney Ricks Kiss Architects (LRK), a Memphis, TN based architectural firm that designed many of the original Hampton Inn hotels.  During his tenure with LRK, he was responsible for maintaining the Hampton Inn prototype drawings and producing construction documents for many new development hotel projects.  Mr. Albonetti was also involved in the re-launch of the Homewood Suites brand in the early 90’s and designed the first new generation Homewood Suites that consolidated the multi-building campus style hotel into one contiguous building.

Mr. Albonetti received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Architectural Technology from   University of Memphis.

T: +1 901 374 5002

Allan Zhang is  Senior Vice President, Technical Services Greater China & Mongolia for Hilton. He oversees the design and construction of our new pipeline projects and Capex projects of the trading properties in Greater China & Mongolia.

Mr. Zhang leads an international team of thirty-four senior engineering, design and construction experts who have successfully delivered and opened close to 100 new hotels within the past five years with more than 200 current pipeline projects across China.

Previously, Mr. Zhang worked for InterContinental Hotels Group as Vice President, Design & Engineering, Greater China. Prior to that, he spent 5 years with Bechtel in China.

Allan Zhang received a Bachelor’s Degree of Architecture and a Master’s Degree of Economic Management from Tsinghua University.

T: +86 21 2321 6888

Gordon Coles is Senior Vice President, Architecture, Design and Construction for Europe, the Middle East and Africa for Hilton. He oversees all new development, adaptive re-use projects, conversions and renovations projects within the EMEA.

Mr. Coles is a Chartered Surveyor with over 25 years of project management experience in hotel design and construction. Joining Hilton in 2000 Gordon Coles now heads an international team of 56 senior engineering, design and construction experts.

Gordon Coles has a vast portfolio of over 300 openings in key gateway cities from luxury hotels including: Trianon Palace Versailles, Conrad Dubai and Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam to focused service properties such as Hilton Garden Inn Davos and Hampton Waterloo. He is currently responsible for the execution of the largest hotel pipeline across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Mr. Coles received an honors degree in Quantity Surveying from University of South West of England – with accreditation from both the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and Chartered Institute of Civil Engineering Surveyors (ICES).

T: +44 0207 856 8007

Larry Traxler is Senior Vice President, Global Design Services for Hilton. He oversees the design, construction and renovation for all 14 of Hilton’s iconic luxury, full and focused-service hotel brands.

Mr. Traxler has amassed more than 27 years of international hospitality design experience and now heads a talented global design team, working closely with developers, architects and designers to ensure the unique style of every Hilton brand is reflected across the properties within its global portfolio.

Previously, Mr. Traxler led the Architecture & Design Department for Hyatt Hotels, Ian Schrager Hotels, Wilson Associates, and Hirsch Bedner & Associates. His professional career began in the architectural design office of Jordan Mozer & Associates.

Mr. Traxler received a six-year professional Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning.

Tel: +1 703-883-5854