Jonathan Newbury

Jonathan Newbury serves as Executive Vice President of Asia Pacific for Preferred Travel Group. Newbury brings 30 years of international independent hotel experience to this position, which he assumed in August 2020, and which carries the responsibility to drive the strategic direction and evolution of the Preferred brand in Asia Pacific, ensuring the success and retention of more than 150 member properties across the region and overseeing the company’s associates who are based in offices across 10 cities.

Since Newbury joined Preferred in July 2008 – first serving as Vice President of Brand Development and most recently as Senior Vice President of Strategic Development – he has innovated the company’s approach to development, helping solidify a strong platform for the Preferred brand among hotel owners, operators, asset managers, and management companies globally and fostering impressive retention in North America. He has spearheaded a variety of global development initiatives that have helped fuel a 20% growth in the brand’s hotel portfolio over the past decade, including the launch of the brand’s newest campaign, FREEDOM, which debuted in May 2020, and the execution of a focused education movement to highlight Preferred’s performance on behalf of its member hotels compared to that of its hard-brand competitors. These efforts helped successfully attract nearly 100 properties to “de-flag” and go independent with Preferred Hotels & Resorts as their brand partner from July 2013 through July 2020. In addition to his development work, Newbury served as Preferred’s Vice President of E-Commerce & Technology from July 2010 to March 2012.

Prior to joining Preferred, Newbury spent three years as Vice President of Global Development for Small Luxury Hotels of the World, where he leveraged his international background to support growth of the brand with a focus on Asia. He has also served as Operations Director for VIP SKI and held on-property sales and marketing positions with both The Langham Hotels & Resorts and Thistle Hotel brands.

Newbury holds a B.A. (Hons) in Politics & Government from London Guildhall University and is the proud father of two boys.