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Gary J. Thomas is Named as the New COO of Rebel Hotel Company

COO

Business Honor
13 February, 2026

Rebel Hotel Company appoints Gary J. Thomas as the new COO in order to lead operations, expand U.S. hotels, and also improve luxury boutique hospitality performance.

Gary J. Thomas has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer at Rebel Hotel Company (Rebel). Rebel is an established hotel management platform focusing on lifestyle, luxury, and independent hotels. This announcement follows a period of rapid growth driven largely by U.S.-based strategic acquisitions, as well as the initial success of Renegade Hotels which has already added 10 hotels in less than four months of operation since its launch into the marketplace.

The company’s strategy continues to add leadership to enhance operational excellence and provide scalable hotel management solutions, as well as continue to use its growing portfolio of boutique lifestyle and luxury hotels, to improve performance optimization. Thomas will be responsible for overseeing all day-to-day operations across the entire Rebel Hotel Company Platform, providing direction and oversight for seamless transition and integration of newly acquired hotel developments, and working to enhance guest experience innovations throughout the continued independent lifestyle and luxury hotel segments of Rebel Hotel Company.

With more than 20 years of experience in the luxury lifestyle and hospitality industry, Thomas has demonstrated an ability to successfully manage large and diverse portfolios. Before joining Rebel, he was Senior Vice President at Aimbridge, leading the Evolution vertical; his responsibilities included overseeing the growth and development of lifestyle & luxury properties in North America. Thomas has also held several leadership positions with Makeready Hotels and Morgans Hotel Group, and has been an integral part of the team that worked with Ian Schrager, the founder of Morgans and a leading innovator in the modern hospitality industry.

Thomas' experience also includes multiple senior level roles within SBE Hotels, and various leadership positions at The Redbury, New York; SLS Park Avenue; SLS Beverly Hills; and LINE Los Angeles. Thomas will help drive forward Rebel's asset growth strategy, support ongoing hotel portfolio expansion in the U.S., and further enhance Rebel's position as the premier independent hotel management platform.