A suite bedroom at Orient Express La Minerva. Photo credit: Alexandre Tabaste
Miami as a consultant with PwC, where Perez-Alvarado worked on several Latin American projects. A tyro there, Perez- Alvarado became a formidable, sought-after expert and force during her 19 years at JLL, attaining a unique understanding of the ebb and flow and intricacies of real estate. She became a master of the subject matter, as she said, establishing an extensive network. Then she left it all.
In an asset-light business where lodging company success is predicated on growing their brand networks, Accor is at the vanguard. At least by brand number. It doesn’ t have the most hotels or rooms in the world— more than 5,500 properties globally— flying its flags, but it’ s got the most to choose from, more than 50 altogether in the luxury and lifestyle and premium, midscale and economy segments. It’ s a distinction not lost on Perez-Alvarado: In joining Accor, she was making a hairpin career turn, moving from the buying and selling of hard assets to one with more nuance, building, curating and cultivating brands and convincing owners of their bottom-line results delivery.“ Honestly, I couldn’ t have changed things more,” she said. It was also a culture shock, for one: At Accor, French is the prevailing language( she speaks it un peu). Perez-Alvarado is no masochist, but she does enjoy the thrill of moving outside her comfort zone.“ I enjoy putting myself in this very vulnerable position,” she admitted, especially since there was the excitement of getting to learn something new.“ That’ s what I wanted,” she said.
It also meant picking up and moving from balmy Miami to old-world-charm Paris and its decidedly more temperate climate. A smart elegance about Perez-Alvarado makes it no surprise that she loves living in the City of Light. Ultimately, it was top leadership that mattered most to her— and that’ s Bazin, who Perez-Alvarado calls one
A cabin aboard La Dolce Vita, which launched service in April 2025. Photo credit: Mr. Tripper
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