A handover at the helm of a central asset
From 1 December 2026, Isabelle Jamet will serve as general manager of Hilton Brussels Grand Place, taking over the reins from Ellen Deboeck. The appointment was announced on 11 November by Pandox, which owns and operates the hotel.
For the property company, it marks a return. Willem Van der Zee, Director of Operations at Pandox, welcomed the appointment, saying that few people know the Brussels hotel market as well as Isabelle Jamet. He added that she understands the expectations of the company’s guests and has a real talent for bringing teams together, and that Pandox is delighted to welcome her back.
Three decades in upscale Brussels hospitality
Isabelle Jamet has spent more than 30 years in upscale and luxury hospitality, largely in Brussels, where she has lived since 2002. Her Belgian career began at the Hyatt Regency Brussels Barsey. She then took part in the pre-opening of Dolce La Hulpe Brussels, followed by the launch of the SQUARE Brussels Meeting Centre.
She went on to become Director of Sales for all Starwood Hotels & Resorts properties in Brussels. In that role, she opened Europe’s first Aloft. She later headed sales at Rocco Forte Hotel Amigo, where she was involved in creating Bar Magritte, billed as the only bar in the world dedicated to the Belgian painter. In recent years, she had been working as an independent consultant and trainer.
A hotel anchored to the capital’s convention hub
Hilton Brussels Grand Place has 236 rooms and suites in the heart of the historic centre. The hotel stands opposite Brussels-Central station, between the UNESCO-listed Grand-Place and the Square Meeting & Convention Centre. It offers an Executive Lounge, a restaurant, a bar, a 24-hour fitness centre and 16 flexible meeting rooms. Its clientele is split between business travellers, conference delegates and city visitors.
Analysis – For a hotel located next to Brussels’ main convention centre, Pandox has chosen a leader from a sales background who was already involved in launching SQUARE. The choice underlines the importance of MICE to the property’s commercial model.
Pandox, owner and operator in Brussels
Pandox was founded in 1995 and is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. It owns 156 hotels in fifteen countries, representing around 35,000 rooms. Its model combines two businesses: property management, through long-term hotel leases, and the direct operation of part of its portfolio, such as Hilton Brussels Grand Place.
In Belgium, the property company owns nine hotels. These include The Hotel Brussels, DoubleTree by Hilton Brussels City, Hotel Indigo Brussels City, nhow Brussels Bloom and NH Brussels EU Berlaymont. Pandox regularly strengthens its presence there, as shown by its acquisition of NH Brussels Louise. The group is also carrying out major projects on its assets, such as the extension of DoubleTree by Hilton Brussels City, which opened on Place Rogier.
At a glance by The Hospitality Tribune
Isabelle Jamet appointed General Manager of Hilton Brussels Grand Place
Takes office on 1 December 2026, succeeding Ellen Deboeck
30+ years in upscale and luxury hospitality, mostly in Brussels (Hyatt, Starwood, Rocco Forte)
Opened Europe’s first Aloft while Director of Sales for Starwood in Brussels
236-key hotel next to the Square Meeting & Convention Centre, owned and operated by Pandox
Pandox: 156 hotels, ~35,000 rooms in 15 countries, nine hotels in Belgium
