Sébastien Gea succeeds Rex Nijhof
In post since September 2026, Sébastien Gea‘s appointment at the head of Luxembourg Marriott Hotel Alfa was made official on 9 November 2026. He succeeds Rex Nijhof, who oversaw the property’s reopening under the Marriott Hotels brand in May 2025, before stepping down in June this year.
As head of the hotel, Sébastien Gea oversees all operations, including those of Brasserie Alfa. His remit includes consolidating the positioning of this historic address with an international clientele, while strengthening its roots in Luxembourg life.
The appointment comes around eighteen months after the hotel’s reopening and marks the transition from a relaunch phase to a new stage of commercial and operational development.
A career built within the Marriott ecosystem
Before moving to Luxembourg, Sébastien Gea had led Le Méridien N’Fis in Marrakech since August 2024, where he oversaw operations and the property’s renovation programme.
Between August 2020 and August 2024, he served as General Manager of Riviera Marriott Hotel La Porte de Monaco, having previously led Courtyard by Marriott Paris Saint-Denis from October 2018 to August 2020.
His experience at the helm of Marriott properties dates back to May 2014, when he became General Manager of Renaissance Paris Hippodrome de Saint-Cloud, a position he held until September 2018.
His career reflects a steady progression from operational roles to general management.
Between 2012 and 2014, he was Director of Operations at Mövenpick Paris Neuilly, where he was involved in the property’s repositioning, the preparation of its investment plan and budget management.
Before that, he held several positions at Courtyard by Marriott Neuilly, first as Rooms Division Manager between 2009 and 2011, then as Director of Operations until December 2012.
He also served as Front Office Manager at Renaissance Paris La Défense between 2006 and 2009, following an earlier role at Paris Marriott Charles de Gaulle Airport Hotel between 2003 and 2005.
A graduate of the University of Seattle, Sébastien Gea brings a background that combines hotel operations, team management, asset repositioning and the delivery of renovation projects.
Marriott Hotel Alfa, a 153-room heritage address
Located opposite Luxembourg City’s central railway station, Luxembourg Marriott Hotel Alfa occupies a building inaugurated in 1932 and listed as a national monument since 1991.
Its reopening in May 2025 under the Marriott Hotels brand marked a new chapter in the history of this Art Deco property.
The hotel now offers:
- 153 rooms, including 31 suites;
- Brasserie Alfa, with 120 covers;
- a 25-seat Art Deco bar;
- an M Club;
- five meeting rooms;
- a fully equipped gym.
Brasserie Alfa is one of the central pillars of the hotel’s positioning, with an appeal that extends well beyond in-house guests.
The hotel’s location, right next to the station, also allows it to target business travellers, international visitors and local customers alike.
Strategic analysis | Consolidating the repositioning after the reopening
Sébastien Gea’s appointment comes at an important point in Luxembourg Marriott Hotel Alfa’s operating cycle.
Following a renovation and a reopening under an international brand, the challenge now is to establish the hotel firmly in its market, balancing commercial performance, operational quality and the enhancement of its heritage identity.
In this respect, the new general manager’s background aligns with the property’s needs on several counts.
His time in Marrakech gave him experience of running a hotel undergoing renovation, while his previous roles in Monaco and the Greater Paris area provided him with knowledge of markets combining business and leisure clientele.
His tenure at Mövenpick Paris Neuilly also gave him direct experience of repositioning, investment planning and performance management.
For Luxembourg Marriott Hotel Alfa, one of the challenges will be to reconcile Marriott Hotels’ international standards with the historic character of an address deeply associated with Luxembourg City.
The ability to grow the local food and beverage business, particularly around Brasserie Alfa, could also prove a point of differentiation in a hotel market where accessibility, services and the guest experience play a decisive role.
Marriott International’s expansion in Luxembourg, October 2024
At a Glance
Appointment: Sébastien Gea named General Manager of Luxembourg Marriott Hotel Alfa.
Effective date: September 2026, with the appointment officially announced on 9 November.
Predecessor: Rex Nijhof, who oversaw the hotel’s May 2025 reopening.
Previous roles: General Manager at Le Méridien N’Fis Marrakech, Riviera Marriott La Porte de Monaco and Courtyard Paris Saint-Denis.
Property: 153 rooms, including 31 suites, in a listed Art Deco building dating back to 1932
Strategic priorities: Operational performance, local market positioning and development of the hotel’s food and beverage offering.
