Hilton Appoints Kolin Pound as Area President, Caribbean and Latin America

In this role, Pound will oversee Hilton’s operations across the region, leading hotel teams and partnering with owners and key stakeholders to drive performance, strengthen Hilton’s culture and support the company’s continued growth.

Photo credit: Hilton

He joins from Ares Management, bringing extensive hospitality, real estate and investment experience across the Caribbean and Latin America. His appointment is effective August 24, 2026, and he will report to Danny Hughes, president, Americas, Hilton.

"Kolin is a strategic leader with a strong track record of driving performance, building trusted owner relationships and creating long-term value," said Danny Hughes, president, Americas, Hilton. "His deep understanding of hospitality, real estate and investment, combined with his experience across the Caribbean and Latin America, makes him exceptionally well positioned to lead our business in this dynamic region. As we continue to expand, Kolin’s leadership will help strengthen our momentum and deliver for our team members, owners, guests and communities."

"I am honored to join Hilton and work alongside its talented team members, owners and partners across the Caribbean and Latin America," said Pound. "The region is home to some of the world’s most attractive destinations, and I look forward to building on Hilton’s strong foundation to continue delivering exceptional performance, growing our portfolio and creating meaningful value for all our stakeholders."

As managing director at Ares Management, Pound partnered closely with leadership teams to support strategy, operational excellence and value creation across a diverse portfolio of businesses, including hospitality assets throughout the Caribbean and Latin America. Previously, he served as senior principal at Walton Street Capital, where he focused on asset management and acquisitions across real estate and hospitality. Throughout his career, Pound has led transactions across Latin America, the United States and Europe, developing extensive experience working with owners, operators and management teams to enhance asset performance and support long-term growth.

Pound holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Business Institutions from Northwestern University.