The Gwen (521 N. Rush St., Chicago), a Luxury Collection Hotel, announced the appointment of Iris Junge as General Manager.
Prior to this role, Junge served as the General Manager for the Allegro Royal Sonesta, previously the Kimpton Hotel Allegro, in Chicago. She also served as the Assistant General Manager of Hotel Allegro where she supported the hotel's overall operations, finances and development of a high-performance team. Originally from Germany, Iris has over 20 years of hospitality experience working with Wyndham, Hard Rock, Starwood and InterContinental Hotels.
Junge knew from a very early age growing up in Germany that she was attracted to the hospitality industry and hotels in particular. Growing up with a father who worked in the travel industry, Junge had many opportunities to travel and visit a wide variety of hotels. The experiences ultimately sparked a sense of excitement for the travel industry and set her career trajectory in hospitality, where she finds joy to this day.
"As I step into my role at The Gwen, I am excited to bring new ideas to the table and contribute to the ongoing success of this incredible property," said Junge. "Hospitality is all about forming and strengthening relationships and I'm looking forward to inspiring our team and getting involved in the community to do wonderful things in Chicago."
Junge is on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association, as well as on the Advisory Board for the DANK Haus, a cultural organization located in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood. She also supports the IHLA Educational Foundation and is a member of the IHLA Women in Lodging Chapter. Junge holds a Certificate from Cornell for Sales Growth and is a Certified Revenue Management Executive through HSMAI.