Fernandes’ specialty lies in turning around asset performance and establishing brand reputation and value creation. Throughout his career he has outperformed the market, leading with setting a strong workplace culture, crafting a sustainable growth strategy and fostering innovation. With more than 30 years of global leadership experience, Agnelo has helped position independent luxury resorts in the US, Caribbean, Central America, and Asia. A thought leader within the hospitality industry and luxury lifestyle segment, Agnelo has been frequently invited to share his transformational perspectives on leadership, service culture, growth strategy, communications, global marketing and branding. His experience spans across hospitality, spa and wellness, real estate, travel and tourism, and restaurants. He has held senior executive positions with brands like Canyon Ranch, Sonesta Hotels, and was most recently with Coral Tree Hospitality and its flagship, Terranea Resort as Chief Strategy Officer & EVP.
Fernandes serves on Visit California’s Marketing Advisory Board and is the immediate past chair of the Branding Committee, overseeing the strategic brand position of the state of California. Along with the executive committee, he chaired the deployment of the $110 million ‘Dream Big’ brand campaign that represented California as the leading destination. Fernandes also serves on the Executive Committee for the HSMAI Board of Directors and is the immediate past chair of the HSMAI Foundation, where he focused on attracting, developing, and retaining talent in the hospitality industry.
Agnelo has been recognized as an industry thought leader and is the recipient of numerous awards and accolades, including Lodging Magazine’s Best and Brightest Hotel Innovators and Visionaries; Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Resort Marketer of the Year and Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales, Marketing and Revenue; i-Lead Leader of the Year by Two Roads Hospitality, and the prestigious ‘Spirit of Lowe’ Award by Lowe and CoralTree Hospitality.