Luxury cruise line Ponant has appointed Benoit-Etienne Domenget as group CEO, effective 3 November 2025, taking over the role from Hervé Gastinel, who is leaving to pursue professional projects.
Domenget joins Ponant with 25 years of experience in hospitality and luxury travel sectors, including various operational roles with the Accor Group before being appointed senior vice president development for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and DACH region. He later led Accor's Swiss subsidiary and managed the low-cost hotel business across the DACH region, overseeing more than a hundred properties.
He also spent time at Michel Reybier Hospitality, a group owning prestigious hotels, vineyards, and wellness activities, before being appointed in 2017 as CEO of Sommet Education (Glion, Les Roches, École Ducasse, Indian School of Hospitality, and Invictus Education).