Global update of who is moving where and from where - keep track of old colleagues and friends or find lost ones, brought to you by The Boutique Search Firm.
Featuring: January 2018.
THE AMERICAS
Marcus Jackson has joined Pebble Beach Resorts as Chief Operating Officer. He was most recently 15 years with Montage Hotels and Resorts, most recently overseeing the Inn at Palmetto Bluff. Jackson is the former General Manager at the Montage Deer Valley and Resort Manager at the Montage Laguna Beach.
Estelle Lacroix has joined Settlement by Combined Properties in Beverly Hills as Managing Director. She was most recently overseeing Neuehouse Hollywood. Lacroix had previously overseen food and beverage at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows and for the Hotel Bel-Air and Beverly Hills Hotel.
Paul Leclerc is now in Pasadena as Managing Director of the Langham Huntington Hotel. He was most recently overseeing the Loews Santa Monica.
Bruce Gorelick has been appointed General Manager at the Loews Regency San Francisco. He was previously the General Manager for the JW Marriott San Francisco Union Square, the Renaissance Hollywood, and most recently, the Ritz Carlton San Francisco.
Heather Strauss is now the General Manager of the Westin Fort Lauderdale. She is the former General Manager of the Embassy Suites by Hilton Deerfield Beach Resort and Spa and the Embassy Suites by Hilton Birmingham.
The Suncadia Resort has appointed Hank Thiess General Manager. He was most recently with the Wintergreen Resort & Club as General Manager and Chief Operating Officer. Thiess was previously at the Durango Mountain Resort as Chief Operating Officer and General Manager.
Rod Kessler takes over from Hank Thiess as General Manager of the Wintergreen Resort. Kessler was most recently at Granby Ranch in Colorado as Chief Operating Officer. He was previously the Chief Operating Officer of Revelstoke Mountain Resort in British Columbia for five years, and for 16 years he was at Vermont’s Stowe Mountain Resort as Vice President of Mountain Operations.
Michael Stocker has been named General Manager of the DoubleTree by Hilton Little Rock. Most recently, Stocker served as the Director of Operations at the Marriott Little Rock and the State House Convention Center.
Benchmark Hospitality has named Jay Rocha Vice President of Operations. He is the former General Manager of the Cheyenne Mountain Resort.
Montage International has appointed Vai Cahoon Vice President, Acquisitions and Development. Cahoon was most recently with the Viceroy Hotel Group as Director, Acquisitions & Development.
The Waterford Hotel Group has promoted Michael Heaton to President, taking over from Robert Winchester, who is retiring. Heaton has been with the company since 1997, most recently serving as Vice President, Operations since 2009.
Duane Schroder takes over from Michael Heaton as Vice President, Operations at the Waterford Hotel Group. Schroder joined Waterford in 2002 and has served as Regional Hotel Director and General Manager.
Hans Luther has been appointed General Manager at the Unscripted Durham. He had previously served in various positions for Ian Schrager’s Public Hotel in New York City, and was previously Business Planning Manager for the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas.
Dustin Kovats has been appointed General Manager at the Marriott Hartford Downtown. He is the former General Manager of the Marriott Milwaukee and the Marriott Boulder.
Tom Cupo has been named Area General Manager for The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center. He is the former General Manager of the Chattanoogan and the Virginia Crossings Resort.
The William Vale has appointed David Lemmond General Manager. He is the former General Manager at the NoMo SoHo, the Highland Dallas, and the Hotel Vitale.
Mark Nuzzo has been appointed Executive Vice President of Global Resort Operations for Diamond Resorts Holdings, taking over from Ronan O’Gorman, who will retire at the end of 2018. Nuzzo was most recently serving as President of The Sonnenschein Groupe.
The Hamilton Hotel Washington, D.C. has named Mark Driscoll Managing Director. He was most recently the General Manager of the Loews Boston Hotel.
David Stutz has been named General Manager at the Source Hotel in Denver, slated to open in May. For the past six years, he had served as Director of Banquets at the St. Julien Hotel & Spa.
Richard Graham has been appointed General Manager at The Fontaine in Kansas City. He was most recently the Director of Hotel Operations at the Ameristar Hotel & Casino in Kansas City.
The Mayflower Hotel has named Kori Johnson General Manager. She was most recently the General Manager of the Washington Marriott Georgetown.
Stacy Martin has been named Managing Director of the Marriott Dallas Allen & Watters Creek Convention Center, scheduled to open in January 2019. She is the former General Manager for the Heldrich and the Ellis Hotel in Atlanta.
Mauricio Miguelena has been promoted to Hotel Manager at the Mandarin Oriental Miami. He joined the resort in 2014 as Director of Food and Beverage.
The Cove, Eleuthera in the Bahamas has named Monica Coppetta Resort Manager. She was most recently the Resort Manager at the Columbia Beach Resort in Cyprus.
Dianne Markis has been named Resident Manager at the Anaheim Marriott. Markis was most recently the General Manager of the Marriott Fullerton at California State University.
William Smith has been named Director of Finance for the Grove Resort & Spa Orlando. He was most recently the Director of Finance for the Betsy Hotel South Beach.
The Waldorf Astoria Key West has named David Ferrier Director of Food and Beverage for Casa Marina and the Reach Resorts. He was most recently the Director of Restaurants at ARRIVE Palm Springs.
Joseph Stamile has been appointed Director of Food and Beverage at the Heldrich Hotel & Conference Center. He was most recently in the same position for the DoubleTree by Hilton Newark Airport Hotel.
David Miller has been appointed Director of Food and Beverage at the Zota Beach Resort. He was most recently in the same position at the DoubleTree by Hilton Little Rock.
Clément Jafet has joined the Indian Harbor Yacht Club as Director of Food and Beverage. He is the former General Manager of Hakkasan New York and Bouley.
Syed Jeff Hussain has been promoted to Director of Food and Beverage at the Westin Atlanta Airport. He had joined the hotel last October as Assistant Director of Food and Beverage.
Michael Lamey has been named Director of Food and Beverage at the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa in Fort Lauderdale. He was most recently at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa as Director of Restaurant Operations.
Douglas Nysse has been appointed Vice President of Development at White Lodging Services. He was most recently with Arrival Partners.
Ariel Freeman Sanett has been named Vice President of Development for the Dream Hotel Group, having most recently served as Vice President of Business Development at Crescent Hotels & Resorts.
At the former Trump Soho since rebranded The Dominick (a member of Preferred Hotels) Sharon Telesca Feurer assumes the role of Sales & Marketing Consultant. As marketing expert, she worked her magic on the Peninsula New York, the St. Regis New York, the Trump Soho (yes, that very same property) and the Gramercy Park Hotel.
Paula Dirks is heading to Miami as Director of Marketing and Commerce for the Mandarin Oriental Canouan Island. Since 2015, she had been with the Four Seasons New York as Director of Marketing. She had previously served in sales and marketing posts for Groupe Richemont Mont Blanc and the St. Regis New York.
Kellyn Smith Kenny has joined Hilton Hotels as Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. She is the former Vice President of Marketing at Uber and Senior Vice President/Vice President, Marketing at Capital One.
Brian Atkins has joined the Hamilton Hotel Washington, D.C. as Director of Sales and Marketing. He had previously served in sales positions with HEI Hotels and Resorts, Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants, and the Autograph Collection.
Christie Finney has been appointed Director of Sales and Marketing at the Sofitel Washington, D.C. Lafayette Square. She was most recently the Director of Sales and Marketing for Washington Plaza.
Sarah Lechevalier has been named Director of Sales, Financial & Insurance at AMResorts. Most recently, she had served as Global Director of Group Sales for Kempinski Hotels.
Bill Pierce has been named Director of Sales and Marketing at (the former) Trump SoHo New York. He was most recently in the same position at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Times Square.
Ileana Acosta has been named Director of Sales and Marketing at the Kimpton Ink48 Hotel in New York. She is the former Director of Sales and Marketing at Gild Hall.
Emily Cornelious has moved over to The Jane in Chicago as Director of Sales and Marketing. She was most recently at the Peninsula Chicago as Director of Sales and previously in the same position at the Peninsula New York.
Lorena Chappell has been named Director of Sales and Marketing for the Hotel Contessa in San Antonio. She was previously overseeing sales and marketing for the Sheraton Austin Georgetown Hotel & Conference Center and the W San Diego.
Meliá Hotels has named Kristine Chiu Director of Sales and Marketing at INNSIDE New York. Chiu was most recently the Director of Sales at the Sheraton Tribeca. Previously, she was the Director of Sales and Marketing at Triumph Hotels, including the Hotel Belleclaire and the Hotel Edison.
Aaron Feeney has been named Area Director of Sales and Marketing – San Francisco – at the Viceroy Hotel Group. For the past five years, he had served as Director of Sales, Marketing and Events, at the Andaz Napa.
James Anderson has joined the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa as Director of Sales and Marketing. He was most recently the Director of Group Sales for the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center.
The San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter and San Antonio Marriott Riverwalk hotels have named Greg Blum Director of Sales and Marketing. Previously, he was the Director of Sales at the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel.
Kelly Wilson has been named Director of Sales and Marketing at the Renaissance Denver Downtown City Center. Most recently, Wilson was the Director of Sales for the Hilton Garden Inn Denver Downtown.
Lindsey Sears has joined Gild Hall as Director of Sales. She was most recently Associate Director of Sales at Hotel 50 Bowery. Sears is the former Director of Sales at the Hotel Hugo.
Tulio Baruch has joined the Grand Velas Los Cabos as Director of Sales. Baruch most recently served as the Director of Sales and Marketing for the Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya.
The Mansion on Main Street has named Erin Crofchick Director of Sales. She was most recently serving as Director of Catering and Event Management at the Westin Mount Laurel.
Foxwoods Resort Casino has appointed Ming Mak as Vice President of Asian Marketing. Mak had previously held similar roles at the Maryland Live Casino and the Thunder Valley Casino Resort.
Denise Fernandez has been named Director of Leisure Sales at the (former) Trump SoHo New York. Fernandez was most recently a Senior Sales Manager for Pineapple Luxury Hotel Specialists.
Kenny Giambalvo is the new Executive Chef for the Allison Inn and Spa in Oregon. He was most recently heading the kitchen at Portland’s Pazzo Ristorante.
The Millennium Hilton New York One UN Plaza has named Andrew Gold Executive Chef. The CIA graduate was most recently overseeing the kitchen at the McCarren Hotel and Pool in Brooklyn.
The Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel has named Jack Strong Executive Chef. Strong was most recently the Executive Chef at the Chinook Winds Casino Resort. Previously, he had served as Chef de Cuisine at the Salish Lodge & Spa.
Matt Jergens has joined Chicago’s The Gwen as Executive Chef. He was previously the Executive Sous Chef at the The Liberty, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Boston.
Zachary Ladwig has rejoined the Inn at Dos Brisas as Executive Chef. He had previously served the hotel as Chef de Cuisine and Executive Chef from 2011-2013 before taking on his most recently role as Chef de Cuisine at Penrose in the Broadmoor.
Guillermo Carmona has been named Executive Chef at the Velas Vallarta. He was most recently the Executive Chef of AMResorts in the Dominican Republic.
Mario Lopez has been promoted to Executive Chef at the Grand Velas Riviera Maya. Since 2014, he had been serving as Executive Sous Chef for the resort.
The Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa has named James Morin Executive Chef. Most recently, he served as Executive Chef at the Hyatt Regency Savannah.
The Hyatt Regency Savannah has named Alison Houston Executive Chef. Most recently, Houston served as Executive Sous Chef at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill.
The Cavalier Hotel in Virginia Beach has named Dan Elinan Executive Chef. He was most recently the Executive Chef at the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Elinan is the former Executive Chef at the Omni Shoreham, Washington D.C.
David Rothwell whose long career with Ritz-Carlton ended as General Manager of the Ritz-Carlton Charlotte, has died.
EUROPE
The Best Western Great Britain has appointed Rob Paterson Chief Executive Officer. Paterson was most recently with Village Hotels as Commercial Director.
Antonio Huguet Morera has been named General Manager at OD Barcelona. Huguet was most recently the General Manager of the Olivia Plaza Hotel in Barcelona. He is the former General Manager at the Hotel Mediterráneo Park in Girona.
Matthias Dittmeier has joined the Steigenberger Esplanade Jena as General Manager, taking over from Andreas Zeitler who has retired. Dittmeier was most recently at the Steigenberger Hotel Linz as General Manager.
Steffen Krause has moved to the Maxx Hotel Jena. He is the former Deputy General Manager and Food and Beverage Manager at the Steigenberger Esplanade.
Ciro Verrocchi has been appointed Director General at Bettoja Hotels in Rome. He is the former Managing Director for IHI Italia, part of IHG.
Mauro Vinci has been appointed Senior Director Business Development, Italy, for the Carlson Rezidor Group in Milan. He was most recently with the NH Hotel Group as Development and Asset Director.
Silvia Brighenti has been appointed Global Sales Director at Forte Village in Sardinia. She is the former Director of Sales and Marketing at the Hotel Amigo in Brussels.
Paolo Bianchi has been appointed Executive Chef at the Hôtel Les Grandes Alpes in Courchevel. For the past two years, he had served as Sous Chef at Zuma in Rome. He had previously been with Jean-George Kitchen at the Four Seasons Dubai at Jumeirah Beach.
ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
Mark Willis has joined Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts in Bangkok as President – Asia, taking over from Andrew Langdon. Willis was most recently Senior Area Vice President Middle East, Turkey & Africa at Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group.
Sabine Lamberts has been appointed General Manager of the Santiburi Beach Resort & Spa in Koh Samui. She was most recently General Manager of the Le Méridien Bali and had previously served as Director of Operations at the Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel.
Jan-Hendrik Meidinger has returned to the Grand Hyatt Taipei to take on the role of General Manager. He had previously served the hotel as Resident Manager. Meidinger was most recently the General Manager of the Excelsior in Hong Kong.
Felipe Gotor-Schäffer has been appointed General Manager at the Eastin Hotel Makkasan Bangkok. He was most recently the General Manager at the Al-Bustan Village in Riyadh.
Bernhard Langer has joined the Four Points by Sheraton Sydney, Central Park as General Manager, slated to open in August. He was most recently the Hotel Manager at the Sheraton on the Park, Sydney.
Yvonne Choi has been named Chief Brand Officer – Hotel RL for RLH. For the past four years, she had been with the Cachet Hospitality Group as Chief Marketing Officer.
Mikael Svensson has been named Senior Vice President at the Louis T Collection in Hong Kong. He was most recently the General Manager of the Viceroy Palm Jumeirah Beach Dubai.
Bruce Ryde has been appointed Vice President Luxury Brands & Brand Marketing Asia Pacific at Marriott International in Hong Kong. He was most recently with the InterContinental Hotels Group as Head of Luxury and Lifestyle, Brand & Marketing for Asia, Middle East & Africa.
Christophe Victor has been appointed Executive Assistant Manager, Sales and Marketing at the St. Regis Langkawi, the Westin Resort and Spa Langkawi, and the Langkawi International Convention Centre. He was most recently the Director of Sales and Marketing of the Cheval Blanc Randheli, Maldives.
The Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa has appointed Klara Crocco Director of Marketing and Communications. Crocco was most recently the Complex Director of Public Relations at the Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas and the Westin Nanea Ocean Villas.
Shouma Moniz has been named Director of Sales and Marketing at the Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach. He is the former Director of Sales and Marketing at the Homewood Suites by Hilton San Francisco Airport North.
Shona Pang has been appointed Director of Sales and Marketing at the Sheraton Petaling Jaya in Malaysia. Pang was most recently the Director of Conventions and Events at One World Hotel.
MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA
Timothy Kelly has been appointed General Manager and Senior Vice President of Operations at Atlantis, The Palm, in Dubai. He was most recently serving as Senior Vice President Resort Operations for Wynn Hotels in Macau.
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Edited by Susana Parks, Benoit Gateau-Cumin & Lisa Leroy
susana@boutiquesearchfirm.com / benoit@boutiquesearchfirm.com / lisa@boutiquesearchfirm.com
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