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: July 2018.
THE AMERICAS
Scott Hermes is the new President of Resort Properties (The Resort at Pelican Hill, The Fashion Island Hotel and Hotel Irvine) at the Irvine Company. He spent the bulk of his career with Starwood and was most recently the General Manager of the Westin San Diego Gaslamp Quarter. Hermes takes over from Ralph Grippo who left the company after 11 years in the position.
Vera Manoukian has been named Senior Vice President and Global Head at Hilton Hotels & Resorts. Following a long career with Starwood, she was most recently President and Chief Operating Officer at Denihan Hospitality.
Thomas Becker has joined Virgin Hotels as Senior Vice President Operations, based in Miami. He was most recently with Commune Hotels + Resorts as Area Managing Director and General Manager at the Carmel Valley Ranch and Ventana Big Sur. Becker is the former Managing Director of the Fairmont Acapulco and Vice President of Operations of the ARIA Resort & Casino Las Vegas.
Ilse Harley has been named Regional Vice President and General Manager of the Four Seasons Las Vegas, succeeding Mark Hellrung who passed away in March. Since February, Harley was in the same role at the Four Seasons Baltimore after holding a similar position at the Four Seasons Anguilla and the Four Seasons Seattle.
Beverly Magee has been promoted to General Manager with her move to the Four Seasons Baltimore, taking over from Ilse Harley. Magee was most recently serving as Hotel Manager at the Four Seasons Austin and is the former Director of Marketing at the Four Seasons Seattle.
Bixente Pery has been promoted to General Manager with his move to the Four Seasons Encantado Santa Fe, taking over from Meredith Macfarlane. Pery was most recently serving as Hotel Manager at the Four Seasons Houston.
Gonçalo Monteiro dos Santos has been promoted to General Manager with his move to the Four Seasons Montreal, scheduled to open in 2019. He was most recently with the Four Seasons Macao, Cotai Strip as Hotel Manager.
Sébastien Silvestri has moved within sbe to the Disruptive Group as Chief Operating Officer. He is the former Vice President Food and Beverage with sbe in Miami, the Venetian and the Palazzo in Las Vegas.
Brian Johnson is now in Wisconsin at the Great Wolf Lodge Wisconsin Dells as General Manager. He was most recently the Managing Director at the Doubletree by Hilton Boston North Shore. Johnson is the former Managing Director of the Loews Coronado Bay Resort and the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort.
The Pacific Hospitality Group has named Paul McCormick President and Chief Operating Officer. He was most recently the Senior Vice President of the Miraval Group.
John Beaton has been appointed Senior Vice President of Operations at Kolter Hospitality. He was most recently the Senior Vice President of Operations at Interstate Hotels and Resorts.
Tara Cline has been appointed General Manager of the Kimpton Amara Resort and Spa in Sedona. She is the former Director of Rooms at the Enchantment Resort.
Casey Lavin has been promoted to General Manager with his move to the Montage Palmetto Bluff. He was most recently at Sea Island Resort as Director of Food and Beverage. Lavin is the former General Manager at the Woodlands Inn in Charleston and Director of Food and Beverage at the Greenbrier.
Patrick Fisher has been named Vice President of Hotel Operations for MGM Resorts at Circus Circus Las Vegas. He was most recently serving as Executive Director of Hotel and Retail Operations at the MGM National Harbor in Maryland.
Karla Keskin has been named Regional Vice President, East Coast,
and General Manager at the Mondrian Park Avenue. She was most recently with NeueHouse in New York as Vice President Operations.
Matthew Vandegrift has been promoted to General Manager
at the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas. Since 2016, he had been serving as Hotel Manager after joining the resort in 2013 as Director of Hotel Operations.
RLH has appointed Gary Sims Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. He was most recently with the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa as Managing Director. Sims is the former Senior Vice President of Operations for the Pyramid Hotel Group.
Cory Randolph has been appointed General Manager of the NYLO Las Colinas. He was previously at The Betsy, serving as Hotel Manager and Acting General Manager.
Joel Paige has joined the Lansdowne Resort and Spa as Managing Director. He was previously the Managing Director at the PGA National Resort and Spa and Doral Golf Resort and Spa in Florida. Paige was most recently with the St. James Sports Training Facility and Spa.
Randy Taormina has been appointed Managing Director of the INNSIDE by Meliá New York. He was most recently Area Managing Director for the Dream Hotel Group.
Erik Palmer has been named Managing Director of the TWA Hotel in New York, slated to open in spring 2019. Palmer was most recently the Hotel Manager of the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville.
The Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya has named Pascal Dupuis General Manager. He was most recently the General Manager for both The Address Dubai Marina and The Address Boulevard Dubai.
Dan McGowan has been named General Manager of the Fairmont San Jose. He was most recently the General Manager of the Fairmont Dallas, a position he held since 2015.
Sean Olmstead has joined L’Auberge de Sedona as General Manager. He had previously spent the past 20 years with InterContinental, most recently as Hotel Manager for the InterContinental New York Barclay and the InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile.
Matt Alemany has moved to the Hyatt Centric Boston as General Manager. He was most recently the Assistant General Manager at the Hotel Marlowe and at the Nine Zero Hotel, all in Boston.
Michael Platt has joined the El Conquistador Golf and Tennis Resort in
Tucson as General Manager. He was most recently serving in the same position at the Hotel Arista and Spa in Chicago.
Gary Obligacion has been named General Manager at the Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur. He was most recently the Director of Operations of The Alinea Group.
Scott Mason has been named General Manager at the Andaz 5th Avenue. Most recently he served as Director of Special Projects for the Miraval Group.
Joerg Roterberg has joined Silversands in Grenada as General Manager, replacing Christian Langlade. Roterberg is the former General Manager of Raffles Seychelles.
Gary Thulander has joined Chatham Bars Inn on Cape Cod as General Manager. He was most recently overseeing the Woodstock Inn for the past five years. Thulander is the former General Manager at Jade Mountain, Cap Juluca, and the Landings Resort.
Shannon Schwier has been promoted to Hotel Manager with her move to the Four Seasons New York Downtown, taking over from Thomas Carreras. Schwier was most recently the Director of Rooms at the Four Seasons Dubai.
Karl Budnik has been named Hotel Manager at the Ritz-Carlton Santa Barbara, the former Bacara Resort. Budnik was most recently the Director of Hotel Operations at the Ritz-Carlton Chicago. He had previously served in rooms positions at Ritz-Carlton Osaka, the Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes, and Ritz-Carlton’s Al Bustan Palace.
Kelly Beres has been appointed Director of Operations at the Maven Hotel at Dairy Block in Denver. Beres most recently served as the Club and Spa Director at the Oxford Club, Spa & Salon. She is the former Director of Rooms at the Westin Westminster and the Sheraton Carlsbad Resort and Spa.
Anton Liamin has been appointed Vice President, Finance at MCR in New York. He was most recently the Director of Finance at the Sheraton New York Times Square.
The Duniway in Portland has appointed Lemmy Cooper Director of Food and Beverage. For the past six years he was at Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants in Portland as Regional Director of Food and Beverage Operations.
David McKeever has been named Director of Food and Beverage at Universal’s Aventura Hotel, set to open in August. He was most recently the Assistant Director of Food and Beverage for the Cabana Bay Beach Resort.
Jorge Espindola has been named Director of Food and Beverage
at the Viceroy Cabo. He was most recently in the same post for the Hotel Esencia.
Franck Desplechin has been named Director of Food and Beverage and Executive Chef at L’Auberge de Sedona. He is the former Executive Chef of the Enchantment Resort and Mii amo Spa, the St. Regis San Francisco, and the St. Regis Princeville Resort.
Dan Kornick has been named Chief Information Officer for Loews Hotels. He is the former CIO for TracFone Wireless.
Erik Hansen has been appointed to the newly-created role of Chief Sustainability Officer for Wynn Resorts in Las Vegas. Since 2016, he has served as Director of Energy Procurement for the company.
Lynval Miller has been appointed Director of Human Resources at The Heldrich. He was previously the Director of Human Resources for the Westminster Hotel in Livingston, New Jersey.
InterContinental Hotels has appointed Betty Wilson Vice President, Americas Sales. She was previously the Vice President Global Sales for Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Senior Vice President of Business Development at ConferenceDirect.
Kelly Nelson has been named pre-opening Director of Sales and Marketing at the Four Seasons Napa Valley. Nelson was most recently an Account Director at the Four Seasons Worldwide Sales Office based in San Francisco. She is the former Director of Sales and Marketing at the Four Seasons San Francisco and the Four Seasons Palo Alto.
Elizabeth Grillos has been appointed Area Director of Sales and Marketing at The Estate Yountville. She was g most recently the Vice President of Marketing for Noble House Hotels and Resorts.
The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel has named Jill Plemons Director of Sales and Marketing. Most recently, Plemons served as Director of Sales and Marketing at Hotel Zephyr.
Sean Reardon has been named Director of Sales and Marketing for the Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport set to open in early 2021. He is the former Director of Sales and Marketing at the Liberty and the Westin Copley Place Boston.
Kevin Bryant has returned to the Fontainebleau Miami Beach in the new role of Executive Director of Sales. He had previously served as Director of Sales and Revenue Management for resort before moving into his current role of Corporate Director of Revenue Management with parent company, Turnberry Associates.
Elaine Carter has been named Regional Director of Sales at MCR in New York. She is the former Regional and Area Director of Sales for Remington Hotels.
Mgeni Mpolo has moved to the W San Francisco as Director of Sales and Marketing. Mpolo was most recently serving as the Director of Sales at the Ritz-Carlton San Francisco.
Jon Chocklett has been named Director of Sales and Marketing at the Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner. He was most recently the Director of Sales and Marketing at the Sagamore Pendry Baltimore, following a short stint at the Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire, and a tenure as Vice President Sales and Marketing at the Watergate.
The Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort has named Andrew Lott Executive Director of Resort Sales. He is the former Director, Resort Sales, for the Omni Amelia Island Plantation.
Sarah Menard has moved as Director of Sales and Marketing to the Andaz Savannah. For the past 19 years, she held various roles at the Hyatt Regency Savannah.
Eileen Cole has been appointed Director of Sales and Marketing at the Eaglewood Resort & Spa in Chicago. She was most recently Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Bricton Group. Cole is the former Director of Sales and Marketing of the Chicago Marriott Southwest at Burr Ridge.
Brandon Walton has been promoted at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort to Director of Sales and Marketing. Since 2013, he had been serving the resort as Director of Sales after 4 years as Senior Sales Manager for the Hilton San Diego Sales Complex.
Ann Sutherland Lynch has been appointed Director of Sales and Marketing at the Jacquard Hotel & Rooftop in Denver, opening this summer. She was most recently the Corporate Director of Sales and Marketing at Timbers Resorts.
Simaan Hawa has returned to the Resort at Pelican Hill to take on the new role of Director of Sales. Hawa was previously serving the resort as Director of National Accounts before taking on his most recent role as Director of Sales for the Monarch Beach Resort.
Mouhssine Benhamacht has been named Executive Chef of the Aventura Hotel. Most recently, he was Executive Chef at Meraki Market in San Francisco.
Michael Sichel has been appointed Executive Chef at the Hotel Bennett, opening this fall in Charleston. Sichel was most recently the Executive Chef at both Galatoire’s, and its sister restaurant Galatoire’s 33 Bar & Steak in New Orleans.
Frederic Hoffmann has been named Executive Chef at the W San Francisco. Hoffmann was most recently in the same role for the St. Regis Princeville.
The Montage Laguna Beach has appointed Victor Casanova Chef de Cuisine of The Loft. He is the former Chef Owner at Gusto in Los Angeles and Executive Chef of Culina at the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills.
L’Auberge Del Mar has named Collin Leaver Chef de Cuisine. He was most recently the Executive Sous Chef at Quattro Restaurant and Bar in the Four Seasons Silicon Valley.
Luciano Bengardino is now at the Four Seasons St. Louis as Director of Rooms. He was most recently the Assistant Director of Rooms at the Four Seasons Toronto.
EUROPE
Michel Morauw has been appointed Regional Vice President of Operations, France, for Hyatt in Paris. He had previously managed the Hyatt Regency Paris Charles de Gaulle, the Hyatt Paris Madeleine and, most recently, the Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile.
Graham Kiy has been appointed Area Vice President of Operations, EMEA Hotels, for Hard Rock International. He was most recently at the Jumeirah Nanjing as General Manager and Regional Vice President of Operations.
Jean-Paul Dantil has been appointed Vice President of Operations at Almanac Hotels in Vienna. Most recently, he was General Manager of the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain and he is the former General Manager for the Ritz-Carlton Vienna.
Andrew Blyth has been appointed General Manager at Dunston Hall in Norwich. He was most recently looking after Holiday Inn properties in North Bristol and Essex as General Manager.
Anthony Duggan has been appointed Deputy General Manager at the Belton Woods Hotel in Grantham. He was most recently Operations Manager at the Forest Pines Hotel & Golf Resort.
Leonardo Mariotti has been appointed General Manager at the Garden Court Hotel London. He was most recently at Atlantis in the Bahamas as General Manager for Todd English‘s Olives.
Isabelle Almeida-von Burg has been appointed Hotel Manager at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues. The Lausanne graduate was most recently acting General Manager at the Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah Al Hamra Beach.
Thibaut Drege has been named Hotel Manager of the Four Seasons George V. The Lausanne graduate had previously held food and beverage roles with the Shangri-La Paris and the InterContinental Geneva.
The Four Seasons George V has appointed Alessandra Ruggeri as Director of Marketing. She was most recently in the same role at the Mandarin Oriental Milan. Ruggeri is the former Vice President Marketing for the Lungarno Collection Group.
Caroline Drayton has been appointed Director of Communications: UK Collection for Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in London. She was most recently Head of Marketing and Communications at Marcus Wareing Restaurants.
Fabrice Sommier has moved to the Restaurant Georges Blanc in Vonnas as General Manager, taking over from Antoine Maillon, who was on the job for 19 years and is now ready to develop his own group. Sommier was most recently at Groupe Georges Blanc as Director of Food and Beverage and Human Resources.
ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
Sean Mosher has been promoted to General Manager with his move to the Four Seasons Koh Samui. He is the former Resort Manager at the Four Seasons Langkawi and the Four Seasons Sayan Bali.
Graham Williamson has been named Resort Manager at the Four Seasons Oahu at Ko’ Olina, taking over for Kristen Whyly. Williamson was most recently the Director of Food and Beverage at the Four Seasons Dallas.
Marco Osterwalder has been named Hotel Manager at the Four Seasons Beijing. He is the former Director of Operations at the Conrad Beijing.
Bryan Ruch has been promoted to Resort Manager at the Four Seasons The Nam Hai, taking over from David Macklin. Ruch was most recently serving the resort as Director of Finance.
Mark Waller has been appointed Executive Assistant Manager at Halekulani. He was most recently the Director of Rooms at the Four Seasons Silicon Valley.
Stéphane Soret has returned to Raffles Singapore to take on the role of Director of Wine and Food and Beverage Special Projects. Soret had previously served the hotel as Wine Director before taking on his most recent role as Executive Director of Beverage for the MGM Macau and the MGM Cotai.
Crystal DeRosier has been appointed Marketing Manager at Halekulani. DeRosier was most recently Event and Marketing Communications Manager at the Modern Honolulu.
Sandeep Bhagwat has been promoted to Executive Chef with his move to the Four Seasons Langkawi. He was most recently serving as Executive Sous Chef at the Four Seasons Beijing and is the former Chef de Cuisine at the Mandarin Oriental Shanghai.
Christopher Texeira has been appointed Executive Chef at Nobu at the Four Seasons Lanai. He is the former Executive Pastry Chef at Steadfast at the Gray Restaurant, Homestead on the Roof, and West Town Bakery.
Justin Rowland is now in Hawaii as Assistant Director of Food and Beverage
at the Grand Wailea. He was most recently in the same role at the St. Regis Atlanta.
Keith Mallini has been appointed Lounge Manager at Halekulani for Orchids and Lewers Lounge. He had previously managing food and beverage operations at Baku in the newly renovated International Marketplace in Waikiki.
MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA
Bernard De Villèle is now at the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain as General Manager, taking over from Jean-Paul Dantil. De Villèle was most recently the General Manager of the St. Regis Mexico City after serving in the same role for the St. Regis Mauritius.
Michael Ellis has been appointed to the newly created role of Chief Culinary Officer at the Jumeirah Group in Dubai. He was most recently with the Michelin Restaurant and Hotel Guides as Global Director for Europe, Asia and the Americas.
Sébastien Dental is the new Director of Food and Beverage at the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr. He was most recently in the same position at the Sofitel Ia Ora Beach Resort in Moorea after serving as Director of Food and Beverage at the Lebua at State Tower in Bangkok.
Tomas Vlasek is now in the Maldives as Director of Food and Beverage at Soneva. He was most recently in the same position at the Four Seasons Baltimore.
Do you have news for us? Please do not hesitate to send us an e-mail at benoit@boutiquesearchfirm.com
Edited by Susana Parks, Benoit Gateau-Cumin & Lisa Leroy
susana@boutiquesearchfirm.com / benoit@boutiquesearchfirm.com / lisa@boutiquesearchfirm.com
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