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: February 2021
THE AMERICAS
Following the passing of Sheldon Adelson, the Las Vegas Sands Corp. has permanently named Robert Goldstein Chairman/Chief Executive Officer. Goldstein had assumed the role as acting Chairman/Chief Executive Officer in January. He has been with the company since 1995, most recently serving as President/Chief Operating Officer.
Patrick Dumont takes over from Robert Goldstein as President/Chief Operating Officer at Las Vegas Sands. He was most recently serving the company as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
Sasa Milojevic has joined Tafer Hotels & Resorts as Chief Operating Officer. He was most recently with Karisma Hotels & Resorts as President Global Hotel Operations and Chief Executive Officer for Mexico, LATAM & Caribbean Regions. Milojevic is the former Chief Operating Officer of Buenaventura Hotels.
Sage Hospitality Group has promoted Ed Blair to the position of Area General Manager, overseeing The Crawford Hotel, Denver Union Station, The Oxford Hotel and The Oxford Club, Spa & Salon. Blair was most recently the General Manager of The Curtis – a Doubletree by Hilton. He had previously served as the General Manager of the Embassy Suites Denver Downtown, and spent almost a decade as the General Manager of The Oxford.
David Chase has joined the Fenway Golf Club in New York as General Manager. He was most recently at the Omni Berkshire Place as Managing Director. Chase is the former General Manager of the New York Palace and the Trump Soho.
Karla Aabo has been named Managing Director of the Proper Austin. She was most recently with Life House as Vice President – Operations.
Simon Fricker has been appointed Managing Director of The Resorts & Residences by CuisinArt, Anguilla. He was most recently a Managing Partner with Concorde Hospitality. Fricker is the former General Manager of the Alila SCBD Jakarta.
John Schafer has been appointed Managing Director of the Hyatt Regency Houston. The Cornell graduate was most recently with the Grand Hyatt New York as General Manager and Area Vice President.
Steve Contos has been appointed Executive Vice President of Davidson Resorts. He was most recently serving as Senior Vice President at Marriott International.
Stephen Blackford has been appointed General Manager of the Pendry Chicago, slated to open in the spring. Most recently, he served as the Managing Director of the St. Jane Hotel. Blackford is the former General Manager of the Ambassador Chicago, the James Hotel Chicago, and the Affinia Chicago.
Dieter Schmitz has joined the ADERO Scottsdale as General Manager. He was most recently the Regional General Manager for the Riggs Washington, D.C.
Michael Slosser has been named Chief Executive Officer of the Torrey Pines Hotel Group. He was most recently with the Howard Hughes Corporation as Executive Vice President and Managing Director.
John Hazard has been named General Manager of the Ritz-Carlton Turks & Caicos, slated to open this summer. He was most recently the General Manager of the Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort.
Ulisses Marreiros has joined the Belmond Copacabana Palace as General Manager. He was most recently in the same position at the Belmond La Residencia in Mallorca. Marreiros is the former General Manager of Reid’s Palace in Portugal.
Corey Sanders returns to his role as Chief Operating Officer of MGM Resorts. He had served in the same position from 2010- 2019 before moving into his most recent role as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.
Chris Gabaldon has returned to Marriott Hotels to take on the role of Senior Vice President, Luxury Brands. He had previously served the company as Area Vice President, Luxury Brands, Americas West, before moving into his most recent role of Chief Operating Officer of Auberge Resorts Collection.
Stefan Janse van Rensburg has been promoted to General Manager Operations for City Lodge Hotel Group. He has been with the company since 1996, most recently as Area General Manager overseeing the Fairview Hotel, the Town Lodge Upper Hill, and the City Lodge Hotel at Two Rivers Mall.
Luke Kang has been named President, Asia Pacific, for the Walt Disney Company. He was most recently serving the company as Executive Vice President/Managing Director, North Asia.
Jenne Oxford has been appointed General Manager of the Lodge at St. Edward State Park, slated to open in May. Most recently, Oxford held the role of Vice President of Operations at Domicile. She is the former General Manager of the Alexis Hotel in Seattle and the Hotel Lumen in Dallas.
Jacqueline Volkart has been named Dual General Manager to oversee both the Ritz-Carlton South Beach and the Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour. She was most recently with the St. Regis San Francisco as General Manager. Volkart is the former General Manager of the Ritz-Carlton San Juan.
Charles Lasvigne has been promoted to Hotel Manager at the Four Seasons Philadelphia at Comcast Center. He was most recently serving as Director of Food and Beverage.
Alexander del Rosario has been named Hotel Manager at the Georgian Hotel in Santa Monica. He is a former Hotel Manager with Pacifica Hotels and Front Office Manager with Hersha Hospitality Management.
Anne Titlebaum has been promoted to Director of Operations at the Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee. She joined the resort in 2019 as Director of Food and Beverage. For six years, Titlebaum was previously the Director of Food and Beverage of the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples.
Don Brookshire is now on Cape Cod as Director of Operations for the Chatham Bars Inn. He is the former Director of Food and Beverage of The Plaza and the New York Hilton.
Luis Lujan is now in Mexico as Director of Operations of Auberge Resorts’ Esperanza. For the past five years he had been with the Ritz-Carlton San Francisco as Director of Food and Beverage.
Troy Dixon has been appointed Director of Operations of the Hyatt Centric Beale Street Memphis. Most recently, Dixon served as Director of Food and Beverage for the Hilton and Duniway Hotels in Portland, Oregon.
Ted Cushman is now in Dallas as Operations Manager of the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek. He was most recently with the Hilton San Diego Bayfront as Assistant Director of Food and Beverage.
Ivan Puente has been named Director of Food and Beverage of the Sal Y Mar Rooftop Bar in Tampa. Most recently Puente served as Senior Food and Beverage Manager for Terrace Restaurant and The Rooftop at Exchange Place in New Jersey.
Randy Hyzak takes over from Patrick Dumont as Chief Financial Officer. Hyzak was most recently serving the company as Chief Accounting Officer.
Alexis Schmidt has been appointed Director of Finance of the Hotel Palomar San Diego. She is the former Director of Finance of the Kimpton Everly Hotel and the Kimpton Goleta.
Pat Rizco has been named Director of Property Operations at the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club. He was most recently with The Resort at Pelican Hill as Director of Engineering.
Joe Isaac has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Mergers & Acquisitions, at Aimbridge Hospitality. He has been with the company for over three years, most recently as Vice President, Financial Operations and Accounting Strategy.
Joe Luck has joined Sandpiper Hospitality as Vice President of Business Development. He was most recently with Hospitality Management Corporation, where he served as Senior Vice President of Business Development for the past two years.
Clio Knowles has been promoted at Virgin Hotels to Chief People Person. She joined the company in 2013 as Vice President of People. Knowles is the former Vice President, Global Human Resources, at Kerzner International.
Heather Jacobs has been named Chief Human Resources Officer for Delaware North. She was most recently with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts as Senior Vice President, People and Culture.
Katie Hara has been promoted at AutoCamp to Vice President of People & Culture. She joined the company in 2019 as People and Culture Manager before being promoted in 2020 to the role of Director of People & Culture.
The Ian Schrager Company has named Chelsea Olson Chief Marketing Officer. She was previously overseeing all marketing at the EDITION Miami Beach.
Mary Ann Gamboa has moved to the Four Seasons Toronto as Director of Marketing. She was most recently in the same position at the InterContinental Toronto Centre. Gamboa is the former Director of Sales and Marketing of the Trump International Hotel & Tower Toronto, the Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Toronto, and the Radisson Hotel Admiral Toronto – Harbourfront.
Jennie Bowman has been named Chief Marketing Officer at Campbell House. She was most recently the Regional Director of Business Development at Wilson Associates.
Brett Briseno has been named Director of Sales and Marketing at The Resorts & Residences by CuisinArt, Anguilla. Most recently, he served as the Director of Sales and Marketing for Auberge Resorts’ Commodore Perry Estate.
Lesly Connolly has been appointed Director of Sales and Marketing of the DoubleTree by Hilton Washington, D.C. North/Gaithersburg. Connolly was most recently the Senior Sales Manager for The National Conference Center. She is the former Director of Sales and Marketing of the Holiday Inn Dulles and Senior Sales Manager of the Hilton Washington Dulles.
Taylor Davis has been promoted at AutoCamp to Senior Director of Marketing. She joined the company in 2017 as Brand Manager before being promoted in 2020 to Director Of Marketing.
Jolyon Hyne has been appointed Director of Travel Industry at The Resorts & Residences by CuisinArt, Anguilla. Most recently, he served as Account Director of Luxury Leisure Sales of the St. Regis Bal Harbour.
Cataline Lloyd Richmond has been named Director of Leisure Sales of the Montage Laguna Beach. She was most recently with Proper Hospitality as Global Director of Luxury Leisure Sales. Richmond is the former Director of Sales and Marketing at the Viceroy Los Cabos.
Pascal Sanchez has joined La Goulue Palm Beach as Executive Chef. He was previously with the Disney Orlando’s Grand Floridian overseeing Citricos Restaurant, the Enchanted Rose Restaurant, and the Victoria & Albert. Sachez previously spent several years with Pierre Gagnaire as Chef de Cuisine at Sketch in London and Twist in Las Vegas.
Jean Pierre Dubray has moved down the coast to take on the role of Executive Chef of the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach. He was most recently in the same post at The Resort at Pelican Hill. Dubray is the former long-time chef of the Ritz-Carlton San Francisco and had previously served as Executive Chef of the Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage.
Ryan Mendoza has joined the Nobu Hotel Palo Alto as Executive Chef. Mendoza was previously with Nobu Los Angeles and Nobu Indian Wells.
Keith Potter has been appointed Executive Chef of the Hyatt Centric Beale Street Memphis, slated to open in March. He was most recently the Executive Chef of Ventana Big Sur. Potter is the former Executive Sous Chef at NoMI Kitchen in the Park Hyatt Chicago, Sous Chef at Perennial Virant in the Hotel Lincoln, and Chef de Cuisine at the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel.
Fernando Coppola has joined the AC Hotel by Marriott Greenville Downtown as Executive Chef. He was most recently with the W Chicago City Center as Executive Chef and Director of Beverage and Food.
Stephanie Bisogne has joined the Sal Y Mar Rooftop Bar as Executive Chef. Bisogne was most recently the Executive Chef for the Embassy Suites Charlotte Uptown.
Jean-Louis Dumonet is now in North Carolina as Executive Chef of the Roaring Gap Club. He was most recently with Restaurant Rochambeau as Chef and Co-Owner. Dumonet was one of the founders of Restaurant TroisJean in Manhattan.
Laurent Pillard is the new Executive Chef at the Charlotte Country Club. He was most recently the Corporate Chef for Sleek & Burger Bar in Las Vegas. Pillard is the former Executive Chef at Fleur de Lys & Burger Bar in the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino and Le Mas Perrier in Pennsylvania.
EUROPE
Tara O’Neill is the new Chief Executive Officer of Macdonald Hotels. She was most recently the Chief Executive Officer of Avoca.
Christian Sack has joined the Bürgenstock Resort Lucerne as General Manager, taking over from Robert Herr. Sack was most recently overseeing the Ritz-Carlton Doha and Raffles Beijing.
Katja Marshall is the new General Manager of the Crans Ambassador Hotel & SPA. She had previously served as Director of Operations and Food and Beverage Director of the Fairmont Le Montreux Palace.
Georgios Chatziemmanouil has been appointed General Manager of the Lindos Grand Resort & Spa and Lindos Village Resort & Spa in Greece, slated to open in May. He was most recently the General Manager of the Grecotel Creta Palace in Crete.
Thomas Moons is now at the Belmond La Residencia Deia as General Manager. He is the former General Manager of the Belmond Miraflores Park and the Belmond La Residence Phou Vao.
Florian Daniel has been appointed to the newly created position of Chief Information Officer at Deutsche Hospitality. He was promoted from his most recent position of Vice President, Group Information Technology, after joining the company in 2017 as Senior Director Group IT.
Norbert Speth has been appointed to the newly created position of Vice President Corporate Strategy & Openings at Deutsche Hospitality. Speth was most recently Area Director of Operations at SV Hotel AG.
Dave Swapnil is now Head of Food and Beverage for Soho House. He is the former General Manager of Trishna London and Assistant General Manager of The Ivy Chelsea Garden.
Ulrich Bensel has been promoted to Chief Human Resources Officer at Deutsche Hospitality. Bensel joined the company in 2019 as Vice President of Group Human Resources. He is the former Group Head of Personnel at Südwestdeutsche Medien Holding and Head of Human Resources at Hugo Boss AG.
Nicolas Zimmermann has been appointed Director of Sales and Marketing for Once in a Lifetime in Paris. He was most recently in a similar role for Héloïse’s Choice.
Christophe Schmitt has been appointed Executive Chef of the Terre Blanche Hotel Spa Golf Resort. Schmitt is the former Executive Chef, of the restaurant Almandin at the Hotel La Lagune in Saint Cyprien. At Terre Blanche, he takes over from Philippe Jourdain, who has retired.
Jean-Christophe Laizeau has been named Director of External Relations at Moët Hennessy. He is the former Private Client Director for LVMH and International Communication Director at LVMH – Champagne Ruinart.
Ben Evans has been appointed Director of Fitness and Spa at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel London. He was most recently the General Manager at BXR.
ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
The St. Regis Bora Bora has named Emmanuel Richardet General Manager. Most recently, he was the General Manager of the Westin Turtle Bay Mauritius.
Brice Péan has been appointed General Manager of the Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski Cairo. Most recently, Péan was General Manager of Sunrise Kempinski Hotel Beijing and Yanqi Island. He had previously served as Managing Director of the Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Centre.
The Banyan Tree Shanghai On The Bund has named Bechara Sader General Manager. He is the former Hotel Manager of the Langham Beijing.
Jeff Perkins has returned to Hawaii to serve as General Manager of the Shoreline Hotel Waikiki. He had previously served as the General Manager of the Queen Kapiolani Hotel, and Resort Manager for the Kahala Hotel & Resort and Turtle Bay Resort. Perkins was most recently overseeing the Portofino Hotel and Marina in Southern California.
Anupam Dasgupta has been appointed General Manager of the Leela Palace New Delhi. He was previously the General Manager of the Oberoi Mumbai.
Margaret Paul has been appointed General Manager of the Pan Pacific Singapore. Paul was most recently the Managing Director of Emerald Palace Kempinski, Dubai and the Kempinski Hotel Residences Palm Jumeirah.
Stephan Karl has returned to Andaz as General Manager of the Andaz Singapore. He was previously Executive Assistant Manager Food and Beverage of the Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya, before moving to Asia as General Manager of the Hyatt Regency Nha Trang and General Manager for Hyatt Hotels in Hong Kong.
Nikolaus Priesnitz has been named General Manager of the Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa. Since 2019, Priesnitz had been General Manager and Director of Asset Management at Ayana Hotels & Resorts.
Thomas Zinn has been appointed General Manager of the Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets, schedule to open in March. He is the former General Manager of the Crowne Plaza Hawkesbury Valley and the Holiday Inn Old Sydney.
Pablo Navarro has moved as Resort Manager to the Oblu Select at Sangeli in the Maldives. He was most recently serving as Executive Assistant Manager – Food and Beverage – at VARU by Atmosphere. Navarro is the former Operations Manager of the Ikos Andalusia and Director of Food and Beverage of the Gran Hotel Miramar.
Daniel Calvert has a new role as Executive Chef at the Four Seasons Tokyo at Marunouchi. He was most recently Head Chef at Belon in Hong Kong.
Nicola Russo has been appointed Executive Chef of the Capella Ubud, Bali. He was previously Chef de Cuisine at restaurant Tosca in Hong Kong.
John Beriker has been named Executive Chef of the Sheraton Laguan Guam Resort and Spa. He was most recently the Executive Chef of the Dusit Thani Guam Resort.
MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA
Amaala has appointed John Pagano Chief Executive Officer, taking over from Nicholas Naples. Pagano will retain his position as Chief Executive Officer of the Red Sea Development.
Rami Sayess has been named Regional Vice President at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and General Manager of the Four Seasons Bahrain Bay. He was most recently the Regional Vice President and General Manager of the Four Seasons Beirut.
Georges Ojeil takes over from Rami Sayess at the Four Seasons Beirut as General Manager. He was most recently Area General Manager overseeing the Campbell Gray Amman and Le Gray Beirut.
The Chedi Muscat has named Thomas Guss General Manager. He is the former General Manager of the Raffles Europejski Warsaw and the Shangri-La Hotel, Shangri-la Residences and Traders Hotel, Abu Dhabi.
Tareq Derbas has been appointed General Manager of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel & Residences, Amman. Most recently, he was the General Manager of the Ritz-Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre.
Albert Ettinger has been appointed Hotel Manager of the Baron Palace Sahl Hasheesh in Egypt. He was previously with Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts as Corporate Director Food and Beverage.
Tobias Schulz has been appointed Senior Director of Food and Beverage Business Development at Hilton EMEA. He was most recently with HMSHost International as Director of Business Development Asia Pacific, based in Vietnam.
Albert Au has joined the Four Seasons Singapore as Executive Chef for the one-Michelin-starred Jiang-Nan Chun. He was most recently the Executive Chef for Hong Kong Lai Sun Food & Beverage Management. Au is the former Head Chef of The Eight at the Macao Grand Lisboa.
Reiner Lupfer has moved over as Executive Chef to the Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort in Abu Dhabi. He was most recently in the same role at the Jumeirah Mina A’Salam in Dubai.
Jean-Luc Vasseur has been named Executive Pastry Chef at La Cigale Hotel, Doha. He was most recently in the same position at the Ritz-Carlton Shanghai Pudong.
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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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