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: December 2022

­­North America​

• Jamie Cross has been appointed as the HR Manager for Silvies Valley Ranch. She brings over 20 years of experience in all phases of human resources.
• Dustin Johnston appointed as Vice President at MDU Internet Services. He will be overseeing the sales and marketing initiatives of MDU Internet Services, a solution provided by Hotel Internet Services.
• Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel, Hilton Chicago, and The Drake Hotel are pleased to announce the appointment of Mario Thompson as Area Director of Sales and Marketing. He has more than 17 years of experience in the hospitality industry.
• Jan Shaw joined as Area Director of Revenue Management at Thompson Austin and Tommie Austin. Over the course of 20 years, she served in multiple leadership positions.
• Thompson Austin and Tommie Austin welcomes Dustin Imbesi has Area Director of Sales, Marketing and Events. In his new role, he added new properties and implemented countless sales, marketing and revenue strategies, contributing to the management company's overall success.
• Sonja Chase appointed as Hotel Manager at Thompson Austin and Tommie Austin. She has nearly 15 years of experience, and gained extensive operations knowledge serving in several other managerial roles.
• W Fort Lauderdale is pleased to welcome industry veteran Alex Caceres as the New Director of Sales and Marketing. In this new role, she is responsible for developing and maintaining strategies for revenue growth, managing sales and marketing talent, ensuring the passions.
• John Murphy joined as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. He is a seasoned hospitality executive with more than 30 years of hospitality leadership experience.
• The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection in Park City is delighted to appoint Jason Franey as Executive Chef. He has more than 30 years of exceptional fine dining restaurant experience.
• Phil Norman appointed as Executive Vice-President of People Resources & Development at Twenty Four Seven Hotels. He will oversee and provide executive oversight for talent management, including leadership development, organizational capability and change management.
• Jim Mrha appointed as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer at Water Walk. He brings strong experience to Water Walk in finance, operations and business development.
• Stephen Armstrong promoted as Senior Vice President of Brand at Water Walk. He brings over 17 years of hospitality and customer service experience to Water Walk.
• Katrina Gough promoted as Senior Director of National Sales at Water Walk. She joined the Water Walk team in 2017.
• Augustus Piazza appointed as Director of Marketing and Product at Water Walk. He is responsible for developing and implementing effective marketing strategies with a focus on customer acquisition and retention.
• Water Walk appointed Brian Yocam as Director of Technology and Security. He brings more than 12 years of experience with various networking and IT security-focused programs and tools.
• Nikki Beach Global is pleased to announce that Alessandro (Alex) Pizza as Corporate Executive Chef. In his new role, he will work closely with the executive chefs across all Nikki Beach properties to provide training and develop new menu items.
• Christopher Randall appointed as Director of Community Impact at 21c Museum Hotel St. Louis. He plans to work with individuals and organizations to elevate the city and the Downtown West neighborhood.
• Matthew Daughaday joined 21c Museum Hotel St. Louis as Executive Chef. He will lead food production & menu development for the restaurant, coffee shop, event and meeting spaces.
• 21c Museum Hotel St. Louis appointed Joy Schmidt as Director of Sales & Marketing. She has 20-year career experience in hospitality industry.
• Robert Nokley promoted as General Manager at Luminary Hotel & Co., Autograph Collection in Fort Myers. He will oversee the hiring of new staff, guest and employee satisfaction, and day-to-day operations, including a new food and beverage.
• The Junto in Columbus appointed Jason Delcamp as General Manager. Hotel has chosen exactly the right leader who will bring people together through partnership and hospitality for social connection and good times at The Junto.
• Hyatt Regency Greenville is pleased to announce David Schaum as the General Manager. He will be responsible for the hotel's day-to-day success, overseeing all operational aspects of the iconic 330-room property in the heart of downtown Greenville.
• James R. Hedges, IV appointed as Curator of the Arts at The Beverly Hills Hotel and Hotel Bel-Air. He will oversee a series of educational artist-focused events and will organize art experiences in partnership with local galleries and museums.
• Jami Poe Hired as Vice President, Sales at Lodgistics. She has nearly three decades of sales and marketing leadership experience to Logistics.
• Lodgistics is happy to announce Wendy Zapach as Chief Revenue Officer. She has two decades of progressive executive sales experience at leading hospitality and technology organizations.
• Tru by Hilton Louisville Airport happy to announce Kyle Brandon as General Manager. He brings over 9 years of hospitality experience to his new role as general manager.
• Pierson Shields appointed as Executive Chef at The St. Regis Deer Valley in Park City. He will oversee all Culinary Operations at the Resort.
• The St. Regis Deer Valley announced the appointment of Parker Teske as Assistant Director of Food and Beverage. He comes to the Resort from the Goldener Hirsch Inn in Park City, where he served as Director of Outlets, responsible for all food service sales.
• Jason Rousset appointed as Director of Outlets at The Westin New Orleans. He has decade of experience in the hospitality industry, with most of this time being spent overseeing food and beverage operations and banquet services.
• Main Street Hospitality is pleased to announce the appointment of Jennifer Usaty As the new Vice President of Finance. She is responsible for all financial operations and related matters for Main Street Hospitality.
• Iwona Luksza appointed as Director of Food and Beverage at NoMo SoHo, owned by real estate and investment firm Sapir Corp Ltd. She has over 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry, and she oversee restaurant and bar services as well as banquet and catering operations.
• Evan Bergman appointed as Executive Chef at NoMo SoHo, owned by real estate and investment firm Sapir Corp Ltd. He has diverse aptitude in both classic and modern techniques to create a luxury dining experience.
• Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaportis proud to announce the appointment of Leon Bolivar to the position of Director of Marketing. In this role, he is accountable for promotion and advertising efforts to drive sales and build awareness.
• John Boris appointed as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at TripAdvisor. He will have direct responsibility for the platform's B2C and B2B marketing strategy and execution.
• Aimbridge Hospitality introduced Patrick Volz as chief Operating Officer, Global Operations. He will oversee hotel finance, as well as owner relations, brand partnerships, and transitions, while leading Aimbridge Food & Beverage.
• Commonwealth Hotels announced Cierra Bickel appointed as the Director of Sales and Marketing of the Springhill Suites Cincinnati Midtown. She brings over 10 years of hospitality experience to her new role as director of sales and marketing.
• Ross Birch appointed as General Manager at Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection in Waimea. He will execute Golf's strategic goals while overseeing daily operations and enhancing the experiences of guests, residents and the community at large.
• The Maven Hotel at Dairy Block and The Rally Hotel at McGregor Square in Denver is pleased to announce that Colin Bennett as the Area Director of Sales & Marketing. He has more than 20 years of hospitality industry experience.
• Elizabeth Uber appointed as Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Extended Stay America, Inc. She will be responsible for all company Operational and Asset Management functions.
• Extended Stay America, Inc. pleased to welcome Mike Moore as Chief Human Resources Officer. He will oversee all aspects of human capital including compensation, systems and programs.
• John Laplante appointed as Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Extended Stay America, Inc. He has more than 10 years of experience in hospitality, He will be responsible for all technology-related functions.
• Epicurean Atlanta welcomes Chef Henry Tapia as its new executive chef. In his new role to oversee all culinary operations at the property, including three dining concepts and 11,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space.
• Jack Jones appointed as Area Director of Sales at Forge Hospitality Hotels. He will focus on significant sales growth for the Forge Hospitality hotels within Prominence's portfolio.
• Avid Hotel Zeeland hired Alain Lorminieras as General Manager. He has experience in hospitality since 2006.
• Jason Wilcox appointed as General Manager at Homewood Suites by Hilton Philadelphia-Valley Forge in Audubon. He is an enthusiastic and widely experienced hospitality manager with over 16 years in the industry.
• Catbird in Denver announces the appointment of Jared Johnson as director of sales and marketing. He brings nearly 20 years of valuable experience developing sales, marketing, revenue and guest service concepts and strategies to drive rooms and events revenue.
• Tambourine is happy to announce the promotion of Rachel Artounian to Director of Account Service. She oversees client relationships, performance, and strategy.
• Inn on Fifth & Club Level Suites in Naples proudly announces the appointment of Maria Hamilton as General Manager. In her new role, she will be responsible for managing day-to-day operations, including sales and marketing, food and beverage.
• Tammi Johnson appointed as Spa Manager at Spa H at Hotel Hartness in Greenville. She will be responsible for managing operations for Spa H with her 20 years of experience.
• Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa announced the appointment of Jerry Gibson as General Manager. He started his hospitality career over 40 years ago.
• The St. Regis BAL Harbour Resort in Miami is pleased to welcome Adrian Colameco as its new Executive Chef. He brings a decade of elite culinary experience to the resort's exquisite dining concepts.
• PM Hotel Group is excited to announce the appointment of Ryan Butler as Corporate Director | Sustainability + Energy. In his role, he will enhance our decade-long commitment to environmental sustainability and PM's core value of Respect.
• Ron Mays appointed as Executive Chef at The Westin Riverwalk, San Antonio. He brings more than 20+ years of specific focus in the luxury high volume hospitality segment combined with robust experiences spanning the US and beyond.
• Autumn Wilson appointed as Account Executive at Room Raccoon in Los Angeles. She joins the team with extensive experience in the sales and hotel industry.
• The Beverly Hills Hotel and Hotel Bel-Air are delighted to announce that James R. Hedges, IV has been appointed as curator of the arts. He will oversee a series of educational artist-focused events and will organize art experiences in partnership with local galleries and museums.
• Melissa Volpert appointed as Director of Sales & Marketing at The Georgian in Santa Monica. She brings over 30 years of experience in hospitality sales and marketing, with a focus on entertainment, fashion, and art.
• Rob Ciancimino appointed as Managing Director at The Georgian in Santa Monica. He is a true hospitality veteran with over 25 years of restaurant and hospitality experience including time at the world-renowned live music.
• The Candler Hotel, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton announced Wun-Jea Shin as its new Director of Food & Beverage. He brings with him more than two decades of executive experience in hospitality.
• Vail Resorts announced the appointment of Angela Korch as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. She rejoins Vail Resorts from CorePower Yoga, where she served as Chief Financial Officer since May 2020.
• Yedla Management Company (YMC) has announced the appointment of Paul Varma as Complex Director of Sales. He will oversee sales efforts for four newly opened hotel properties.
• InterContinental Washington, D.C. – The Wharf is pleased to announce the appointment of Tiffany Rioux as Director of Sales and marketing for the hotel. She is brilliantly skilled and eager to take on the luxury waterfront property's overall sales, marketing, and public relations efforts.
• Danica Potier joined Marcus Hotels & Resorts as Director of Sales, Milwaukee Market. In this role, she will manage the sales teams.
• Innisbrook, A Salamander Resort announces the appointment of Gilbert Bolivar as Director of Food and Beverage. He will oversee the operations of the expansive resort's food and beverage outlets.

Europe​

• Jill Anderson appointed as Property Acquisition Manager at Whitbread PLC. She brings more than 25 years' experience working in property acquisition and development.
• Kelly Fagan appointed as Business Development Executive, United Kingdom and Ireland at Palladium Hotel Group. She has held both domestic and international positions at Tui and Thomas Cook.
• Scandic Hotels appointed Thérèse Cedercreutz as New Chief Commercial Officer and member of the Group's Executive Committee. She will take over the position of Chief Commercial Officer at the beginning of January 2023 after Anna Spjuth who will leave the company in the spring.
• HVS Hodges Ward Elliott in London has announced the appointment of Jon Critchley as Director. Expanding the firm's hotel capital markets capabilities across the UK and Europe.
• Susanne Hatje appointed as General Manager at Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London. She brings with her more than 25 years' experience in the hospitality industry.
• Sébastien Samoye appointed as vice President of Real Estate at Belmond in London. In his new role, he will play a key role in curating the ultimate travel collection for Belmond.
• Adagio in Paris appointed as Jean-Marc Schnell as Chief Operating Officer. His aim is to capitalise on the strong growth in activity of the brand to mobilise the talents of the sector.
• Kai Behrens appointed as General Manager at Kempinski Hotel Frankfurt. He has been handling the duties of a general manager for around 12 years.
• Kempinski Hotel Frankfurt pleased to announce Frank Fuhrmann as Executive Assistant Manager. He moved to Kempinski Hotel Frankfurt in September.
• Michel Cottray appointed as General Manager at Hotel Martinez - The Unbound Collection by Hyatt in Cannes. He will be maneuvering to continue the major transformation project of the hotel which recently revealed its wellness.
• The Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in Manchester has appointed Konstantin Grimm as its new hotel manager. With over 16 years in the business including roles within Conrad Hotels and Hilton Hotels, the hotel said he is a hospitality professional.
• Laurent Gardinier named President at Relais & Chateaux. He has served as a member of the board of directors for 17 years.
• Cheval Blanc Paris appointed Wilfried Morandini as General Manager. He continues to consolidate the customer experience while leading structural and strategic issues in a context marked by the health crisis.
• Francisco Garcia appointed as General Manager at Cheval Blanc Courchevel. He will open the doors of Cheval Blanc Courchevel for this new season on December 9, 2022.
• Jon Hardcastle appointed as Senior Sales Manager at Marriott International in London. He brings a wealth of experience to his new role within the sales team.
• Rosewood London is delighted to announce the appointment of Patrick Graham as Hotel Manager. He has nearly 20 years’ experience, he had a remarkable career within the luxury hospitality sector.
• Tim Sheed appointed as Head Chef at 1215 at Fairmont Windsor Park in Egham. He brings with him a dynamic perspective and accomplished skill set; he will lead the superb team and oversee the menu at the hotel's fine dining restaurant.
• Massimiliano Lombardi appointed as Managing Director at Galleria Vik Milano. He as twenty-five years of hospitality experience.
• Carmen Mauthner has been appointed as General Manager at Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga. The Austrian native brings 26 years of experience in international hotel.

Asia​

• R. Srijith appointed as Director of Sales & Marketing at The St. Regis Goa Resort. He brings with him over a decade of experience and will be responsible for driving revenue through targeted strategies and overseeing all aspects of the sales and marketing.
• Chatrium Grand Bangkok has announced the appointment of Mr. Daniel Kerr as its General Manager. He brings the spectacular new twin-tower five-star hotel in the heart of the Thai capital.
• David Gavin appointed as Head Chef at Sundara at Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay. He is the one who elevates the menu with umami-packed dishes that celebrate the unique and vibrant ingredients of Indonesia's Spice Islands.
• Rishabh Sharma appointed as Executive Sous Chef at The Langham Gold Coast in Surfers Paradise. He brings more than 16 years' experience in culinary luxury and fine dining across Australia and India.
• Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh is pleasure to announce the appointment of Nicola van Heemsbergen. He will be applying his culinary expertise to the new role overseeing the Food and Beverage.
• Shin Ching appointed as Hotel Manager at Holiday Inn Express Melbourne Little Collins. He has over a decade of local and international experience in senior management roles.
• Meliá Kuala Lumpur Cheras appointed General Manager as Ada Jian. She overseas assignment for the leading Spanish hotel group, helping them expand their presence in the popular tourist destination of Kuala Lumpur.
• Giuseppe Pucciarelli appointed as Executive Chef at Four Seasons Resort Langkawi. He has nearly 30 years; he has honed his craft in diverse kitchens around the world.
• Centara Hotels & Resorts has promoted Jurairat Mongkolwongsiri to the position of Vice President of Sales. She has 28 years of experiences in hospitality Industry as well as consumer luxury brand management.
• Michael Parsons appointed as Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications at Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific in Singapore. In his role he will oversee the marketing, communications and brand strategy of the company's travel products and services.
• Kiyoshi Sasamine appointed as General Manager Japan at Shiji in Tokyo. He has more than 25 years of experience in both the hospitality industry and technology industry.
• The Anam group has named Martin Koerner as Group Commercial Director. He has a substantial background in sales and marketing.
• Marcel Oostenbrink appointed as General Manager at Four Seasons Resort. He is excited to elevate the already-renowned Resort to new heights.
• Rajesh Namby hired as General Manager at Raffles Udaipur. He has also been recognized as the Game Changer in the F&B Trends in the Country by Food & Nightlife Magazine.
• Tripurari Singh appointed as Director of Food & Beverage at JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar. In his new role, he will be responsible for leading operations of food and beverages at the property.
• Frederic Vidal appointed as Vice President of Operations, Americas at Rosewood Hotel Group. He will be responsible for leading the group's commercial and business strategies in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and South America.
• Aagman Baury appointed as General Manager at The Leela Ambience Convention Hotel, Delhi. Over the years, he has sharpened his skills in managing a diverse team of people and has championed operational excellence.
• Voco Brisbane City Centre and Hotel Indigo Brisbane City Centre is pleased to announce the appointment of Raelene Ohlson to the role of Director of Sales & Marketing. He has extensive meeting and events experience having worked at some of Australia's major MICE hotels.
• The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts recently announced the appointment of Sharad Puri as Senior Vice President - Sales and Distribution for the group. He brings over 27 years of experience to his new role.
• Ary Asriry has been appointed as Financial Controller at Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas. In his new role will oversee the day-to-day financial operations focusing on the accounting function.
• Sachin Shet joined as Hotel Manager at JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu. He has extensive experience of over 21 years in hospitality industry.
• Amit Mukherjee has been appointed as General Manager at Pushkara Sarovar Portico Dibrugarh. He is a seasoned and versatile hospitality professional with a career span of 30+ years possesses niche expertise.
• Dao by Dorsett is delighted to announce the promotion of Roy Liang to Vice President of Operations. He will head all Dao by Dorsett properties worldwide operationally.

­­South America​

• Sivaprasad Gangadharan appointed as Chief Sales Officer (CSO) at Hotelogix. He will play a critical role in driving Hotelogix as a leader of the hospitality tech domain in global markets.
• Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina is pleased to announce the appointment of Marcos Seville to new Executive Chef. He will oversee all operational duties at the resort’s dining venues.

Carribean​

• Westin Grand Cayman announces the appointment of Natasha Anna Pereira as Director of Event Management. In her new role, she will lead Westin Grand Cayman's wedding, events, and banquet team, ensuring a seamless execution of all event programming.
• Shannon Vidal-Soto appointed as Director of Sales at Fairmont El San Juan Hotel. He will oversee the responsible for the training, development, and performance of team members, in an effort to continue to bring talented industry professionals to the growing team at Fairmont El San Juan Hotel.
• José Padín appointed as General Manager at Fairmont El San Juan Hotel. He looks to implement his signature managerial skills to his new team of professionals, with an emphasis on comprehensive training, open communication, and organization.
• William Numa appointed as General Manager at Hotel Barrière Le Carl Gustaf St. Barth in Gustavia. He will oversee the entire hotel including the 21 suites and bungalows, famed Fouquet's restaurant.

­­Middle East​

• Sandro Mazza appointed as General Manager at Kempinski Hotel Amman, Jordan. He brings with him 16 years of experience in hospitality industry with reputable brands such as InterContinental Hotel Group.
• Amman Marriott Hotel appointed Laith Naber as General Manager. He oversees 292-room property featuring five food and beverage outlets, meeting and events spaces, spa and recreational facilities.
• Mahmoud Farajat promoted as General Manager at Petra Marriott Hotel in Wadi Mousa. He brings three decades of experience to his new post, promoted from hotel manager of the hotel.
• Peter Roth appointed as Regional VP at Jumeirah Group. He has over 30 years of luxury hospitality experience working extensively.
• Marriott Luxury properties in Abu Dhabi happy to announce appointment of Moustafa Sakr as Area General Manager. He is in charge of The St. Regis Abu Dhabi and area general manager of The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort and Al Wathba.
• Emad Ramzy promoted as Cluster GM at Crowne Plaza Dubai Deira and Crowne Plaza Dubai Jumeirah. He will bring his 14 years of hospitality experience to further develop the success and growth of the two properties.
• Lizan Gray appointed as Marketing Manager at Rixos Bab Al Bahr in Ras al Khaimah. She will oversee the marketing department, working closely with sales and reporting directly to the property's GM.
• Hilton Amman appointed Issam Ajouz as General Manager. He has more than 26 years of experience in the hotel industry.
• Richard Alexander appointed as General Manager at The Lana, Dubai. He will also oversee operations at Dorchester Collection's three luxury residential developments in Dubai.
• Arabian Park Dubai, Al Jaddaf Rotana Suite Hotel and Park Apartments, Dubai Promoted Rotana’s Haytham Omar as Cluster General Manager. He has served the brand for a combined 11 years in two stints.
• Giovanni Beretta appointed as Regional Vice President for Jumeirah Group and General Manager of the Iconic Burj Al Arab Jumeirah at Jumeirah Group. He focuses on continuing to elevate the guest experience at the legendary property, curate new brand experiences.
• Holiday Inn & Suites Dubai Science Park is proud to announce the appointment of Sayed Tayoun as General Manager. He has more than twenty years' experience in hospitality operations & commercial leadership in the region.
• Timothy Groeneweg appointed as Director of Food and Beverage at Raffles the Palm Dubai. His experience across the region has allowed him to implement new concepts diversifying the food and beverage scene.
• Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh at Kingdom Centre is pleased to announce the recent promotion of Guenter Gebhard as Regional Vice President and General Manager. He has 35-year international career, taking him from Europe to the United States, Asia to Australia and Middle East.
• Neeraja Rahul has joined Radisson RED Dubai Silicon Oasis as Chief Engineer. She becomes the first female chief engineer for the Radisson Hotel Group in the Middle East.
• Hilton has appointed Vikram Jamwal as General Manager of the DoubleTree by Hilton Fujairah City. He holds degrees in commerce and hotel management and has become a pre-opening specialist for the group.
• The Four Seasons Resort and Residences at The Pearl-Qatar has appointed Mehdi Zaanoun as General Manager. The 19-storey building is scheduled to open in Spring 2023.

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

www.boutiquesearchfirm.com