The Boutique Search Firm
Heads Above the Rest - July 2025

The Newsletter of The Boutique Search Firm, a worldwide retained recruiting firm specializing in hospitality management.

Market update​​​

• Employment in leisure and hospitality continued to trend up in the month (+20,000), largely in food services and drinking places (+6,500) and entertainment including gambling (+15,000).
• Leisure and hospitality had added an average of 260,000 jobs over the prior 12 months.
• The Boutique Search Firm earned recognition on Forbes’ 2025 list of Best Executive Search Firms, highlighting its excellence in talent acquisition and client service.
  • Forbes 2025 America's Best Executive Recruiting Firms List

 
Recent Appointments
 
­­North America​​

• Clay Zellermayer has been appointed as General Manager at Westgate Park City Resort & Spa.  He is an accomplished hospitality leader in his own right, now brings his proven capabilities to Westgate Park City Resort & Spa.  
• O’Mally Foster has been appointed as Chief People Officer at Vision Hospitality Group, Inc. He joined Vision Hospitality Group from The Chattanoogan Hotel, where he served as director of human resources. 
• Anne Tabakian named as Vice President of Food & Beverage at White Lodging. She has been a cornerstone of White Lodging's F&B concepts, from concept and menu development to training to compliance.
• Alexandra Woolsey named Vice President of Business Development at LodgIQ™. She will lead LodgIQ's global business development efforts, focusing on expanding the company's footprint with hotel brands and management companies.
• James Keaveny has been appointed as Director of Sales at The Ritz-Carlton Dallas. His experience in group, leisure and business travel in both luxury and full-service properties has led to proven success within various markets.
• Rebecca Van Dyck joined Airbnb, Inc. as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). She will lead Airbnb's Marketing, Research, and Creative teams as a Chief Marketing Officer.
• Hiroki Asai named as Chief Experience Officer at Airbnb, Inc. He will continue to oversee the Marketing, Design, Product, and Community teams, and immerse more deeply into Airbnb's product roadmap.
• Jana Smith has been appointed as General Manager at The Mining Exchange Hotel. She served as general manager of The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa in Denver most recently.
• Dario Mazzoli has been appointed as Director of Food and Beverage at Four Seasons Hotel Toronto. He brings an impressive background in culinary and beverage management, having worked with some of the most prestigious brands in the industry.
• Kristi Grotsch has been promoted to Hotel Manager at Four Seasons Hotel Toronto. She has also served in a learning and development role in Dubai, overseeing 15 hotels across 10 countries.
• Scott Robbins has been appointed as Managing Director at TradeWinds Island Resorts. He successfully managed a multi-faceted destination property featuring hotels, retail, restaurants, entertainment venues, and a state-of-the-art water park.
• Alicia Carr has been appointed as Vice President of Finance at Charlestowne Hotels. She most recently served as Vice President of Finance at Collegiate Hotel Group, where she played a key role in the company's expansion from 31 to 57 properties.
• Ryan MacLagan has been appointed as Vice President of Business Development at LodgIQ™. He brings deep expertise in revenue strategy, client engagement, and commercial innovation to LodgIQ's executive team.
• Kyung Lee has been appointed as Hotel Manager at Hard Rock Hotel. He will oversee hotel operations and play a key role in shaping the guest experience, ensuring excellence across all departments of the 446-room property.
• Stephen Wittman has been promoted to Vice President of Food & Beverage at Remington Hospitality. He has spent over a decade shaping the company's food and beverage strategy and developing innovative dining concepts.
• Jennifer El Khessassi has been appointed as Director of Marketing at Wild Dunes Resort. She brings more than a decade of luxury hospitality marketing experience, with a strong record of driving brand growth, revenue, and guest engagement.
• Michael Klicos has been appointed as Executive Chef at JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa. He was responsible for developing the restaurant concept, creating menus and sourcing ingredients as well as key elements of the design and layout.
• Hana Friedman has been appointed as Senior Analyst at Colliers New York. Her transactions include the sale of two New York City hotels for $300,000,000 on behalf of a prominent New York City developer.
• Jonathan Rosenthal has been appointed as Director of Operations - Food & Beverage at Wild Dunes Resort.  He successfully enhanced operations, elevated guest satisfaction, and drove revenue growth.
• Robert Rouleau has been promoted to General Manager at The Newbury Boston. His steps into the new role with a strong foundation, having most recently served as Hotel Manager since 2023.
• Igor Morosowski has been appointed as General Manager at Four Seasons Hotel. He has held various leadership roles at some of the world's most iconic Four Seasons properties.
• Vinod Narayan has been appointed as General Manager at Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection. His expertise in hospitality and food and beverage, developed through leadership roles across the Auberge Resorts Collection.
• Chaitan Mugili has been appointed as General Manager at The Westin Riverwalk. He is a two-time General Manager of the Year recipient - recognized by Marriott Hotels (2018) and SAHLA (2021).
• Alfredo Ortega has been appointed as Director of Sales at The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort. He joins the award-winning property with over two decades of experience leading sales strategies at some of the world's most prestigious hotels.
• Victorio Gonzalez has been appointed as Managing Director at Montage Laguna Beach. He also served as general manager of restaurants at The Mirage and Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada and The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Arizona.
• Manuel Deisen has been appointed as General Manager at InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta. He has built a reputation for driving excellence across some of the world's most distinguished luxury brands.
• Denise Ector Carter has been appointed as Director of People and Culture at Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences. She began her career in human resources at Freeport-McMoRan before advancing through progressive leadership roles.
• Joseph Shurmur has been appointed as General Manager at Luminary Hotel & Co. His leadership style is grounded in loyalty, energy, and a commitment to continuous growth.
• Amanda Sandoval has been appointed as General Manager at Hotel Z. She brings the leadership and skills essential to sustaining Staypineapple's growth and excellence in the boutique hotel industry.
• Marc Farris has been appointed as General Manager at Staypineapple. He arrives with decades of hospitality leadership experience, having most recently served as General Manager at Hotel Spero.
• Christian Charnaux has been appointed as Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer at Hilton. He served in several brand management, commercial, and finance positions, including leading Hilton's Investor Relations efforts.
• Kayden King has been promoted to Director of Restaurants at Hard Rock Hotel. He will now oversee restaurant and lounge operations across the property.
• Karen Hardie has been appointed as General Manager at Virtuoso. She served as vice president, global sales for Rocky Mountaineer, and prior to that as director, global sales operations and director of sales.
• Albert Bilotti has been appointed as Director of Food and Beverage at La Fonda on the Plaza. He will oversee the AAA Four Diamond Property's renowned culinary concepts as well as catering for onsite meetings and events and in-room dining.
• Debra Myers has been appointed as Director of Spa & Fitness at The St. Regis. She served as Director of Spa and Wellness at Mandarin Oriental, Boston - the first and longest-standing Forbes Five-Star Spa in Massachusetts.
• Louis Riley has been promoted to Regional Vice President - Sales at MCR Hotels. He has been instrumental in the openings of several properties while beginning his career behind the Front Desk of the Grand Hyatt Union Square in San Francisco, CA.
• Tim Bowes has been appointed as Senior Director of Asset Management at Noble Investment Group. He brings over 25 years of experience in hospitality operations, revenue optimization, and performance strategy.
• Mark Klawitter has been appointed as Director of Asset Management at Noble Investment Group. He has helped shape one of the nation's most resilient accommodation models over his 25-year career at Extended Stay America.
• Paul Devitt has been appointed as President & COO at Aparium Hotel Group. He most recently served as Senior Vice President of Operations for the Americas.
• Dina Niekamp has been appointed as SVP of Brand and Marketing at Aparium Hotel Group. Her career also includes senior roles with respected hospitality brands, including Kimpton, Virgin Hotels, Park Hyatt, Elysian, and Four Seasons.
• Stevie Szlepcsik has been appointed as Banquet Sous Chef at Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel. She joins the award-winning culinary team from Footers Catering where she is the Lead Tasting Chef.
• Chris Stevens named Chief Operating Officer at Virgin Hotels. He served as Senior Vice President at Ashford Inc., where he ran Asset Management and Commercial divisions for all asset classes, including the luxury and luxury lifestyle divisions.
• Rayhan Arif has been appointed as Chief Commercial & Financial Officer at Virgin Hotels. He has played an instrumental role in the incubation and growth of some of the brand's most dynamic ventures.
• CJ Jurchenko has been appointed as Director of Food & Beverage at Montage Kapalua Bay. He joins Montage Kapalua Bay from Montage Deer Valley, where he served as director of restaurants for six distinct dining venues.
• Jessica Myers named as VP Finance & Accounting at Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG). She will lead the corporate team responsible for publishing monthly financial statements in her new role.
• Emily Bond has been appointed as Director of Marketing at The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort. She brings more than 15 years of hospitality experience, including over a decade with Marriott International and work with premier luxury brands.
• Marson Salim named Director of Internal Audit at Outrigger Hospitality Group. His strategic mindset and collaborative approach will be key in supporting our continued commitment to operational excellence and financial integrity.
• Brandon Marshall has been promoted to Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Mainsail Lodging & Development LLC. He will lead the development and execution of sales and marketing strategies for Mainsail's entire portfolio.
• Rhonda Mestler has been promoted to Senior Director of Commercial Strategy at Mainsail Lodging & Development LLC. She will oversee all revenue-generating functions across the company.
• Mike Kovensky has been appointed as Director of Sales and Marketing at Hilton Anatole. He held several senior leadership roles at prominent Hilton properties across the country.
• Henk Jeurink has been promoted to Hotel Manager at Hilton Anatole. He successfully oversaw the hotel's acclaimed banquet program, on-site dining venues, and large-scale culinary operations.
• Emily Reynolds named as Director of Sales and Marketing at The Compton. She has built and mentored top-performing teams at Aimbridge Hospitality.
• Jake Hatch has been appointed as Director of Sales & Marketing at Lansdowne Resort. He played a pivotal role in attracting new corporate clients and elevating the resort's presence in key markets.
• Jared Schlosser has been to promoted to Head of Originations & CPACE at Peachtree Group. He will work alongside Siegel, who joined Peachtree in 2022 to expand its credit platform.
• Dominic Nez has been appointed as General Manager at Americana Motor Hotel. He served as Assistant General Manager at InnVentures and held key leadership roles at Poco Diablo Resort.
• Shawn McWhorter has been appointed as General Manager at Hilton New Orleans St. Charles Avenue. He held the position of Area Director of Food & Beverage while taking on multiple General Manager task force assignments.
• Katia Soujol named as Executive Chef at Kimpton Gray Hotel. Her impressive international journey has taken her to Michelin-starred restaurants in France, the UK, and Germany, with additional professional experiences.
• Branden Fein has been appointed as Spa Director at Old Edwards Inn & Spa. He also held multiple leadership positions at Mokara Spas at Omni Hotels & Resorts in San Antonio, TX.
• Allison Dlugatz has been appointed as Managing Director at PGA National Resort. She served in several leadership positions at the InterContinental Boston Hotel, while earlier in her career she worked with Starwood Hotels & Resorts.
• Christian González has been appointed General Manager at Susurros del Corazón, Auberge Resorts Collection. He is known for his people-first approach, González fosters a culture of collaboration, authenticity, and heartfelt service. 
• Rolando Miravete has been appointed as General Manager at Las Alamandas. He will oversee all aspects of the resort's operations, from guest services and culinary programming to sustainability initiatives and brand positioning.
• Paolo Della Corte has been appointed as Executive Chef at Four Seasons Resort and Residences Los Cabos. He is well-poised to bring epicurean magic to the East Cape of Los Cabos.
• Terrance Kelly has been appointed as Director of Sales and Marketing at Omni Pontoque Resort. He served as Area Director of Sales & Marketing for The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort and W Miami.
• Chris Dougherty has been named Vice President of Hospitality Operations for Carter Hospitality Group. He will oversee operations for Carter’s growing portfolio of hotels and wineries – directing 345 employees while supporting general managers.

Europe​

• Otto Wetterlin named Interim President & CEO at Zaplox. He holds a degree in Business and Economics from Stockholm University and has more than 18 years of experience in business development and operational management within industrial IT.
• Charlotte Weatherall has been appointed as General Manager at Corinthia London. She has held senior roles at prestigious brands including Rocco Forte Hotels, Mandarin Oriental, Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Langham.
• Michael Caines MBE has been appointed as Culinary Strategist at The Stafford London. His new venture as Culinary Strategist, overseeing all food and beverage across The Stafford London, marks his very first venture into London.
• Edvaldo Brito has been appointed as General Manager at Hotel Excelsior Venice Lido Resort. He most recently served as General Manager of COMO Castello Del Nero, a spectacular 12th-century castle in the heart of Tuscany's Chianti region.
• Adnan Malik has been appointed as Managing Director of Franchise Development at Cloudbeds UK. He brings nearly two decades of leadership experience in revenue strategy, hotel operations, and hospitality technology.
• Susanne Hatje has been appointed General Manager at The Conservatorium Hotel. Her long-standing experience with brand transformations will be instrumental in elevating the hotel to new levels of excellence.
• Emmanuele Selvaggi has been promoted to Hotel Manager at Rosewood London. He began his career with Four Seasons Boston in the Rooms Division and successfully progressed through the ranks.
• Edouard Lapasset has been appointed as General Manager at Mandarin Oriental. He places great importance on both guest and employee experience and is committed to embodying excellence in every role he undertakes.
• Matteo Carretta has been appointed as Director of Beverage at Hotel Café Royal. He aims to bring his esteemed knowledge in refined mixology and bar management to drive revenue and position Hotel Café Royal.
• Etienne Haro has been appointed as Managing Director at Cambridge House, Auberge Resorts Collection. He will oversee all operations at Cambridge House, Auberge Resorts Collection's first hotel in London.
• André Devillers has been appointed as General Manager at Jumeirah Carlton Tower. He brings a wealth of operational and strategic leadership to this role.

​
Asia

• Davesh Rawal named Commercial Director at Conrad Pune. He brings a diverse cross-functional background, having held prominent commercial positions across globally recognized hospitality brands.
• Kevin Robinson named Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Langham Hospitality Group (LHG). He brings over 30 years of hospitality leadership to the role, including a stellar track record of cultivating trusted relationships with hotel owners worldwide.
• Oscar Postma has been appointed as General Manager at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives. He has served as Cluster Operations General Manager for Conrad Singapore Orchard and Conrad Centennial Singapore.
• Darika Hom-uem named Director of Spa & Wellness at Six Senses Con Dao. She curates transformative experiences that seamlessly merge ancient healing traditions with modern innovations, ensuring every guest embarks on a journey of renewal.
• Björn-Henning Buth has been appointed as General Manager at Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel. He focuses on operational excellence, business growth, and delivering standout guest experiences.
• Florian Leven has been appointed as Director of Operations at Gili Lankanfushi. He joins Gili Lankanfushi from Vietnam, where he held the position of Director of Operations.
• Eduardo Gandia Martinez has been appointed as Executive Chef at Four Seasons Resort Maldives. He honed his culinary talent across some of Spain's most celebrated Michelin-starred restaurants.
• Jaeyoung Lee has been appointed as Executive Chef at Four Seasons Hotel Shenzhen. He will be overseeing the five-star urban sanctuary's three world-class restaurants.
• Himanshu Taneja has been appointed as General Manager at JW Marriott. He brings with him over 25 years of luxury experience within the hospitality industry.
• Stella Blythe has been appointed as Senior Vice President of Development, Asia at EVT Singapore. She brings over a decade of knowledge in hotel valuation and brokerage experience across EMEA and APAC.
• John Dickson has been appointed as General Manager at Crowne Plaza Geelong. He joins with more than 20 years' experience managing hotels, including as general manager of Novotel Geelong for three years.
• Gagan Sahu has been appointed as Executive Sous Chef at The Ritz-Carlton. His cuisine reflects his passion for sustainable dining, with a flair for pre-plated, fine-dining formats and vegan-forward innovation.
• Yvonne Wang has been appointed as HR Lead MEIA Region at Shangri-La Group. She played a key role in the successful integration of Dubai Holdings, Nakheel, and Meydan.
• Miao Fan has been appointed as Chinese Executive Chef at Four Seasons Hotel. He trained under the renowned Hong Kong master Chef Ye Wen Chian and followed him for more than a decade.
• Rizwaan Qureshi has been appointed as MasterChef - Indian Cuisine at Hyatt Regency. He is best known for his tenure at Moghul Express, Leicester, where under his leadership, the restaurant achieved a 5-star TripAdvisor rating.
• Bhushan Sawant has been appointed as Executive Chef at The Ritz-Carlton. His specialization spans all-day dining, fine dining, Garde Manger, and large-scale banquets, with a strong focus on innovation, operational excellence, and sustainability.
• Vikkas Sharma has been appointed as General Manager at Wyndham Garden. He received his Diploma in Hospitality Management in 1998 from Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan, New Delhi in all operational aspects of hotels.
• Shreya Sharma named Multi Property Director of Marketing at Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield. Her leadership played a vital role in strengthening brand presence and delivering measurable outcomes in a competitive market.
• Jeremy Colahan has been appointed as General Manager at 25hours Hotel the Olympia. His priority is to establish an environment where guests feel the energy that the 25hours brand demands from the moment they walk through the doors.
• Mitch Orr has been appointed as Culinary Director at 25hours Hotel the Olympia. His innovative approach has set a new benchmark for what hotel dining in Australia can be—creative, connected, and unapologetically local.
• Larelle Fitt has been appointed as Director of Sales at Novotel Geelong. She held the role of Group Head of Conferencing & Events at The Sharp Group, where she led a dynamic portfolio of high-performing event operations.
• Peter Sethi has been appointed as Assistant Director of Food & Beverage at JW Marriott. His journey reflects his exceptional ability to lead and innovate within diverse dining destinations.
• Bradley Berry has been appointed as Head of Residences & Homes at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. He brings more than 25 years of global experience in branded residential development and luxury real estate.
• Philip Leighton named Head of Mandarin Oriental Exceptional Homes at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. He most recently launched and led Villas by Bailey Robinson and previously contributed to the growth of Abercrombie & Kent's Global Villas business.

­­

Middle East

• Cristian Truca has been promoted to Hotel Manager at Agora, Doha, Autograph Collection. He has held key leadership positions, notably as Front Desk Manager and Front Office Manager at La Ville Hotel and Suites, Dubai.
• Stavros Fassaris has been appointed as Director of Food and Beverage at Fairmont the Palm. He began his leadership journey in 2011 as Bar Manager at The Westin Resort in Greece.  
• Dhaval Patel has been appointed as Director of Revenue Management at Fairmont the Palm. His hospitality journey began in 2008 with a management training role at The Delamar Greenwich Harbor.  
• Scott Hutchinson has been appointed as Executive Vice President at Colliers. He has led several high-profile, award-winning sales across the Northeast and Florida, including the 2020 "Deal of the Year".  
• Deivid Paiva has been promoted to Director of Beverage & Food at W Abu Dhabi. He will be responsible for concept development, team leadership, guest experience strategy, and operational execution.  
• Sasindu Don has been promoted to Director of Finance at Sofitel Dubai Downtown. He has been the silent force behind its financial finesse.  
• Anders T. Dimblad has been appointed as Cluster General Manager at Banyan Tree. He began his hospitality career in Singapore, managing one of the city's most prestigious luxury resorts before joining Banyan Group in 2003.  
• Paul M. Cannings has been appointed as Multi-Property GM at Marriott Marquis City Center Doha Hotel and Marriott Executive Apartments City Center. He began his career with Marriott International in 1998.  
• Raed Kai has been promoted to Director of Operations at The Ritz‑Carlton. He has consistently elevated the resort's commercial performance and positioned it as a market leader in luxury hospitality.

Africa​​

• Markus Tauss has been appointed as General Manager at Hotel Eden Roc. He previously held positions with InterContinental and the Ritz-Carlton Group in various locations.