The Boutique Search Firm
Heads Above the Rest - May 2023

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 April (+31,000) largely in food services and drinking places (+25,000).
• Leisure and hospitality had added an average of 73,000 jobs per month over the prior 6 months. 
• Employment in this industry remains below its pre-pandemic February 2020 level by 402,000, or 2.4 percent.
• The Boutique Search Firm awarded as one of the top Executive Search Firms in 2023 by Forbes coming in as #38 overall!
  • America's Best Executive Recruiting Firms 2023 (forbes.com)

 
Recent Appointments
 
­­North America​

• Michael Wilson has been hired as Executive Chef of The Hideout Golf Club & Resort in Brownwood, Texas.  Previously, he had been the Executive Chef at Lush Resort and Silvies Ranch Resort.
• Mark Manjuck has been hired as Director of Outlets of the Canoe Place Inn & Cottages on Long Island.  Previously, he had worked as the Director of Food & Beverage at Topping Rose House.
• Casey O’Donnell has been appointed as Director of Sales & Marketing at Kimpton Hotel Vintage Portland. His hospitality career includes more than 15 years of experience in sales and marketing, including a previous tenure with Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants in Portland.
• Lisa Ares has been appointed as General Manager at Kimpton Gray Hotel in Chicago. In this role, she will oversee the downtown Chicago hotel guest experience and hotel team while engaging with the surrounding community.
• John Brosnan has been promoted as Vice President of Sales at First Hospitality. As the newly appointed vice president of sales, he is responsible for leading and overseeing all sales strategy at First Hospitality.
• Geri Lombard has been promoted to Regional Vice President of Operations at First Hospitality. She joined First Hospitality in 2017 as the opening general manager of the Hotel LeVeque
• Ashley Robertson has been appointed as Executive Chef at FIRE Restaurant & Lounge, The ART Hotel Denver, Curio Collection by Hilton. Her culinary journey began as a cook at Hyatt Regency in Denver in 2007.
• Ian Robert has been appointed as Account Executive at RezRecover by CartStack. He will be essential in developing new accounts and expanding relationships with key customers.
• Laila Gohar has been appointed as Global Explorer at The Luxury Collection in New York. She marks The Luxury Collection's first epicurean Global Explorer, underscoring the power of cultural discovery through food and drink.
• Tommy Pho joined Victory Hotels Partners as Vice President of Development. Prior to joining the industry, he earned a business degree at Cornell University with a concentration in Finance and a minor in Real Estate.
• Rick Blackburn has been appointed as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Hay Creek Hotels & Restaurants. He held previous leadership roles with preeminent companies including Waldorf Astoria Hotels and Resorts, Marriott International, and The Ritz-Carlton.
• Adrien Harel has been appointed as Resort Manager at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort. A 15-year veteran of Four Seasons, he has travelled across three continents with the company.
• Kendall Hart has been appointed as Director of Food and Beverage at Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas. She served at Casino Las Vegas as director of food and beverage where she oversaw all culinary outlets.
• Anthony Taormina has been appointed as Executive Chef at Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas. He also served as executive chef at Honey Salt, the award-winning off-strip restaurant.
• Michael Brock has been appointed as Executive Pastry Chef at Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas. He brings more than two decades of culinary knowledge to his new role at Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas.
• Justus Depke has been appointed as Executive Banquet Chef at Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas. He will oversee banquet operations for the luxury non-gaming, non-smoking resort's 12,200 square feet of meeting and event space.
• Matthew Kim joined M3 as General Counsel. His broad experience spans beyond hospitality and includes commercial, intellectual property, regulatory, compliance, corporate governance, corporate development, and legal operations.
• Timothy Wedell has been appointed as Executive Chef at Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk Hotel. He will oversee the culinary team responsible for food production at banquets, room service, and the hotel's four dining outlets.
• Tony Cruz has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Hawkeye Hotels. He has dedicated the last decade towards building the foundation at Hawkeye Hotels.
• David Ecija has been appointed as General Manager at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. In his new role, he oversees all aspects of the landmark hotel's day-to-day operations.
• Grant Hart has been appointed as Director of Sales at Hotel Forty-Five in Macon. She brings her expertise in customer-service and strategic sales management to the heart of Macon, Georgia.
• Joe Monserrate has been named as Director of sales at Tempo by Hilton. Throughout his 25-year career, he served as director of sales at Montrose Hotel Beverly Hills.
• Riccardo Bilotta is joining Hotel Theodore’s Rider in downtown Seattle as Executive Chef. He is known for his refined, modern New American style of cuisine, featuring Mediterranean influences.
• Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk is proud to announce the appointment of Chef Timothy Wedell as its new Executive Chef. He will oversee the culinary team responsible for food production at banquets, room service, and the hotel’s four dining outlets.
• Huseyin Ozdemir has been appointed as Director of Restaurants, Beach Club Operations at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. He brings a wealth of knowledge in luxury hotel operations and restaurant management to his new role.
• Matthew Hancock joined Groups360 as Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer (CFO). For nearly ten years, he is serving in roles of increasing responsibility across corporate strategy and channel innovation.
• Reed Kandalaft has been appointed as Regional Vice President and General Manager at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. His enthusiastic international flair is certain to elevate both the guest and employee experience at this vibrant, resort-style urban retreat.
• Dinelia Smiles has been appointed as Director of Security at Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel in Chicago. She brings more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, exclusively with Hilton hotels across Illinois.
• Manny Belete has been appointed as Resort Manager at Barnsley Resort in Adairsville. In this role, he will provide strategic leadership and oversee operations of Barnsley Resort's 140 guest rooms.
• Patrick O’Neil has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Vision Hospitality Group, Inc. He most recently was with Peachtree Hotel Group which included roles as president of asset management and president of Peachtree Hospitality Management.
• Elizabeth Hernandez Sosa has been appointed as Senior Vice President of Accounting at Spire Hospitality. She has a master's degree in Business Administration and is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA).
• John Allan has been appointed as General Manager at Little Palm Island Resort & Spa in Little Torch Key. He will oversee the property's daily operations, including managing the successful execution of the resort's sales and marketing, food and beverage, financials.
• Aaron Feeney has been appointed as Director of Marketing at Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco.  In his new role, he will lead the commercial efforts for the 277-room luxury high rise property on Market Street.
• Heidi Kunkel has been appointed as Senior Vice President of Commercial Services at Hyatt Hotels, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. She joins from Hilton Hotels and Resorts, where she held the position of Vice President of Operations for Australasia.
• Monique Dekker has been appointed as Senior Vice President Human Resources at Hyatt Hotels, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. She began her career with Hyatt more than 25 years ago at Grand Hyatt New York. 
• Jon Itoga has been appointed as Hotel Manager at Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa in Honolulu. He is a seasoned professional with more than 10 years’ experience in the hospitality industry.
• Tiare Tipoti has been appointed as Director of Event Management at Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa in Honolulu. She is the resort's new director of event management, in charge of the planning and execution of events at Waikiki Beach Marriott.
• Brittney Woods-Clark has been appointed as Director of Training at Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa in Honolulu. She comes to Waikiki Beach Marriott from The Waikiki Collection: The Royal Hawaiian, Sheraton Waikiki, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani and the Moana Surfrider.
• Mark Castriota has been appointed as General Manager at The Westin Atlanta Gwinnett in Duluth. He takes the helm bringing 25 plus years of hospitality management experience and will work closely with Concord Hospitality's leadership team.
• Adam Heffron has been appointed as General Manager at Conrad Washington, DC in Washington, DC. In his new role, he will lead the team in all aspects of hotel operations while delivering on Conrad Hotels & Resorts' commitment to purposeful and passionate service.
• Daxton Hotel announces the appointment of Autumn Griffith as General Manager. With over two decades of hospitality experience, she will oversee day-to-day operations, while also leading and managing a team of more than 150 associates.
• TETRA Hotel announce Alex Lane as the new Campus General Manager for the 364-room campus-style destination located in the heart of Silicon Valley. He will also oversee more than 10,000 square feet of meeting and event spaces.
• Cape Resorts announces the appointment of Kate Harth as Chief Sales & Marketing Officer. With decades of hospitality industry experience, she brings a wealth of knowledge from various markets - domestically and globally - to Cape Resorts’ portfolio. 
• Accor announces that Martine Gerow has been appointed as Group Chief Finance Officer. She will also become a member of the Management board at this time, reporting directly to Sébastien Bazin, Group Chairman & CEO. 
• Jonathan LaVoie has been appointed as General Manager at Vernick Fish at Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia. He will manage the restaurant's daily operations, as well as oversee hiring and training staff.
• Iris Junge has been appointed as General Manager at The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Michigan Avenue Chicago. She will drive forward the luxury hotel's mission of delivering unparalleled guest experiences while maintaining a dynamic environment for all employees.
• Jarred Bussert has been appointed as Vice President, Information Technology at Peachtree Group. He will be responsible for all aspects of the company's IT infrastructure, including all business applications, information security and data integrity.
• David Cronin has been appointed as Resort Manager at JW Marriott San Antonio. He joins the resort with over 25 years of experience working with luxury lifestyle brands across the globe.
• Chris Gampon has been appointed as General Manager at Timbers Kauaʻi at Hōkūala. He is responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations for the resort, private residence club and its luxury vacation rentals.
• Bharat Patel named as Chairman at Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA).  He served as an Ambassador for several years before his election to the Board of Directors as the Regional Director for Florida in 2015.
• Heather Weatherford has been appointed as Director of Sales & Marketing at Aloft Knoxville West. She brings over 10 years of hospitality experience to her new role as director of sales and marketing.
• Christian Kraul-Rodriguez has been appointed as Director of Sales & Marketing at The Junto in Columbus. He joins the team after serving most recently as Director of Sales and Marketing at The Viking Hotel (Davidson Hotels) located in Newport, Rhode Island.
• Matt Greene has been appointed as Executive Vice President, Luxury Residences at Highgate Hotels, L.P. He will report to Chief Executive Officer Arash Azarbarzin and will oversee Highgate's growing portfolio of managed condo-hotels and residences.
• Katherine Seitz named as Compliance Officer at Noble Investment Group. She joined Noble in 2006 as Chief Financial Officer before becoming the firm's first Compliance Officer. 
• Elizabeth Redmond has been appointed as Chief Accounting Officer at Highgate Hotels, L.P. In her new role, she will be responsible for leading Highgate's global accounting operations and driving innovation across Highgate's accounting and reporting practices
• Josh Bailey has been promoted to Corporate Accounting Manager at M3. He started his M3 career as a Professional Services intern in the summer of 2016 and then elected to join M3 full-time in 2020 in the same department.
• Chaz Farris has been appointed as Market Head at RoomRaccoon. He joins the RoomRaccoon team with more than seven years’ experience in the hotel and tech industry. 
• Richard Crespin has been appointed as Executive Chef at Kimpton The Rowan Palm Springs. He recently served as executive chef and culinary director for Anaheim Arena Management, which manages the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., home of the Anaheim Ducks.
• Peter Gorla joined Outrigger Hospitality Group as Corporate Director Loyalty & Partnership Marketing. He was most recently head of product & managing director for Ribbon Labs, a next-generation social-planning platform.
• Mario Quezada has been appointed as Creative Director at Outrigger Hospitality Group. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Pasadena Art Center College of Design in Graphic Design/New Media.
• Jami Poe has been appointed as Senior Director of Sales for North, Central, and South America at Optii Solutions Inc. She will also lead key strategic engagements in the region following a number of brand and management level agreements.
• Terranea Resort announces the appointment of Andrew Vaughan as Executive Chef, He will oversee all luxury culinary experiences from in-room dining and the resort’s eight exceptional dining venues to creating innovative menus for meetings, weddings and special events.
• The Kimpton Brice proudly announces Jason Gifford as General Manager. In this role, he will be responsible for managing the hotel’s day-to-day success, overseeing all operational aspects of the 145-room hotel including everything from sales and marketing to food and beverage.
• Raymond Bocanegra has been appointed as Executive Chef at Hotel Swexan in Dallas. Bringing over 15 years of culinary experience to his role, he has previously served at various standout hotels.
• The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota is pleased to announce Diann Flanders as new Senior Sales Manager. She will bring fresh ideas to this luxury landmark in Sarasota, FL.
• The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota is pleased to announce Jennifer Hanna as new Senior Sales Manager. She will manage Group sales of this luxury landmark in Sarasota, FL.
• Ben Yoo has been appointed as Vice President of Operations, at Hôtel Swexan in Dallas. Prior to his time with Hôtel Swexan, he began his career with a variety of senior leadership roles at Wynn and Encore Las Vegas.
• Julian Payne has been appointed as General Manager at Hôtel Swexan in Dallas. He brings over 30 years of proven success managing both boutique and top 5-star hotels including The Ritz London, Le Crillon Paris and Mandarin Oriental Hotels.
• Shane Allor has been appointed as Vice President & General Manager at JW Marriott Turnberry Miami Resort and Spa. He brings an expert familiarity and understanding of the Marriott brand to his new role, as he has held multiple roles with the company.
• Ed Fitch has been appointed as Head of Hospitality UK & Ireland at Cushman & Wakefield. He will be responsible for delivering best-in-class solutions to clients across its core service lines of Capital Markets, Development and Investor Services.
• Marcus Hotels & Resorts announced that Jeff Stewart has been promoted to General Manager of the landmark Hilton Milwaukee City Center. He previously served as hotel manager, bringing with him more than 20 years of hotel management experience.
• Eric Healy has been appointed as Business Development Manager at Fairmas GmbH North America. With 18+ years of experience in the hospitality industry, he will be a key asset to the continued growth of Fairmas across the region.
• Jacob Messina has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Stayntouch. He will assume day-to-day leadership of the company, as well as continuing to serve on the board of directors.
• Jeff Stewart has been appointed as General Manager at Hilton Milwaukee City Center. He returns to the property where he previously served as hotel manager, bringing with him more than 20 years of hotel management experience.
• Shane Upson has been appointed as Director of Spa and Wellness at Lapis, the Spa at Fontainebleau Miami Beach. He will continue to enhance the wellness rituals while also embracing the future of technology optimizing results and experiences for all guests.
• Dan Grunbeck named as Corporate F&B Director at Twenty-Four Seven Hotels.  In the newly created role, he will implement and lead strategic operations to enhance offerings and partner with hotels to create unique, market-based food and beverage concepts.
• Cendyn announces the appointment of B Papadakis as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). She brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously served in top-level financial positions with organizations.
• Cendyn announces the appointment of Alifya Curtin as Chief Legal Officer (CLO). She brings over 20 years of legal experience to Cendyn, including experience in commercial law, M&A, intellectual property, data protection and privacy.
• Cendyn announces the appointment of Chris Egan as Chief Product Officer (CPO). He will be responsible for product management and the company’s product strategy.
• Cendyn announces the appointment of Alan Rudolph as Chief Operations Officer (COO). He has more than 25 years of experience across B2B enterprise SaaS, cloud computing, technology applications, and professional/managed services.
• Cendyn announces the promotion of Michael Bennett to President and Chief Marketing Officer, taking on further responsibilities within the company. He brings more than 25 years of international hospitality management experience to the twofold roles.
• Detroit Foundation Hotel has appointed Rece Hogerheide as Executive Chef of Detroit Foundation Hotel and The Apparatus Room. He held the role since 2017 when the Detroit Foundation Hotel opened. 
• The Cloudveil, an Autograph Collection hotel, is proud to announce the appointment of Pablo Migoya as General Manager. Bringing more than two decades of luxury hospitality experience to this role, he is responsible for overseeing all day-to-day operations.
• Olympia Hotel Management has named Karl McElligott as the Director of Food & Beverage. He was previously the Director of Food & Beverage at Fathom Companies in Portland, overseeing all F&B operations.
• Juanito Jao Gacusan joined Outrigger Resorts & Hotels as Area Director Front Services for Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel and OHANA Waikiki East by Outrigger. He will direct all phases of guest and host relations related to guest services operations.
• Hisham Driscoll joins The Newbury as Director of Engineering. In his new role, he will be overseeing the engineering team at The Newbury Boston, managing contractors and special projects, and ensuring the hotel meets all luxury facility standards.
• The Newbury Boston is pleased to announce the appointment of Robert Rouleau as Hotel Manager at the storied Boston hotel. In his new role, Rouleau will be responsible for overseeing and executing operations.
• Mesut Erkoc joins The Newbury as the Director of Rooms. In his role, he will be overseeing all the activities of the rooms division, including housekeeping, front office, concierge and guest relations.
• Park Hyatt Aviara is pleased to announce the appointment of Bryan Hart as Director of Sales and Marketing. A seasoned veteran in the hospitality industry with nearly two decades of experience, he oversees sales and marketing strategy to drive overall revenue growth for the resort.

Europe​

• Frédéric Picard has been appointed as Managing Director Switzerland and UK at Glion Institute of Higher Education (GIHE). Before taking over the general management of GIHE, he spent his career in the luxury hotel industry, in Europe and internationally.
• Jens Hackebeil has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Oetker Collection.  The appointment also marks him becoming a member of the company's Executive Committee.
• Ahmed Elwaseif has been appointed as Director of Sales at Aman Resorts, Middle East and Africa. He has been chosen for the role, expected to pitch the global portfolio to wealthy MEA partners.
• Mohamed Khedr has been appointed as Regional Director of Sales & Marketing at Deutsche Hospitality, MENA. He brings 15 years of experience in sales and marketing.
• Toufic Tamim has been appointed as Senior Director Business Development at Deutsche Hospitality, Middle East. He brings with him 33 years of regional hospitality experience and will be responsible for business development opportunities in the Middle East.
• Renae Trimble has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Accor Plus at Accor Asia Pacific. She brings over 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, 15 years of those years at Accor.
• Giuseppe D’Aniello has been appointed as Head Sommelier at Berners Tavern at The London EDITION. He had a notable role at The Lanesborough, before joining The London EDITION as Head Sommelier earlier this year.
• Martine Gerow has been appointed as Chief Finance Officer (CFO) at Accor. She will lead the Group's Corporate financial function and manage relations with the market regulatory authorities and financial community.
• Ivan Fargnoli has been appointed as Executive Chef at Hilton Molino Stucky Venice. He oversees a brigade of 32 and is responsible for the development and execution of the hotel's menus for its restaurants, Bacaromi, Rialto and Aromi.
• Michael Yates has been appointed as Executive Chef at NoMad London. He will be at the helm of the culinary program at NoMad London, including the Mexican-inspired Side Hustle, the Library and the newly opened cocktail bar, Common Decency.
• French hospitality group Evok is pleased to announce the appointment of Cécile Lopez as General Manager of Cour des Vosges. She specializes in the operational management of five-star hotels, with 11 years of experience in the Ascott Group.
• Maria Tsagarakis has been appointed as General Manager at Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection in Santorini. As the brand continues to grow, its efforts to spotlight and advocate for female talent in the industry are one of its pillars of success.
• Ludovic Le Baud has been appointed as General Manager at Le Roch Hôtel & Spa in Paris. He had his first experiences in prestigious houses such as the Ritz Paris or the Royal Monceau.
• Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo is pleased to announce the appointment of Olivier Thomas as General Manager. He will be responsible for managing the hotel’s day-to-day successes, overseeing all operations, while maintaining its reputation.
• Abigail Trangmar has been appointed as Director of Global Sales, UK at Virgin Hotels in London. In this pivotal role, she will oversee sales initiatives and cross-collaborate with stakeholders across Virgin Group to drive revenue growth and expand brand presence.

­­

Asia

• Ryuta Takeuchi has been appointed as Head of Capital Markets at JLL, Japan. Based in Tokyo, he will be responsible for JLL's Capital Markets platform across the country.
• David Todd has been appointed as Vice President of Operations at Minor International (MINT). He has more than 20 years of experience in hospitality, starting with IHG in 1995 as an office manager.
• Ruslan Shipunov has been promoted to Executive Chef at Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui. His first association was as Restaurant Chef In-Charge at the former Four Seasons in St. Petersburg.
• Wakaya Club & Spa is pleased to announce the recent promotion of Monika Pal as the resort’s new General Manager. A career in hospitality was a natural fit for her who kicked off her venerable 23-year career working at a collection of Fiji’s top resorts.
• Nathalie Cockayne has been appointed as General Manager at The Standard, Hua Hin. She featured on the front cover of Hotelier Middle East for our March 2022 International Women's Day issue.
• Nicholas Leung has been appointed as Executive Assistant Manager, Food & Beverage at Shangri-La Singapore. He lived in Hong Kong and was the Director of Operations with Leading Nation Hospitality in Hong Kong.
• Ramy Khamis has been appointed as Director of Operations at The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi. He brings with him a wealth of experience, knowledge, and business strategies, to The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi.
• Hasan D Al Masri has been appointed as Director of Food & Beverage at The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi. His knowledge of Langkawi and the local market is an asset to The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, with him aiming to increase awareness of the hotel's culinary offerings.
• Giulio Stix has been appointed as General Manager at Santiburi Koh Samui. He is a highly-skilled leader with almost two decades of experience in luxury hotels and resorts in Europe and Asia.
• Pankaj Bisht has been appointed as Executive Assistant Manager at Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa. He brings over 23 years of experience to this leading five-star family resort.
• S Hotels & Resorts’ natural five-star retreat on Samui’s stunning north shore, has announced the appointment of Giulio Stix as its new General Manager. He now takes the reins at this “grande dame” of Koh Samui.
• Ruben Toral joined QUO as Director of Healthcare + Wellness. He is an industry veteran with over 25 years of experience building businesses, brands and physician networks in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.
• Hervé Mazella has been appointed as Managing Director at Andaz Bali and Hyatt Regency Bali. In his new role, he oversees the operations of 512 rooms, seven restaurants and nine meeting rooms across the two resorts.
• Jesper Soerensen has been appointed as General Manager at SO/ Maldives in South Malé Atoll. He has an impressive background in the hospitality industry, working with some of the fast-growing, multi-cultural and international luxury brands in the world.
• Vishal Sanadhya has been appointed as Hotel Manager at Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta. He takes charge of all day-to-day operations, which include accommodations, food and beverage, spa, fitness and catering. 
• Michael Casey has been appointed as Resort Manager at Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Hoi An. He brings to his new role more than 16 years of experience with Four Seasons.
• Sangeeth Janardhenan has been elevated to the post of Food and Beverage Manager at Crowne Plaza Chennai Adyar Park. Having an experience of over 15 years, he had joined IHG Hotels and Resorts in September 2020.

­­South America​

• Hilton, Conrad Washington, DC announced Adam Heffron as the new General Manager of the luxury 360-room property. In his new role, he will lead the team in all aspects of hotel operations, from marketing and hotel administration to luxury hospitality.
• Matías Tugores has been appointed as General Manager at Thompson Playa del Carmen. His career has focused on lifestyle properties and five-star hotels in the Ultra Luxury category.
• Alethea Kessler has been appointed as Director of Sales and Marketing at The J House Greenwich. In this role, she oversees the sales and marketing efforts, including new business development and generating awareness for the property.
• Pacific Hospitality Group welcomed Kellie Womack as the dual General Manager for the AC Hotel Dallas by the Galleria and Residence Inn by Marriott Dallas by the Galleria.  In this position, she is responsible for managing the hotels’ operations on a day-to-day basis.
• ADERO Scottsdale Resort announces Michael Valkos’ as General Manager. ADERO has long been the recipient of prestigious accolades from publication and readers’ choice awards, including Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure.
• Lou Ana Garcia has been appointed as Social Impact Manager at Rosewood São Paulo. In her role, She will be responsible for driving, educating and engaging the property's sustainability initiatives.
• Enrique Sinencio has been appointed as General Manager at Casa Velas in Puerto Vallarta. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, she has performed operational and executive activities in luxury and ultra-luxury properties throughout Mexico.
• Henderson Beach Resort is pleased to announce the appointment of John Carns as General Manager. With over two decades of hospitality industry experience, he will oversee daily operations of the beach resort. 

Carribean​

• Fernando Santana has been appointed as Resort Manager at Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in Nassau. With more than three decades of experience, he brings his leadership expertise and extensive knowledge of revenue management and hotel operations.
• Jose Ortiz has been appointed as Resort Manager at The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort, Bahamas. He brings 16 years of experience with Four Seasons, most recently joining from Four Seasons Resort and Residences in Vail, Colorado.
• Jamal Small has been appointed as Executive Chef at The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort, Bahamas. He is passionate about creating exquisite dishes that highlight the diverse flavours of the Caribbean.

­­Middle East​

• Fadeel Wehbe has been appointed as Multi-Property General Manager at Marriott Hotels Dubai. He is now in charge of six hotels in Dubai.
• Jason Rodgers has been promoted to General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay. He brings a wealth of international experience, has been the Hotel Manager of the landmark property of the Kingdom for five years. 
• Pouplard Thibaut has been appointed as Executive Chef at Shangri-La and Traders Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri in Abu Dhabi. He joins the two hotels, in-charge of culinary operations across all dining venues at Shangri-La Qaryat Beri, Abu Dhabi.
• Amritaksha Chatterjee has been appointed as Director of Revenue at Shangri-La and Traders Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri in Abu Dhabi. His past roles have seen him set up pricing strategies across all travel segments.
• Rawail Muhammad has been appointed as Cluster Director of Talent and Culture at Fairmont Dubai. With over 14 years of progressive experience in Human Resources field, he has previously worked with leading hotel brands.
• Panos Loupasis has been promoted to MD for Turkey, the Middle East and Africa at Wyndham in Dubai. This new role puts him in charge of brand operations, business development, as well as owner relations and commercial leadership across the region.
• Satish Jaidev has been appointed as Corporate Head of Sales at Aleph Hospitality. He will be instrumental in creating synergies between the all Aleph-managed hotels.
• Mark Willis has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Fairmont Hotels & Resorts in Dubai. He brings to the role more than three decades of high-level industry experience with various international hospitality brands.
• Yigit Sezgin has been appointed as Chief Brand & Commercial Officer at Fairmont Hotels & Resorts in Dubai. He has lived around the globe in 8 cities during the last 25 years and held senior executive roles across international luxury brands.
• Alina Abramovich has been appointed as Multi Property Director of Marketing at The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, and Al Wathba in Abu Dhabi. He has spent a decade in the industry, previously with Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates as director of marketing.

­­Africa

• Marisa Fernandes has been named General Manager at Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, Tanzania. Her leadership over the past year has seen the Lodge thrive on delivering the exceptional guest and employee experiences for which it is renowned.