Executive chef, vice president of operations, CEO for Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa. The globally-driven people making this week’s moves.
Raffles Dubai made two senior appointments to its rooms division; Sumit Bhardwaj as director of rooms, and Kevin Haddad as front office manager.
Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay in Cambridge, Maryland named Joel Bunde general manager. Bunde joins the property from Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort, Spa and Casino, where he also served as GM.
The Westin Nashville appointed Mark Burkhalter director of food and beverage. Most recently he served as director of food and beverage for the Sheraton Grand Nashville Downtown.
Dream Hotel Group named Abid Butt as CEO for Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa. With more than 30 years of global experience in the hospitality industry, Butt was instrumental in the launch of several hospitality brands: Four Points, Angsana, Dhawa and Cassia. Prior to joining Dream Hotel Group, he served as CEO of Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts making a return to the group after initially serving as the first vice president of operations in 2012.
The 250-room DoubleTree by Hilton Syracuse in New York promoted Kevin Connolly to director of sales and marketing. Connolly previously served as the manager of business travel at the hotel where he was responsible for managing corporate preferred travel programs and consortia.
Larry Eells, previously at the Hyatt Regency Orlando, will take over as executive chef at the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa in Indian Wells, California. Eells has been with Hyatt Corporation for nearly 35 years. The hotel also appointed Stephen D’Agostino general manager. D’Agostino was previously GM of the California-based Hyatt Regency Orange County.
Santa Ynez Valley native Anthony Endy was named executive chef Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort in Solvang, Califonia. Previously he served as chef partner and manager of culinary development for the Paul Martin’s American Grill brand.
Twenty Four Seven Hotels appointed Janet Fioriti as vice president of operations. She began her career at Marriott International and went on to hold executive positions for Huntington Hotel Group, Excel Hotel Group and Sage Hospitality.
Wilderness at the Smokies in Sevierville, Tennessee appointed Phillip Froehlich general manager. A former hospitality consultant with BBC Hospitality Consulting, Froehlich has also served as vice president, Westgate Resorts and general manager of Meristar Resorts and Interstate Resorts.
The Trident Hotel in Port Antonio, Jamaica named Christian Ghisays as executive chef. Most recently, Ghisays served as head chef at the Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall, also in Jamaica.
The Sheraton Dallas Hotel named Emilio Gomez as director of sales and marketing. Most recently, Gomez was the dual-property director of group sales for San Antonio Rivercenter Marriott & San Antonio Riverwalk Marriott.
Charles Head was named general manager of the Claremont Club & Spa, A Fairmont Hotel in Berkeley, California. Head joins the hotel from his most recent role as general manager at Fairmont Kea Lani, a position he held since 2010.
Shangri-La’s Le Touessrok Resort & Spa, Mauritius appointed Gerhard Hecker general manager. Hecker was most recently the general manager at Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai after holding the same position at Shangri-La Hotel, Jakarta.
Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa in Rancho Santa Fe California appointed Richard Hill general manager. Prior to joining the hotel, Hill served as president and COO of Amira Resorts and president and COO of Solage Hotels & Resorts.
Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach promoted Kevin Hines togeneral manager of the new 200-room, beachfront property. Most recently, Hines was with The St. Regis Resort Deer Valley in Park City, Utah, where he directed food and beverage operations.
Denihan Hospitality, independent owner and operator of boutique hotels in New York and Chicago, named Patrick Horstmann managing director of The James New York – NoMad and James New York – SoHo. He’s previously served as GM of the W New York Downtown, The Roger New York, The Nolitan New York, and Hotel Gansevoort New York, as well as director of operations and rooms division manager at The Shore Club Miami Beach.
Teneo Hospitality Group appointed Meghan Kelleher director of sales northeast. Prior to joining Scout Hotels, she worked as assistant director of sales at Ocean Edge Resort in Cape Cod.
Avani Hotels & Resorts appointed Daniel Kipping as director of sales. Kipping has held senior positions with hospitality operators in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, including InterContinental Hotels Group, Marriott and The Ritz-Carlton.
Wilderness Reserve in Suffolk appointed Andrew Perkins chief operating officer. Perkins joins Wilderness Reserve having previously held the position of executive director at Lingfield Park Resort.
Dorchester Collection named Wendy Potter chief financial officer. Potter joins the company from her most recent position as chief financial officer with Sandals Resorts, where she worked since 2011.
Conrad New York named Marlene Poynder general manager. Most recently, Poynder served as general manager at Waldorf Astoria Chicago.
Hakkasan Group has appointed Michael Neuner as vice president operations for UK and Europe. Neuner joins Hakkasan Group after serving as managing partner of Neuner & Associates, the hospitality consulting and investment firm he started in Berlin.
Ambassador Chicago appointed Elvira Skomorowska director of sales and marketing. Most recently, Skomorowska worked at Chicago’s The Blackstone where she served as associate director of sales for the past three years.
Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch named Randy Thompson general manager. Thompson joins the property from Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa, and Marina in Cambridge, Maryland. Thompson has worked with Hyatt Corporation for more than 34 years and has worked as general manager at several properties throughout the country.
Abadía Retuerta LeDomaine promoted Enrique Valero to managing director of the property in Spain’s Duero wine-growing region. Valero has served as the CEO of Abadía Retuerta Winery since 2009, and with this additional appointment he assumes complete responsibility for both the restored 12th-century abbey hotel and the estate’s winery.
Park Hyatt St. Kitts named Flor van der Vaart as resort’s new General Manager. Most recently, van der Vaart served as vice president of room operations for Hyatt in the America’s corporate division.