The people – and the executives – making this week’s moves.
(Executives on the move)
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group promoted Christoph Mares to chief operating officer responsible for global hotel operations as well as overseeing the operational functions of food and beverage, rooms and quality, as well as spa and wellness. Mares will be based at the Group’s Hong Kong corporate office, moving from his current position in London as executive vice president, operations director, Europe, Middle East, Africa and India. Additionally, current Executive Vice President, Operations Director Richard Baker has been appointed group chief relationship officer.
John Vasatka will take over as CEO this month for the Ani Villas collection of private resorts in Anguilla, Sri Lanka and Thailand, as well as a fourth property due to open in the coming weeks in the Dominican Republic. Vasatka has worked with upscale luxury hotels for nearly two decades, including 12 years as general manager at various Aman Resorts locations in the Caribbean, the Middle East, Sri Lanka and Thailand. His most recent position was as GM at the Malliouhana, an Auberge resort on Anguilla.
Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has appointed experienced hospitality professional Mark Willis as President – Asia. Willis joins the global hospitality firm’s executive team in January, responsible for overseeing Mövenpick’s entire Asian operation, including its expansion strategy that targets 30 properties by 2020. He comes on board with two decades of management, operations and business development experience in the global hospitality sector, most recently as senior area vice president Middle East, Turkey & Africa at Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group.
People on the move
Jaimie Anderson was named complex director of sales at the AC Hotel by Marriott Bloomington Mall of America and the TownePlace Suites Minneapolis Mall of America.
International New York-based real estate developer Euro Capital Properties named Ernie A. Arias senior vice president of sales and business development. Arias previously worked as area director of sales and marketing at Park Hyatt New York; director of sales and marketing for Park Hyatt Chicago; and area director of sales and marketing for Park Hyatt Washington.
The San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter and San Antonio Marriott Riverwalk hotels promoted Greg Blum to the position of director of sales and marketing. Greg is a native of Chicago where he’s worked in the hospitality industry in sales, operations and revenue management for 30 years. He started his career with Hilton Hotels and then joined Marriott International in 1998.
Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills named Peter Bowling as managing director. Prior to this appointment, Bowling served as the managing director of the multiple award-winning One&Only Palmilla resort in Cabo San Lucas.
Joie de Vivre’s first Baltimore hotel Hotel Revival, which opens in spring 2018, has three new hires: Beth Brainard as general manager, Andrea Richey as director of sales and marketing and Bradley Daniels as director of food and beverage.
Opening late-December, the California-based Marriott Irvine Spectrum appointed Paolo Buffa as executive chef. Buffa studied at the Culinary Art Institute of Milan and further honed his skill of Italian, French and Belgian cuisine while in Austria. His U.S. foray was Caffe Milano, an Italian restaurant on Miami Beach’s Ocean Drive, and later, he held multi-faceted positions at The Ritz Carlton, Battery Park and the Mayflower Hotel in Washington D.C.
Miami-based Palace Resorts promoted Michelle Catin to Director of Marketing & Social Media at Palace Resorts. Prior to joining Palace Resorts, she worked at a public relations firm. She’s also a registered yoga teacher, and in her spare time teaches meditation.
Lorena Chappell was named director of sales and marketing for Hotel Contessa, a Benchmark Resorts & Hotels property located on the Riverwalk in San Antonio, Texas. Chappell was most recently director of sales and marketing for the Sheraton Austin Georgetown Hotel & Conference Center of Georgetown, Texas.
Innside New York named Kristine Chiu as director of sales and marketing. Prior to that, Chiu was director of sales at the Sheraton Tribeca.
Mexico-based Seadust Cancun Family Resort appointed Vladimir Cid executive chef. For the past several years, Cid has led numerous resort’s restaurants and banquet facilities including several luxury all-inclusive properties in the Dominican Republic.
The Cove, Eleuthera in Scottsdale, Arizona appointed Monica Coppetta resort manager. She most recently served as Resort Manager at Columbia Beach Resort in Cyprus, Arizona.
Best Western Hotels & Resorts’ board of directors has elected Jim Cosgrove as board chairman. Cosgrove was first elected to Best Western’s Board of Directors in 2011.
A change of leadership has taken place both at Germany-based Steigenberger Esplanade Jena and at the Maxx Hotel Jena. Matthias Dittmeier was named general manager of the former and Steffen Krause was appointed GM of the latter. Andreas Zeitler, who previously acted as general manager for both hotels, will retire at the end of the year.
Hamilton Hotel Washington D.C., which recently broke ties with Crowne Plaza and became an independent hotel, appointed Mark Driscoll managing director. Prior to joining the Hamilton, Driscoll served as GM of Loews Boston Hotel.
QT Sydney appointed Jean-Paul Lourdes as head chef at its restaurant Gowings Bar & Grill. Lourdes is New Zealand-born, but has worked in the kitchens of Pierre Gagnaire in Paris, Joel Robuchon in Tokyo and, most-recently, The NoMad in New York, among others.
Dream Hotel Group appointed Hans Luther general manager for North Carolina-based Unscripted Durham, the first location for its new lifestyle brand and hospitality concept Unscripted Hotels. Luther most recently served as hotel task force consultant, strategy and operations, for Ian Schrager’s Public Hotel in New York City, and was previously business planning manager for The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
Michigan-based DoubleTree by Hilton Grand Rapids Airport named Colin McPhee as executive chef. Prior to joining DoubleTree by Hilton Grand Rapids, McPhee most recently served as the sous chef of J.W. Marriott in Grand Rapids.
Bahamas-based Comfort Suites Paradise Island promoted Yasmine Mills-Strachan as director of sales. Strachan’s career in hospitality began in 2000 at SuperClubs Breezes Bahamas, where she took on various responsibilities ranging from retail, to front office, sales and weddings.
Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai and Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle named Massimiliano (Max) Musto as GM. He previously served as resort manager at Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita, GM at Four Seasons Hotel Alexandria at San Stefano, and opening GM of Four Seasons Hotel Moscow.
Miami-based Washington Park Hotel made two new hires: Gabriel Perez, who has 30 years of experience managing boutique hotels around the country, was named GM and Louis Escoto, who has over 15 years of hospitality and sales experience in South Florida hotels, has been appointed director of sales and marketing.
Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI) expanded its global sales team in the U.S. Midwest with the addition of Michelle Russell as global sales manager. Prior to joining ALHI she was vice president, global accounts for HPN Global.
Hawaii-based Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua promoted Executive Chef Daniel Schmidt to director of food and beverage. Former Executive Sous Chef Kenneth Sniffen will take his place.
Thompson Hotels’ Gild Hall in downtown Manhattan appointed Lindsey Sears director of sales. Sears, a veteran to the hospitality industry of over nine years, was most recently associate director of sales at Hotel 50 Bowery, also in New York.
Joseph L. Stamile was named director of food and beverage for The Heldrich, a Benchmark Resorts & Hotels property located in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He was most recently director of food and beverage for the DoubleTree by Hilton Newark Airport Hotel.
W Marriott Hotels & Resorts will partner with Nora Tobin, naming the South Lake Tahoe native as the brand’s wellness ambassador. She has created wellness programs and hosted numerous wellness events for premium brands and Fortune 500 companies, and is co-creator of the nutrition line Busy Bar, as well as a portable total gym and ab device.
Christophe Victor was appointed executive assistant manager, sales and marketing for The St. Regis Langkawi, The Westin Resort and Spa Langkawi, and the Langkawi International Convention Centre. Prior to this role, Christophe had invested over 16 years of his career in sales and marketing roles at a string of luxury establishments such as the Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort and Spa and was instrumental to the re-launch of the Velassaru Maldives Resort.