With plans to double its portfolio of hotels in the Middle East and Africa by 2022, Hyatt Hotels Corporation appointed Kurt Straub vice president of operations Middle East, Africa and Southwest Asia, and Ludwig Bouldoukian regional vice president of development, Middle East and North Africa.
Straub will be responsible for operating Hyatt’s hotel network, talent development and owner relations in the Middle East and Africa, extending to the wider Asian portfolio including Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Straub has more than 25 years of experience in Hyatt brands worldwide, most recently as vice president of operations for India. Bouldoukian has worked with Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide and Marriott International across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, recently serving as senior director of development and acquisitions with Marriott International in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Quivira Los Cabos in Los Cabos, Mexico, named Taber Anderson chief executive officer/managing director. Before joining the company, Anderson helped assemble a roster of real estate professionals to form The True Life Companies, as well as its offshoot Symmetry Companies, a resort-focused residential development company.
The H Dubai in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, named Amr Attwa director of finance and Ahmad Jaber director of digital marketing. Attwa recently was assistant director of finance at Lapita Autograph Collection – Dubai Parks Hotel, also in Dubai. Jaber joined from Accor Hotels where he was digital marketing manager at Raffles Dubai.
Hansgrohe USA appointed Oliver Bahr president/general manager. Bahr formerly was president at Franke Kitchen Systems North America.
Dimension Development named Toby Baker sales manager, Homewood Suites Agoura Hills in Agoura Hills, California, Shanny Goben area business travel sales manager, BTS, Santa Clarita/Valencia, California, Travis Johnson corporate revenue manager, Joy La Rosa director of catering and convention services at Hyatt Regency Valencia in Valencia, California, Jennifer Quincy catering manager of the Del Mar Complex in Del Mar, California, and Christen Stefanich group sales manager, Hyatt Regency Westlake in Westlake Village, California.
Hyatt Regency Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles appointed Gino Caliendo general manager. Caliendo has worked at Hyatt Regency hotels in Jacksonville, Coral Gables and Miami, Florida, and in San Antonio.
Enchantment Group appointed Stephanie Cross vice president of marketing. Cross recently was co-founder and creative director of See It Sideways, a boutique marketing agency for hospitality and real estate clients.
Bertrand Daluzeau became director of food and beverage at the Hilton Norfolk The Main in Norfolk, Virginia. Daluzeau has 17 years of food and beverage experience, most recently as director of food and beverage at Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes in Orlando, Florida.
Canyon Ranch appointed Katie Galvin senior sales manager, travel industry, and Eleanor Spencer manager, sales programs. Galvin recently was senior sales manager of travel trade for The Leading Hotels of the World. Spencer comes from Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group where she was sales coordinator for the firm’s global portfolio. Both will be based in New York City.
Kimpton Hotel Monaco Chicago named Adam Gurgiolo general manager, returning to Chicago after opening the Kimpton Schofield Hotel in Cleveland in 2016 as general manager. Keith Siebenaler took Gurgiolo’s place as general manager at the Kimpton Schofield Hotel in Cleveland. He came from the Kimpton Gray Hotel in Chicago as the assistant general manager.
InterContinental San Diego announced David Hall as general manager. Returning to InterContinental Hotels Group and San Diego, Hall formerly was president and chief operating officer for Portfolio Hotels and Resorts, based in Chicago. Hall will oversee the property’s executive committee, which includes 10 members.
The Fontaine in Kansas City, Missouri, appointed Jody Hall general manager of the boutique hotel, which is managed by Pivot Hotels & Resorts. Hall most recently was general manager of Hilton Eugene in Eugene, Oregon.
Como Hotels and Resorts appointed Ram Hiralal general manager of Como Shambhala Estate, the company’s flagship wellness center in Ubud, Bali, and Rohaan Chandra as general manager for Como Metropolitan Bangkok, Thailand. Hiralal has been with Four Seasons since 2003, most recently serving as resort manager at Four Seasons Koh Samui in Surat Thani, Thailand. Chandra was promoted from his previous role as Como Metropolitan Bangkok’s hotel manager.
Ari Hughes became director of entertainment sales for Park Hyatt New York in New York City. Hughes joined from Andaz Wall Street, also in New York City, where he was the business travel sales manager.
Orange Lake Resorts hired Mike Kiely as vice president, controls and compliance. Kiely recently was senior director of controls and compliance for Marriott Vacations Worldwide.
The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village in Cape Coral, Florida, named Alex Kruger Springer sous chef. Kruger, an avid fisherman, was sous chef at the Key West Yacht Club and chef de cuisine at The Reach, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, both in Key West, Florida.
Jeff Loucks became corporate regional revenue manager for Stonebridge Companies in Denver. Loucks departed Sage Hospitality, also in Denver. Stonebridge Companies also named Danny Solis filed systems support engineer. Solis had been an engineer with Comcast in Denver.
Peter Lucas joined the Flight Centre Travel Group’s BHMA hotel management business as chief executive officer. He has operated hotels across Asia and before joining BHMA, was Boutique Corporation’s senior vice president of asset operations. The company also announced Harry Thaliwal as executive vice president of operations. He had been corporate director of operations at Centara Hotels and Resorts.
Homewood Suites by Hilton Aliso Viejo – Laguna Beach in Aliso Viejo, California, promoted Martha Marquez to general manager. Marquez had been opening director of sales at the property.
Pelican Grand Beach Resort in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, part of the Noble House Hotels & Resorts collection, appointed Jackie Martinez director of spa and retail for the 3,000-square-foot Pure Spa. A native Floridian, Martinez has worked at spas in Florida including St. Andrews Country Club in Boca Raton, and Red Door Lifestyle Spa at Bonaventure Resort & Conference Center in Weston.
Meliá Hotels International named Jorge Martinez general manager of Meliá Braco Village in Rio Bueno, Jamaica. Martinez’s previous appointments include general manager of The Sian Ka’an at Grand Tulum in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and general manager of Me Cancun in Cancun, Mexico.
Luis Frederico Oliveira became executive pastry chef for The St. Regis Maldives Resort on Vommuli Island, Maldives. He joined the resort from Michelin-starred Pollen Street Social, London, England.
OLS Hotels & Resorts appointed Rob Robinson vice president, responsible for the firm’s Hawaii operations. Prior to joining OLS Hotels & Resorts, Robinson was managing director, overseeing Highgate’s Waikiki, Honolulu, portfolio. Robinson also sits on the executive board of directors as vice chairman for the Waikiki Improvement Association.
The Spa at Trump Chicago in the Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago appointed Katie Rozinski spa director. Prior to joining the team, Rozinski was spa manager at the Bellagio Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown in New York City appointed Shannon Schwier hotel manager. Schwier formerly was director of rooms at Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Nadine Shelf will oversee operations at The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Charlotte, North Carolina, as spa director. Shelf had been spa director of The Spa at Trump Soho in New York City.
Chartwell Hospitality hired David Sundermann as area general manager in the Green Hills region of Nashville, Tennessee, where the company operates both the Hilton Nashville Green Hills and the Residence Inn Nashville Green Hills. Sundermann recently was with Winegardner & Hammons where he was general manager/director of sales for multiple properties.
Fontainebleau Miami Beach appointed Samuel Sutter director of condo-hotel operations for the property in Miami Beach, Florida. Sutter returns to Fontainebleau Miami Beach after serving as assistant director of rooms at Four Seasons Resort Orlando in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui in Wailea, Hawaii, welcomed Rie Takahashi as leisure sales manager. Takahashi formerly managed group sales for Marriott International, Maui Sales Complex.
Migidi Tembo joined Atrium Hospitality as general manager of the Bloomington-Normal Marriott Hotel & Conference Center in Normal, Illinois. Prior to this role, Tembo was director of operations/hotel manager for the Hilton Milwaukee City Center in Milwaukee.
Benchmark named Wayne Thomas director of food and beverage for the Doug Pitcock ’49 Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center, currently under construction in College Station, Texas, expected to open in August. Thomas previously was director of food and beverage for the Westin Dallas Park Central, Dallas. Benchmark also appointed Kendra Clough director of conference services for the property. Clough had been director of conference services for the Woodlands Resort & Conference Center in The Woodlands, Texas. Kenneth Jones became director of engineering for the hotel. He departed the Woodlands Resort & Conference Center where he was chief engineer.
The Chattanoogan hotel, a Benchmark Resorts & Hotels property, hired Wendy Timmerman as corporate group sales manager. Before joining The Chattanoogan, Timmerman was general manager at Hampton Inn & Suites Chattanooga/Hamilton Place in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago appointed Leonard Ventura executive chef. Ventura recently worked as executive chef at the Chicago Wyndham Grand Riverfront hotel, also in Chicago.
Sean Verney became general manager of Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel in New York City. Verney most recently was general manager of The Westin New York at Times Square, also in New York City.
Hotel Equities promoted Foster White to business development analyst. White had been opening assistant general manager of the Residence Inn by Marriott-Atlanta-Perimeter Center/Dunwoody in Dunwoody, Georgia.
InterContinental Sofia in Sofia, Bulgaria, appointed Angelo Zuccala general manager. Zuccala has 23 years’ experience, including 15 at InterContinental Hotels Group, where he progressed through several management roles around the world.