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People on the move: Spire, Lanson Place, Montage

In this week’s people moves, Spire Hospitality gets a new VP of accounting, the former chief marketing officer of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group joins another company as CEO, and the governor of Nevada gets into the hotel business.

From left, clockwise: Jennie Hoffman, Sigrid Ko¨ntopp, Robert Bray,  Issia Thelwell
From left, clockwise: Jennie Hoffman, Sigrid Ko¨ntopp, Robert Bray, Issia Thelwell

David Ahern is now general manager of Timber Cove Resort in Jenner, California. Before joining the 46-room boutique hotel, Ahern was director of operations at the Sunset Tower Hotel in West Hollywood, California.

Spire Hospitality hired David Altshuler as vice president of accounting. Altshuler has more than 25 years of industry experience, including at Pillar Hotels.

The Vinoy Renaissance Resort & Golf Club in St. Petersburg, Florida, appointed Marina Baronas director of restaurants and Matthew Brennan as executive chef. Baronas is a veteran of Salamander Hotels; Brennan previously was the resort’s executive sous chef.

Orlando World Center Marriott, Florida, appointed Robert Bray general manager. Before joining the 2,009-room property, he was area general manager at the New Orleans Marriott.

Bahia Resort Hotel in San Diego named Jim Chester general manager. Chester previously was director of food & beverage at the 313-room hotel.

Loews Regency New York named Serge Devesa executive chef. Devesa most recently was chef at the Argyle Club in San Antonio, Texas, and has been executive chef of properties including the Willard Intercontinental Hotel in Washington, D.C., and Intercontinental Barclay in New York.

Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport hired Konstantine Drosos general manager. Drosos most recently was general manager of the Embassy Suites Downtown Magnificent Mile.

Lanson Place Hospitality Management Limited of Hong Kong appointed Michael Hobson chief executive officer. Most recently, Hobson was chief marketing officer at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.

The Montage Beverly Hills, California, named Jennie Hoffman director of sales and marketing. She joins the hotel from Pyramid Hotel Group, where she was regional director of sales and marketing.

Marje Jones joined the Doubletree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld, Florida, as director of sales and marketing. She most recently was director of sales and business development in the D.C. metro area for Crescent Hotels & Resorts.

Sigrid Köntopp is the new senior director operations IntercityHotel at Deutsche Hospitality.

Köntopp, who will be based in Frankfurt, joins the company from AccorHotels, where she held management positions at Ibis Hotels and was vice president of operations for south and west Germany.

Southeast Asian hospitality brand X2 Resorts appointed Steve Lockhart cluster general manager for two properties near Pattaya, Thailand, the X2 Pattaya Oceanphere and the X2 Vibe Pattaya Seaphere. Most recently, Lockhart was general manager of the X2 Kui Buri, also in Thailand.

Sandro Mazza has been promoted to general manager of Shangri-La Al Husn Resort & Spa, Oman. He previously was resident manager of adjacent sister property Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa.

Lance Mion became chef and drink lead enthusiast at the Canopy by Hilton Washington, D.C., Bethesda North. Mion’s experience includes Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide properties, Georgetown University Hospital and as an on-call chef at the White House under Executive Chef Walter Scheib.

Maureen Murphy is now director of sales and marketing at the Aliz Hotel Times Square, New York City. Murphy spent 25 years with Westin and Sheraton brands and at Interstate Hotels & Resorts properties.

Fairfield by Marriott Pune Kharadi, India, appointed Parvez Nisar hotel manager. He previously held positions at chains like Howard Johnson, Hilton and Radisson Hotel Group across India, UAE and Kuwait.

Former Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval is joining MGM Resorts International as its first president of global gaming development. Sandoval, who left office earlier this week, will head MGM’s global plans in Japan. Also, MGM Resorts President Bill Hornbuckle will now lead global casino marketing. Earlier in his career, Sandoval was chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission.

Ryan Schmied is the new general manager of the AC Hotel Grand Rapids. The 130-room Michigan hotel opens in spring. A level two sommelier, Schmied most recently was beverage director at Miami-based Whisk Gourmet Food & Catering.

The JW Marriott Chicago appointed Justin Schmollinger director of sales and marketing. He comes to the hotel from the Westin Chicago River North, where he was director of sales and marketing.

Round Hill Hotel and Villas near Montego Bay, Jamaica, hired two new people: Issia Thelwell is sales and marketing manager, with responsibility in social media management, and Yanique Crewe is catering sales manager. Thelwell most recently was operations manager at Hyatt Ziva & Zilara Rose Hall; Crewe was group sales and conventions manager at Iberostar Rose Hall Hotel and Spa.

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