Kimpton named a general manager for a California hotel and a Montana ranch promoted a general manager with deep experience on the property. Oyo Hotels in Malaysia chose a country head while a historic boutique hotel in Virginia appointed an executive chef. Read on for more about this week’s industry moves.
Scheduled to open in February on the Baptist Hospital campus in Miami, The Hilton Miami Dadeland named Rosa Albert as director of sales and marketing. Albert held leadership roles in the opening of the B2 Hotel in Miami, the Hyatt Miami at The Blue in Doral, and she oversaw the executive meeting center at the Sheraton Miami Airport.
Gelareh Bagheri became director of sales, United Kingdom and Europe, at Electric Mirror. Bagheri, an NCIDQ-certified interior designer, formerly was senior designer and later director of purchasing at Forrest Perkins.
Dan Boyer became director of sales and marketing for Omni Oklahoma City Hotel in Oklahoma City. Boyer most recently was director of sales and marketing at Sheraton Grand Phoenix Hotel in Phoenix.
Amber Brask became general manager of the 320 Guest Ranch in Big Sky, Montana. The daughter of the ranch owner, Brask has worked in many roles at the property, including at the front desk, in housekeeping, food and beverage, and in outside sales.
Barry Dorsey joined Kimpton Goodland in Goleta, California, as general manager of the 158-room boutique hotel. Dorsey departed Hotel Milo in Santa Barbara, California, where he was general manager.
The Dow Hotel Company promoted Steve Griffin to executive vice president and chief financial officer, and Randall King to executive vice president and chief operating officer. Griffin had been senior vice president of finance at the firm, while King was senior vice president in charge of company operations, driving performance and partner relations.
MGM Resorts International named Chris Kelley president and chief operating officer of the Northfield, Ohio, resort currently known as the Hard Rock Casino Northfield Park. The property will be rebranded when MGM Resorts acquires it, which is expected to happen in the first half of 2019. Kelley joined MGM Resorts in 2017 as vice president and chief financial officer of MGM Grand Detroit.
Sigrid Köntopp became senior director operations at IntercityHotel, based in the corporate office in Frankfurt, Germany. Köntopp comes from AccorHotels Group where she held a range of management roles at various Ibis Hotels over nearly 30 years.
Alexander La Motte joined Rosewood Cordevalle in San Martin, California, as executive chef, tasked with reimagining the resort’s three dining outlets. La Motte had been executive chef of Hotel Californian in Santa Barbara, California.
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa in Lahaina, Hawaii, appointed David MacLean director of sales and marketing. MacLean has more than 10 years’ experience working on properties in Hawaii, but most recently was director of sales, marketing and events at Andaz 5th Avenue in New York City.
Oyo Hotels in Malaysia named Tan Ming Luk its country head. He has 13 years of experience in strategy development and operational improvement, as well as digital payment and marketing.
Holston House Nashville in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, appointed Molly Nelson-Sundermann director of sales and marketing of the property, which is part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt. Prior to this position, Nelson-Sundermann was director of sales and marketing at the Crowne Plaza in Greenville, South Carolina.
Hyatt Regency Austin in Austin, Texas, hired Jeff Ouradnik as director of sales and marketing. Ouradnik, who celebrates his 10-year anniversary with Hyatt this year, most recently was part of the opening team for Hyatt Regency Lake Washington in Renton, Washington.
Hotel Weyanoke in Farmville, Virginia, appointed Frank Paris III executive chef. His previous experience includes positions with The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, the Primland Resort in Meadows of Dan, Virginia, and the Washington Duke Inn, Durham, North Carolina.
Rebecca Platt became director of sales and marketing at SunSwept Resorts, Castries, Saint Lucia. In recent years, Platt has worked for Marriott International, the Shangri-La Group, the Intercontinental Hotel Group, Wyndham Hotels and Bespoke Hotels Group.
Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point, California, promoted William Santos to food and beverage director, overseeing sales, marketing and the culinary sector, as well as supervising the resort’s seven dining outlets. He previously served as general manager of Summit Suites at Harrah’s Hotel and Casino in South Lake Tahoe, California.
RLH Corporation appointed Julie Shiflett executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer. Shiflett returns to RLH after having served as its chief financial officer from 2010 through 2014. Shiflett is principal of NorthWest CFO, an outsourced financial expert consultancy.
Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago appointed Gabriel Soanca hotel manager. Soanca comes to Chicago from Washington, D.C., where he was executive assistant manager at the InterContinental, Washington, D.C. – The Wharf.
Mike Szapor became director of asset management for Stonebridge Companies in Denver. Szapor was senior manager of hospitality operations with Vail Resorts, headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado.
Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, appointed Aaron Weegar director of sales and marketing. Weegar had been director of sales at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
Hilton Grand Vacations promoted Kevin Zmijewski to club director at The District by Hilton Club in Washington, D.C. Zmijewski joined Hilton Grand Vacations in 2016 as director of housekeeping for Ocean Oak by Hilton Grand Vacations Club in Hilton Head, South Carolina.