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People on the move: Auberge | Ritz-Carlton | Avani

Big moves going on for Auberge Resorts Collection, which named Chris Gabaldon chief operating officer, effective in April. He will lead the corporate operational and human resources strategies for the company and will work closely with the on-property teams and hotel owners of Auberge Resorts Collection’s international portfolio. Previously, Gabaldon was area vice president of luxury brands, America west, at Marriott International. He oversaw operations and opening activities for 37 hotels across Marriott’s seven luxury brands. Gabaldon will be based in Washington, D.C. 

Auberge also appointed Kapil Sharma general manager of the recently reopened Malliouhana Auberge Resorts Collection in Anguilla. Before joining the company, Sharma was hotel manager for Marriott International Hotels and Resorts where he managed a variety of top-performing properties, including Marriott Marquis Washington, D.C., and The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman on the Cayman Islands.

From left, clockwise: Tamara Paris, Angelo Agliano, Ravi Ganglani and Joelle Edwards-Tonks
From left, clockwise: Tamara Paris, Angelo Agliano, Ravi Ganglani and Joelle Edwards-Tonks

Angelo Agliano joined The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, as director of Michelin one-star Tosca. Agliano formerly helped with L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon’s expansion in Asia, opening both its Hong Kong and Taipei, Taiwan, restaurants before opening his own restaurants in both cities. 

Simon Antoine returned to Accor as general manager of Sofitel New York in New York City. Antoine, who originally joined Accor in 1985, holding various positions worldwide for 14 years, most recently was opening general manager at InterContinental Washington, D.C. – The Wharf. 

M&R Hotel Management appointed Brian Athas regional director, revenue management, responsible for the company’s revenue management strategy in the greater New York area. He had been revenue strategy director for TMI Hospitality, Fargo, North Dakota.

Benchmark named Reginald Campbell director of food and beverage for Villas of Grand Cypress, a Gemstone Collection property in Orlando, Florida. Formerly, Campbell was director of outlets at the same property. 

Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C., named Eric Cousin executive chef. Cousin’s resume includes serving as executive chef at The Plaza Hotel and The Essex House/St. Regis Club Hotel, both in New York City, The Beau Rivage Casino & Resort in Biloxi, Mississippi and more. 

San Diego-based RAR Hospitality named Dari DeSousa human resources director. DeSousa has worked for Marriott International, Starwood Hotels and Interstate Hotels in San Diego. She received Marriott’s Excellence in Human Resources Leadership award in 2009 and 2016. 

Oetker Collection appointed Joelle Edwards-Tonks senior vice president of sales, marketing and communications, based out of Paris, France. Edwards-Tonks joined the company nine years ago and became a member of the Oetker Collection Executive Committee in 2018.  

Shangri-La Hotel, At The Shard in London, England, appointed Louis Fresta executive assistant manager – rooms, and Stefan Müller director of sales and marketing. Fresta joined from Corinthia Hotel London where he was director of rooms. In his more than 25-year career, Müller has held the role of director of sales and marketing at the Baglioni Hotel London and Excelsior Hotel Ernst in Cologne, Germany. 

Davidson Hotels & Resorts has promoted Thom Geshay from chief operating officer to president. Geshay continues a 30-plus-year career with one of the largest privately held management companies in the lodging industry and is the fourth president in the company’s 45-years. He succeeds John Belden, who will retain the role of chairman and CEO after serving as the company’s president and CEO for nearly 14 years.

Dimension Development promoted Eric Gilbert to director of catering and convention services at Hyatt Regency Westlake in Westlake Village, California. He previously was the property’s social catering sales manager. 

Avani Hotels & Resorts appointed senior leadership for its upcoming properties: FCC Angkor in Siem Reap, Cambodia; Avani Central Busan Hotel in Busan, South Korea; and Avani Sukhumvit Bangkok in Bangkok, Thailand. Dennis Gordienko, formerly general manager of Vistana Penang Bukit Jambul, Malaysia, is general manager of FCC Ankor. Tyson Bae is cluster general manager of Avani Central Busan Hotel, and he will lead the Avani Busan Resort, opening in 2020. Bae was general manager at Shanghai Marriott Hotel Hongqiao in Shanghai, China. Naowarat Arunkong is cluster general manager of Avani Sukhumvit Bangkok, also overseeing Avani Khon Kaen Hotel & Convention Center in Chang Wat Khon Kaen, Thailand. She was cluster general manager, overseeing Anantara Sathorn Bangkok Hotel and Oaks Bangkok Sathorn, both in Bangkok, and of Avani Khon Kean Hotel & Convention Center. Finally, Ravi Ganglani is director of sales and marketing of Avani Sukhumvit Bangkok. He had been area director of sales – MICE across Southeast Asia. 

Victor Martinez is now executive chef at Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center in Oakbrook, Illinois. Martinez previously worked at Conrad Chicago. 

Leigh Anne McDonald was named general manager of Hotel Pippa on Nantucket, Massachusetts. She most recently managed Union Street Inn, also on Nantucket. 

Four Seasons Resort Lanai in Lanai City, Hawaii, named Dan Mizrahi food and beverage director. He arrived at the property via Four Seasons Palm Beach in Palm Beach, Florida, where he led the food and beverage division. 

Teneo Hospitality Group appointed Victoria Myrand content and design specialist, a newly created position. Myrand, a graphic designer and technology expert, worked for leading Detroit advertising agencies before creating her own consultancy. 

The Fontaine, A Kansas City Hotel, Kansas City, Missouri, appointed Rick Oberdahloff director of sales and marketing, and Jenna Phillips associate director of sales. Oberdahloff came to the property from Sonesta Hotels in Austin, Texas, where he was director of business travel. Phillips joined from the Hilton Worldwide portfolio where she most recently held director of sales and marketing, and sales and catering manager roles at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Lawrence, Kansas. 

Sabrina Paige is now general manager of Moxy Seattle. Paige has held various hospitality roles, from front desk agent to director of sales and most recently, area general manager. 

Tamara Paris was appointed catering and events manager for the Crowne Plaza North Augusta in North Augusta, South Carolina. She most recently was a sales manager at Auro Hotels in Augusta. 

Pinal Patel is now general manager of the forthcoming AC Hotel by Marriott in Houston. Patel previously was regional director of operations with White Lodging Services, as well as general manager at multiple hotels in the Houston area. The property also announced Cathalin Leija as director of sales. Leija has directed sales and marketing at properties such as the Houston Marriott at Hobby Airport, JW Marriott Houston Downtown, The St. Regis Houston and more. 

Thomas Prins, principal of TQP Capital Partners, a hotel real estate private equity firm, joined Schaumburg, Illinois-based Hostmark Hospitality Group as a minority partner. Prins will be responsible for new business development on behalf of Hostmark and TQP Capital Partners.

Intercontinental New York Barclay in New York City appointed Kaila Pugliese director of sales and marketing. She had been the property’s director of business development. 

The Jaffa, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Tel Aviv, Israel, appointed Torsten Richter general manager. Richter formerly was with the SO/Sofitel Bangkok, Accor Hotels & Resorts, in Bangkok, Thailand. 

Hotel Okura Amsterdam in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, appointed Michiel Roelfsema general manager. Roelfsema originally worked at the property in 2002 as an intern. In 2016, he was made deputy general manager. 

David Simmons is now task force general manager for Stonebridge Companies in Denver. Simmons has more than 20 years in hospitality operations, including experience with independent and branded assets such as Hilton, Marriott, Starwood and IHG. 

Gabor Vida was named managing director of Rosewood Washington, D.C., which is currently undergoing a renovation. Vida most recently was the managing director of Rosewood Washington, D.C.’s sister property, Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi in Santa Fe, New Mexico. 

Six Senses Fiji on Malolo Island, Fiji, appointed Frans Westraadt general manager. Westraadt started with Six Senses in 2014 as the resident manager of Six Sense Laamu, Maldives, before moving on to Six Senses Yao Noi in Koh Yao Noi, Thailand, as resort manager.

Samir Wildemann is now vice president of operations at Fusion, a Vietnam-based hotel brand. The German native’s most recent role was general manager and senior vice president for Southeast Asia at Siam Kempinski Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand. 

Jana Yackel was named director of sales and marketing at Rosewood Hotel Georgia in Vancouver, Canada. Yackel, who has more than 25 years of sales and marketing experience in the hospitality industry, most recently was regional director of sales and marketing at Executive Hotels & Resorts in the luxury division, where she oversaw the opening of several new hotels.

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