Ahead of planned hotel openings in Dallas, New York City, Las Vegas and Nashville, Tennessee, Virgin Hotels bolstered its corporate leadership with three members: Vanessa Mange is director of development, Lena Sotnick is director of food and beverage marketing, and Bobbie Mesa is director of people.
“With so many key openings in our immediate pipeline, we’ve reached a pivotal moment for the brand,” said Raul Leal, chief executive officer, Virgin Hotels. “We’re thrilled to add (the three) to our executive team and look forward to the creative contributions they will undoubtedly bring to their respective roles.”
Prior to joining Virgin Hotels, Mange was with Kimpton Hotels, where she oversaw global brand assessment and development initiatives, as well as corporate finance and asset management. Mange will work with the greater development team on Virgin Hotels development plans across the Americas. Sotnick, now responsible for marketing strategies for F&B outlets in Virgin Hotels’ portfolio, formerly was director of marketing at SBE Group. Mesa joins the team from D-ream, where she designed and implemented the human resources function for four new restaurant concepts.
Sadira Baetens is director of catering and convention services for Santa Barbara Beach & Golf Resort, the Benchmark Resorts & Hotels property on the island of Curaçao. Baetens has spent six years with the resort, previously serving as associate director of catering and convention services.
Guillaume Benezech joined The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, Florida, as hotel manager. Benezech has more than seven years’ experience within The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, including time as general manager of The Ritz-Carlton Geneva, Switzerland.
Dream Hotel Group appointed Kevin Croke general manager of Tideline Ocean Resort & Spa in Palm Beach, Florida. He most recently was general manager of the Mayfair Hotel and Spa at Coconut Grove in Miami.
Richard Ebright is general manager of Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Ebright previously served as general manager of the Doubletree by Hilton Atlanta Northlake in Atlanta.
The Harpeth, a Curio Collection by Hilton hotel opening in August in Franklin, Tennessee, named Kimberly Elder director of sales and William Friedrichs director of food and beverage. Elder had been director of sales at Hyatt Place Nashville/Franklin, also in Franklin, while Friedrichs was director of F&B at Noelle, Nashville, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee.
Jacob Gonzalez, who began his hospitality career with Valencia Hotel Group in 2004, was promoted to hotel manager of Hotel Sorella CityCentre in Houston. His former role was hotel manager of Cavalry Court in College Station, Texas.
The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto in Kyoto, Japan, welcomed Xavi Gonzalez as general manager. Gonzalez departed the St. Regis Singapore, where he was general manager.
The St. Anthony Hotel in San Antonio, Texas, promoted Lena Gutierrez to sales account manager and named Ana Francesca Garcia sales account executive. Gutierrez, formerly an executive meeting manager, has been at the property for three years. Prior to this appointment, Garcia was spa group sales manager and events manager for Lake Austin Spa Resort in Austin, Texas.
Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company promoted Cher Harris to corporate pastry chef, a new position for the company. She had been executive pastry chef at The Hotel Hershey in Hershey, Pennsylvania, since 2009.
Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas appointed Dant Hirsch general manager of Six Sense New York, the group’s first North American property, scheduled to open in 2020 in New York City. He most recently led his team at The Dominick New York, also in New York City, to attain a AAA 5-diamond rating.
PM Hotel Group promoted Katherine Kies to vice president, food and drink innovation, a newly created position. Her previous role at the company was corporate director of food and beverage.
The Ivy Hotel in Chicago named Wayne Leming Chicago regional director of operations. He will oversee property management and lead the operational teams at the Ivy Hotel and three sister hotels on Chicago’s North Side. He most recently was general manager of Raffaello Hotel Chicago.
Mark McDermott joined J Street Hospitality as chief investment officer. McDermott is a licensed real estate broker and has held roles with companies including CBRE Hotels, Colliers International Hotels/PKF Capital, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, and Metromedia Restaurant Group.
Shelley Meszoly is general manager of 21c Museum Hotels in Cincinnati. Prior to her appointment, Meszoly was regional director of sales and marketing for Fairmont Southampton, Bermuda and Caribbean region.
The Westin Desaru Coast Resort in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, appointed Vikram Mujumdar general manager. Mujumdar had been task force general manager at The St. Regis Vommuli Resort on Dhaalu Atoll in the Maldives, where he led the team during the property’s opening.
Sheri Mulanax is regional director of finance operations at Benchmark. She previously was director of finance for Hotel Contessa, Benchmark’s property on San Antonio’s Riverwalk.
The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands appointed Akis Neocleous general manager, overseeing the resort’s reopening later this year. He most recently was general manager of the W Panama in Panama City, Panama.
In advance of its August opening, the Cambria Hotel Milwaukee Downtown named David Noel general manager and Tara Wurtz director of sales and marketing. Noel recently was with the Hilton Garden Inn Milwaukee Airport, also in Milwaukee. He is president of the Greater Milwaukee Hotel & Lodging Association. Wurtz had been director of sales and marketing at the Hampton Inn & Suites West Allis in West Allis, Wisconsin.
Omni Bedford Springs Resort & Spa in Bedford, Pennsylvania, named Dave Nostrand director of sales and marketing. He departed Hilton Worldwide, where he was director, full-service brand development.
Nashville, Tennessee-based Clearbrook Hospitality named Ric Olsen president. Olsen joined Clearbrook in September as senior project manager and was promoted to director of operations.
Hilton Charlotte University Place in Charlotte, North Carolina, promoted Heather Payne to business transient sales manager. She had been the property’s catering manager.
Herb Rackliff is general manager of Park Hyatt Beaver Creek in Beaver Creek, Colorado. Rackliff, who has worked at Hyatt for more than 30 years, most recently was general manager at Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Kimpton Glover Park Hotel in Washington, D.C., appointed Renee Rothschild to its executive team as senior catering sales manager. Rothschild most recently was catering sales manager at both Balducci’s and Georgetown University Hotel and Convention Center, both in Washington, D.C.
TheWit Hotel in Chicago appointed Piers Smyth director of restaurants and beverage. Smyth most recently was director of food and beverage at Hotel Julian and its restaurant, About Last Knife, also in Chicago.
Viceroy Hotels and Resorts promoted Sam Torgerson to director of global sales. She joined the corporate office in Los Angeles after four years as director of strategic accounts at Viceroy Snowmass in Aspen, Colorado.
Ahead of its September opening, Hyatt Place Grand Rapids/Downtown in Grand Rapids, Michigan, appointed Christi VanHeulen sales and events manager, Haleigh Wright assistant general manager, Jason Denick rooms operations manager, and Joe Goudie food and beverage operations manager. VanHeulen has held supervisory roles in sales and events for AHC+Hospitality since 2012. Wright most recently was rooms division manager of housekeeping at the Amway Grand Plaza, a Curio Collection by Hilton, also in Grand Rapids. Denick has 13 years of hospitality management experience in housekeeping, operations and guest services roles. Goudie has more than two decades of experience including manager and director-level positions in banquet, catering and hotel culinary operations.
Sagamore Pendry Baltimore appointed Juan Webster general manager. Webster joined from Kimpton Hotels & Resorts, where he was general manager of the Kimpton Monaco Baltimore Inner Harbor.
The Reef Resorts & Spa in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, promoted Carolina Wittbecker from group and events manager to sales manager of South America. The property also announced Antonieta Granados as national market and groups manager. Granados holds a license in tourism enterprises administration and several tourism certifications.
The Chandler Hotel in Atlanta appointed Martin Wormull general manager and Ann Collins director of sales and marketing. Wormull, who steps into the role after leading the hotel’s pre-opening strategy, formerly was managing director at Marriott’s The Dalmar and Element Hotels in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Collins most recently was director of sales and marketing at The Georgian Terrace Hotel, also in Atlanta.
The RuMa Hotel and Residences, an Urban Resort Concepts property in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, appointed Janny Yeow director of sales and marketing. Yeow most recently was group director of sales and marketing at Dorsett Hospitality International.
Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa in Cedar Creek, Texas, appointed Paola Zuniga marketing coordinator. Prior to this role, Zuniga, who graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2017, interned in events at Caplan Miller Events and Kennedy Creative Events.