Kempinski Hotels appointed Michael Pracht chief financial officer and member of the management board. As CFO, Pracht will oversee the company’s finance and technical services on corporate, regional and hotel levels. He succeeded Colin Lubbe, who stepped back from his position at the end of June.
Pracht has more than 35 years of finance and operations experience within the hospitality industry. Prior to joining Kempinski Hotels, he was general manager at HMS, part of Maritim Hotel Group, where he led the finance and operations departments while also developing the company’s international portfolio. Before his time at Maritim, Pracht held senior management positions, mainly within finance and controlling, at Thomas Cook Group. He also has deep international experience gained while serving at various Sheraton Hotel & Resorts during the first 13 years of his professional career.
Avani Hotels & Resorts named Amer Ammar general manager of Avani Ibn Battuta Dubai Hotel, scheduled to open in November in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He previously was general manager at Premier Inn Dubai Investments Park, also in Dubai.
Nils Arnold is general manager of the IntercityHotel Riyadh Malaz in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Arnold has spent the past five years in sales and event management roles at the Steigenberger Hotel Bad Neuenahr in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Germany.
The Tides Inn in Irvington, Virginia, appointed Stuart Barwise general manager. He formerly was director of hotel operations/regional general manager at US Hotels and Grace Hotels, overseeing a portfolio of nine properties in New England.
Ian Bresnahan is business analyst for Stonebridge Companies in Denver. He has been with the company for three years, starting his career as the sales coordinator for the Residence Inn Denver Cherry Creek in Denver.
Philippe Cassis is regional vice president for the Americas at Meliá Hotels International, effective August 20. His experience includes several regional senior vice president roles with Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Sun Resorts, and he most recently was chief operating officer of Belmond. Cassis replaces Alvaro Tejeda Schroeder, who stepped down. Schroeder’s career with the company spanned nearly 30 years and seven countries.
Pendry West Hollywood, opening in West Hollywood, California, appointed Karen Dailey director of sales and marketing. Dailey most recently was director of sales and marketing for Sydell Group at Line LA.
Aqua-Aston Hospitality named Duane Dickson general manager of the group’s Orlando, Florida, properties — Tuscana Resort Orlando and The Fountains at ChampionsGate. Dickson recently was senior property manager at Castle Group, where he handled budget development and led community operations.
Prince Waikiki in Honolulu named Joshua Hargrove general manager. Hargrove had been hotel manager at The Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas in Lahaina, Hawaii.
Stonebridge Companies named Rob Hazard vice president of real estate and John Davis vice president of asset management. Hazard formerly was senior vice president at Hersha Hospitality Trust, where he oversaw its acquisitions and development platform. Davis was vice president of asset management for Woodbine Development Corporation.
Hyatt Regency Greenwich in Old Greenwich, Connecticut, appointed Sherry Hicks-Buckles general manager. Hicks-Buckles, who has a 22-year career with Hyatt Hotels, most recently was director of operations at Hyatt Regency Atlanta.
Suri Jitjang has been named general manager of Avani+ Luang Prabang in Luang Prabang, Laos. Jitjang previously was general manager at the Holiday Inn Resort Krabi Ao Nang Beach and Holiday Inn Express Krabi Ao Nang Beach, both in Chang Wat Krabi, Thailand.
The Ritz-Carlton, Bali, Indonesia, appointed Amy Lingga director of sales and marketing. Lingga has more than 14 years’ experience in Bali, including in previous roles as director of sales and marketing. She spent four years at Courtyard by Marriott, Bali Seminyak Resort, where she won several Marriott International awards, including Courtyard Direct Sales Leader of the Year in 2017.
Wymara Resort & Villas, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos, welcomed Rolf Lippuner as general manager. Lippuner held multiple positions within Four Seasons from 2008 to 2018, including general manager of the Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The Dominick Hotel in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood appointed Lara Mayer director of travel industry sales, United States and Canada. Mayer most recently was leisure sales director at Timbers Resorts, based in Carbondale, Colorado.
Hilary Meisel joined Auberge Resorts Collection as director of global accounts, Northeast, responsible for handling group clients based on the Eastern Seaboard. Meisel had been senior account executive, luxury account sales for Marriott International.
Radisson Blu Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, appointed Gary O’Driscoll director of sales and marketing. Before joining the property, O’Driscoll oversaw several properties in Texas as director of sales and marketing.
First Hospitality appointed Janice Parks chief human resources officer and made her a member of the group’s executive leadership team. Parks previously worked for McDonald’s Corporation in Chicago, where she held multiple leadership roles, including senior director of global diversity and inclusion, and most recently, global human resources officer.
Waterford Hotel Group named Brendan Saunders director of sales of the Courtyard by Marriott in Cromwell, Connecticut. Saunders most recently was director of sales at the Courtyard by Marriott Hartford-Farmington in Farmington, Connecticut, while also overseeing sales at the Residence Inn in Rocky Hill, Connecticut.
Hotel Erwin, a boutique hotel in Venice Beach, California, appointed Amy Scherer-Ramskill director of sales and marketing. Prior to this appointment, Scherer-Ramskill was general manager for Proper Hospitality at a high-rise in Hollywood, California.
Hostmark Hospitality Group named Patti Sedlacek vice president of revenue management. Sedlacek previously was a regional director of revenue management with Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants.
Outrigger Hospitality Group appointed five corporate and management positions: Brent Teraoka is director of marketing and hotel performance for Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort, Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort and Hawaii Vacation Condos by Outrigger properties; Lilly Hajime was promoted to human resource information systems manager; Laverne Bisara is director of revenue management at the Outrigger-managed Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikiki Beach Walk in Honolulu; Carly Clement is resort manager of Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort in Honolulu; and Vince Robinson is hotel manager for the Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikiki Beach Walk.
Avani appointed Nico Vivier general manager of Avani Barbarons Seychelles Resort on the island of Mahé in Seychelles. Vivier joined Anantara, Avani’s sister brand, as EAM – food and beverage for the three Anantara properties on Sir Bani Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and was promoted to hotel manager in 2018.
Kurt Wiksten is managing director, Frenchman’s Reef Resort on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, overseeing the property’s opening on behalf of Aimbridge Hospitality. Wiksten most recently was vice president of hotel operations and transitions for Graduate Hotels.