WorldHotels named Kristin Intress chief executive officer, succeeding Geoff Andrew, who is stepping down to pursue other interests. This marks a return to WorldHotels for Intress, who previously served as the company’s CEO and helped build the brand into a leader in the independent hotel sector, according to the company.
Intress has more than 25 years’ experience in the hospitality, technology and health care industries, including her previous stint as CEO of WorldHotels. In the course of her career, she has started and purchased several companies, including restaurants, a resort, a medical training center and a hospitality technology company. She’s led two companies as CEO, held sales and marketing leadership positions, and served in the military.
“I am honored and excited to have the opportunity to lead WorldHotels again,” said Intress. “As CEO I will embrace the heritage and foundation of a market-leading organization. WorldHotels’ fundamental mission has not changed — our goal is to provide unique hotels for unique travelers navigating the global market.”
Mr. C Miami-Coconut Grove in Miami named Iris Acosta-Zobel vice president of sales and marketing, and Dahiana Alvarez director of accounts for corporate traveler and groups. Acosta-Zobel had been vice president of sales for Menin Hospitality, while Alvarez has extensive operational and sales experience with brands including Marriott International, Melia Hotels and Menin Hospitality.
Maxence Barbot is pastry chef of Shangri-La Hotel, Paris in Paris, France. Barbot joined the property after spending three years working under Angelo Musa at Plaza Athénée, also in Paris.
Israe¨l Benyai¨r is general manager of Mayflower Inn & Spa, Auberge Resorts Collection in Washington, Connecticut. He recently was hotel manager of the Mandarin Oriental, New York, in New York City.
Higgins Hotel & Conference Center, opening this month in New Orleans, appointed Virgile Brandel executive chef. Brandel had been executive chef at Atrio Restaurant & Wine Room at the Conrad Miami and banquet chef at the Loews Hotels in Miami Beach, Florida.
Highgate Hotels named Barbara Christoph general manager of Arthouse Hotel New York City. Christoph has spent more than a decade working in Manhattan, New York City, recently serving as general manager at the Quin.
Cherie Davis is general manager of The Advenire, opening in St. George, Utah, in February 2020. Davis has spent the past few years of her career working with Autograph Collection properties including The Annapolis Waterfront Hotel in Annapolis, Maryland, and The Cavalier Hotel & Beach Club in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Wesley Clark is general manager of the Embassy Suites by Hilton South Bend at Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. Clark recently was director of operations at The Inn at Penn, a Hilton Hotel in Philadelphia.
The Renaissance Dallas Hotel in Downtown Dallas appointed Bridget Denby director of sales and marketing. Denby recently was director of sales for the Dallas/Fort Worth market for Marriott International.
Canyon Ranch named Grant Dipman managing director of Canyon Ranch Tucson in Tucson, Arizona. Dipman departed The St. Regis Deer Valley in Park City, Utah, where he was general manager.
Leon Dolle is general manager of Eastin Grand Hotel Nha Trang in Nha Trang, Vietnam. Dolle most recently was cluster general manager of two hotels in Germany.
Hotel Vin in Grapevine, Texas, named Cathy Doyle director of sales. Prior to this appointment, Doyle was national account and conference services manager at The Adolphus in Dallas.
Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour Hong Kong named Ryan Dunn executive chef. Formerly, Dunn was executive chef of Hyatt Regency Hua Hin and The Barai in Hua Hin, Thailand.
John Gehrman is general manager of Pèppoli restaurant at Pebble Beach Resorts in Pebble Beach, California. He joined the hotel from La Bicyclette in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California.
W Miami named Ricardo Jarquin executive chef. Jarquin arrived at the Miami property from Silverado Resort, a Dolce Hotel, in Napa, California, where he was executive chef.
CoralTree Hospitality Group named Lisa Josoff global sales director. Josoff, who will manage the eastern United States region, has 23 years of industry experience with a sales and marketing background.
Virgin Hotels named Leslie Kaminski vice president of sales and Rory Lowe vice president of finance. Kaminski and Lowe both came from Two Roads Hospitality, where Kaminski was vice president of global sales and Lowe was vice president of finance overseeing Canada, and the Eastern and Central United States.
Jumeirah Group made several appointments: Aaron Kaupp is regional vice president of the group’s London properties, as well as Jumeirah Frankfurt in Frankfurt, Germany, and is also GM of The Carlton Tower, Jumeirah, in London; Daniela Fette-Rakowski is GM of Jumeirah Frankfurt; Marcus Sutton is GM of Jumeirah Emirates Towers in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Savino Leone is GM of Jumeirah at Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Kaupp joined Jumeirah from Le Royal Monceau, Raffles Paris in Paris, France, where he was general manager. Fette-Rakowski most recently was hotel manager at the Rocco Forte Villa Kennedy Hotel in Frankfort, while Sutton has held several senior roles, including general manager with InterContinental Hotel Group. Savino most recently led operations of Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa in Kuwait City, Kuwait.
Kimpton Hotel Palomar Washington, D.C., tapped Abe Liao as general manager. Liao, a native Washingtonian, most recently was general manager of the Kimpton Rowan Hotel in Palm Springs, California.
McKibbon Hospitality appointed John Loute general manager of SpringHill Suites by Marriott Lakeland, opening in spring 2020 in Lakeland, Florida. Loute recently was GM for La Quinta Inn & Suites – Lakeland.
Dan Lyle is general manager of Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite in Fish Camp, California. Lyle recently was GM at Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, overseeing Yavapai Lodge and Trailer Village as well as the park’s dining and retail.
Somerset Hills Hotel, a Tapestry Collection by Hilton property reopening this January in Warren, New Jersey, appointed Paul Marsico director of sales and marketing. Marsico has 17 years’ experience working for the Hilton brand, most recently as director of sales and marketing for Hilton Short Hills in Short Hills, New Jersey.
First Hospitality appointed Meghan Mongelluzzo general manager of the Hampton Inn Pittsburgh Monroeville in Monroeville, Pennsylvania. Prior to this appointment, Mongelluzzo opened Hotel Indigo Pittsburgh-Technology Center in Pittsburgh as general manager.
Sage Hospitality promoted Tiffany Owen to area general manager, overseeing Denver Union Station, The Crawford Hotel, The Oxford Hotel and The Oxford Club, Spa & Salon, all in Denver. The firm also hired Kerstin Sommer-Raza as area director of sales and marketing, overseeing the two independent Denver hotels. Owen had been general manager of Denver Union Station and The Crawford since 2015. Sommer-Raza joined Sage Hospitality from the Renaissance Denver Downtown City Center, where she was director of sales and marketing.
The Portofino Hotel & Marina in Redondo Beach, California, named Jeff Perkins general manager, Darin Matsuda hotel manager and Riley Eastman director of food and beverage outlets. Perkins previously was GM of the Queen Kapiolani Hotel in Honolulu while Matsuda was director of operations at Hotel Oceana in Santa Monica, California. Eastman was promoted from associate director of food and beverage outlets at the property.
The Benson Hotel in Portland, Oregon, named Shaun Perry director of banquets and catering. Perry most recently was a self-employed manager overseeing all operational and administrative functions for 10 sites as well as off-site catering events for 1,000 events annually.
Hospitality Ventures Management Group in Atlanta named Tom Riley senior vice president of business development. Prior to this appointment, Riley was vice president of development for Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, where he was responsible for adding more than 30 new hotel and resort projects.
Cabot appointed Allan Scoler vice president, development and construction. Scoler most recently was consulting with developers and investors on project feasibility and working with a private architectural firm on development for urban hotels.
Diego Stefan is executive chef at Las Ventanas al Paraíso in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico. Stefan had been executive sous chef of One&Only Palmilla, also in San Jose del Cabo.
Brandon Veitch was promoted from sous chef to chef de cuisine of The Lobby at The Peninsula Chicago.