Choice Hotels International promoted Sarah Searls to the newly created role of chief customer officer. Searls is tasked with maximizing how Choice understands and listens to its customers and connecting these insights with strategy to create strong customer experiences and provide value to franchisees, according to the company. In her expanded role, she will lead the company’s marketing and customer acquisition, digital experiences, loyalty and customer care functions. Searls will continue to report to Robert McDowell, Choice Hotels’ chief commercial officer.
Searls joined Choice in 2009 as the first member of its enterprise-wide analytics function, leading the design of the analytical solutions and tools that support the company’s strategic business decisions. She also helped align the company’s business intelligence group, and, in 2015, became vice president of digital commerce, overseeing ChoiceHotels.com, the company’s mobile app and emerging digital consumer experiences.
Christopher Anderson is director of sales and marketing at Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas. He joined the team in November 2018 as director of sales.
Dan Briks is general manager of the Millennium Hilton New York One UN Plaza in New York City. He most recently was hotel manager at The Lexington Hotel NYC, Autograph Collection, also in New York City.
Hilton Short Hills in Short Hills, New Jersey, named Vivian Cohen director of catering and events. Cohen most recently was associate director of catering and events for The Wagner at the Battery Hotel, New York City.
Shamin Hotels named five associates at the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront Hotel and the Hilton Garden Inn Virginia Beach Oceanfront Hotel, both in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Martino DeStefano was promoted from hotel manager to general manager at the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront Hotel, while Jay Agustin stepped into the role of hotel manager. Agustin most recently was general manager for Harmony Hospitality and Investments’ properties. Carlene Sharkey is general manager of Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront’s Catch 31 restaurant. She’s held a variety of positions at Catch 31 and Sky Bar for the past 11 years. Sara Sanders is marketing director for both properties, and Nancy Caparelli is front office manager of the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Sanders formerly was the events marketing manager for both properties. Caparelli was hotel night manager, and restaurant supervisor for Catch 31 and Salacia.
M&R Hotel Management appointed Daniel Dolce senior vice president of business development. Dolce previously was executive vice president of sales and development for LaKota Hotels & Resorts, based in Norwalk, Connecticut.
Elizabeth Friedel is marketing manager at Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch. Throughout her career in graphic design, Friedel has held positions including marketing creative director at a national wedding publication, has taught courses at area colleges and has run her own design consulting business.
Christi George is director of sales and marketing at Hotel Derek in Houston. George previously was area director of sales and marketing for the Hilton Houston North and Houston Marriott North hotels.
Extended Stay America and ESH Hospitality appointed Bruce Haase president and chief executive officer. He was elected to serve as director of Extended Stay America and will continue to serve as a director of ESH Hospitality. He succeeds Jonathan Halkyard, who will continue to advise the company through February 25, 2020. Haase has served as a director of ESH Hospitality since 2018. The company also named Kelly Poling executive vice president, chief commercial officer, and Randy Fox executive vice president, property operations. Poling previously led all central revenue generating functions at WoodSpring Suites. Fox has 35 years of property operations experience.
Jacqueline Hultner is director of food and beverage at Rosewood Sand Hill in Menlo Park, California. She had been assistant director of food and beverage at The Ritz- Carlton, San Francisco.
Art Ovation Hotel in Sarasota, Florida, named Okan Karadag general manager. Karadag most recently was general manager of the Radisson Hotel Nashville in Nashville, Tennessee, where he oversaw a US$12 million renovation.
Erik Lannge is general manager of Villa de Pranakorn, Unicorn Hospitality’s property in Bangkok, Thailand. Lannge formerly was cluster general manager for three Thailand properties: X2 Kui Buri, X2 Le Bayburi and Away Pranburi Beach Resort.
The Ballantyne, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Charlotte, North Carolina, named Christophe Le Chatton general manager and Elizabeth Allen director of sales and marketing. Le Chatton joined the property from King Edward Hotel in Toronto, Canada, where he was general manager. Allen comes to The Ballantyne from Capella Hotel Group’s Solis Hotel in Atlanta, where she was director of sales and marketing.
Hard Rock International appointed Donna Marchese regional director of global sales – Americas. Marchese most recently was the director of global accounts for Sonesta Hotels International.
Sheri McElravy is director of human resources for Skamania Lodge, a Benchmark Resorts & Hotels property in Stevenson, Washington. McElravy had been interim director of talent acquisitions for Dameron Hospital of Stockton, California.
Thomas Roman is corporate director of food and beverage at Castlerock Asset Management in Nashville, Tennessee. He departed Public Hotel in New York City, where he was director of nightlife operations.
Opening in March 2020, Inn at The Mission San Juan Capistrano, Autograph Collection in San Juan Capistrano, California, named Pam Ryan general manager. Ryan, who has been with Marriott International for almost three decades, most recently was at the helm of the Renaissance Long Beach Hotel in Long Beach, California.
Davidson Hotels & Resorts appointed Pete Sams chief operating officer. With nearly 30 years of experience in hospitality, Sams joined from Interstate Hotels & Resorts, where he was executive vice president of full-service operations.
Park Hyatt St. Kitts in Banana Bay, St. Kitts and Nevis, named Marc Schneider general manager. Schneider most recently was resort manager of Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in Nassau, Bahamas.
The Grand Summit Hotel in Summit, New Jersey, appointed Adam Scott executive chef. Scott formerly was executive chef at Beacon Hill Country Club, Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey.
LondonHouse Chicago appointed Elizabeth Sweeney executive chef and Thomas Gorczyca executive pastry chef. Sweeney previously was chef de cuisine at Merriman’s Hawaii in Koloa, Hawaii. Gorczyca was pastry chef at InterContinental Chicago.
The Shore Club Turks & Caicos in Grace Bay, Turks & Caicos, named Paul Telford general manager. Prior to this appointment, Telford was managing director of Rosewood Bermuda in Hamilton Parish, Bermuda.
The Edgewater, a Noble House property in Seattle, promoted Volkan Temel to general manager of Six Seven, the hotel’s signature restaurant. Temel had been restaurant manager and is a certified sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers.
Yothin Uthaphu is general manager at Travelodge Pattaya in Pattaya, Thailand. Uthaphu had been general manager of the pre-opening team at U Chiang Mai in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Hilton Atlanta named Christian Quiñones Vargas executive chef and Alexander Busch director of food and beverage. Prior to joining Hilton, Quiñones Vargas was the executive chef and food and beverage director at the W Hotel Brickell in Miami. Busch joined from the Atlanta Marriott Marquis, where he was executive chef and director of food and beverage for nearly 25 years.
Lukas Willhöft joined the 25hours Hotel Company as director of European development, a newly created position. Since 2014, Willhöft had been co-chief executive officer of Centinal, a real estate firm in Germany.
The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach in Honolulu appointed Jason White director of operations. He had been director of rooms at Grand Hyatt San Francisco.
The Lytle Park Hotel, Autograph Collection, opening soon in Cincinnati, named Brett Woods area managing director and general manager. Woods recently was area managing director and general manager based at Cincinnati Marriott North in Cincinnati, responsible for hotel operations while also overseeing the Marriott Dallas/Fort Worth South in Fort Worth, Texas, and Hilton Boston Woburn in Woburn, Massachusetts.