Hyatt Resorts Maui appointed a Hawaiian culture and training specialist, while RCI named a managing director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Properties in California, Washington, New Jersey, the British Virgin Islands and South Africa all added new talent to their F&B operations, and Radisson Hotel Group appointed senior executives in Asia Pacific. Read on for more of this week’s promotions, appointments and transfers.
Hilton Short Hills, Short Hills, New Jersey, named Christopher Akoury general manager. He most recently held the same role at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Parsippany in Parsippany, New Jersey. The property also appointed Duygu Magnisalis director of catering and events. She had been senior catering sales manager of The Ritz-Carlton New York, Westchester in Westchester, New York.
Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego welcomed Michael Barber as executive chef. Before joining the Grand Hyatt San Diego team, Barber was executive chef at Hyatt Regency Lost Pines, Cedar Creek, Texas.
Viceroy Hotel Group appointed Xavier Bon director of sales and marketing for Hotel Emblem San Francisco. Bon launched his hospitality career 20 years ago at the property, then named Hotel Rex by Joie de Vivre, working at the bell desk. He most recently helped open San Francisco Proper.
Radisson Hotel Group appointed three executives in Asia Pacific: Bram Borrenbergs is vice president, human resources, Asia Pacific; Greg Farrell is vice president, design and technical services, Asia Pacific; and Yeo Hui Leng is general counsel, Asia Pacific. Borrenbergs most recently was corporate director of human resources for H Hospitality Collection, based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Farrell joined Radisson from Hong Kong, where he was executive director of Aedas, a global architecture and design practice. Hui Leng joined the company from Wah Hin & Co., a Singapore-based investment company, where she was senior vice president and group general counsel.
Hotel Equities promoted Bryan DeCort to executive vice president. DeCort joined Hotel Equities in 2017.
Benchmark named Ron Droegmyer general manager of The Essex – Vermont’s Culinary Resort & Spa, a Gemstone Collection property in Essex, Vermont. Droegmyer previously was general manager for PHM Consulting Limited, where he served on leadership task force assignments at hotels and upscale resorts.
JC Resorts named Ron Fougeray executive chef, overseeing culinary programming for the brand’s restaurants. The company also announced Chris Gentile as chef de cuisine for Avant at Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego. Fougeray had been executive chef of Bibou BYOB in Philadelphia. Gentile previously opened Parma Italian Roots in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Onyx Hospitality Group appointed Paul Halford general manager of the soon-to-open Ozo Phuket at Kata Beach in Phuket, Thailand. Halford most recently was general manager of Park Plaza Bangkok Soi 18 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Sixty Hotels appointed Jon Hodges executive director of sales and partnerships. Hodges departed Denihan Hospitality, where he was executive director of transient sales, leisure and partnership accounts.
Fusion hired former team member Hylton Lipkin as general manager of Alba Wellness Valley by Fusion in Hue, Vietnam. Lipkin, who most recently was general manager of Lao Poet Hotel in Vientiane, Laos, earlier was executive assistant manager of Fusion Resort Phu Quoc on Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam.
Park James Hotel in Menlo Park, California, appointed Marigene Mabalot director of food and beverage, and Simona Oliveri executive chef. Mabalot most recently was senior F&B manager at Hotel Spero and Jasper’s Corner Tap & Kitchen in San Francisco. Oliveri joined Park James Hotel’s Oak + Violet as a sous chef in late 2018.
Choice Hotels International named Michelle Masters regional vice president of franchise services, Northeast region. Prior to joining Choice, Masters was regional vice president of franchise operations for Radisson Hotel Group.
Suncadia Resort in Cle Elum, Washington, welcomed David Morris as executive chef. Morris has more than 15 years’ experience working with brands such as MGM Resorts International, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Howard Hughes Hospitality.
RCI, part of Wyndham Destinations, appointed Paul Mulcahy managing director for RCI operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Mulcahy most recently was senior vice president at Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, where he was a member of the executive committee.
McKibbon Hospitality named four vice presidents. Inger Oliver is vice president of revenue management, promoted from her previous role as director of revenue management. Lauren Bowles was promoted from director of communications to vice president of communications. Ben Hom, vice president of human resources, has worked in human resources, recruiting and management for companies including GE Healthcare, Motorola and Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Scott McDowell, regional vice president of operations, most recently was corporate director of sales and marketing for Auro Hotels in Greenville, South Carolina.
Benchmark named Orlando Ramos director of food and beverage for The Ridge, a Benchmark Conference Center in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. Ramos previously was in executive operations at The David Burke Organization.
The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach appointed Regan Rosdil senior sales manager of the Honolulu hotel. Prior to joining the property, Rosdil held a number of leisure, corporate and catering sales manager positions at other global brand hotels in Waikiki.
Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina, British Virgin Islands, appointed Chloe St-Cyr executive chef of the private island resort. St-Cyr, who has 10 years of hospitality experience spanning six countries, most recently was executive chef at Sandy Lane Yacht Club on Canouan, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Hyatt Resorts Maui appointed Kalikolehua Storer Hawaiian culture and training specialist at Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort in Wailea, Hawaii, and Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa in Lahaina, Hawaii. Storer has more than two decades of experience with the Hyatt Brand, including as recreation attendant and front office agent at the Hyatt Regency Maui.
Peter Tempelhoff joined Relais & Châteaux’s Ellerman House in Cape Town, South Africa, as culinary director and mentor to Executive Chef Grant Daniels and his team. Tempelhoff has more than 20 years of experience in Michelin-starred Relais & Châteaux restaurants, including Eleven Madison Park in New York City and Le Pré Catelan in Paris.
Kimpton The Rowan Palm Springs in Palm Springs, California, named Troy Thompson executive chef and Mary Valdez lead bartender. Thompson most recently was executive chef at the Majestic Hotel in Yosemite, California, while Valdez came to the property from Outpost in Santa Barbara, California.
The Garden Court Hotel in Palo Alto, California, hired Connie Villeta as director of sales and marketing. She most recently was Western regional sales manager with Hilton Worldwide, where she cross-sold for 20 hotels.