MGM Resorts International appointed InterActiveCorp’s (IAC) Barry Diller and Joey Levin to the company’s board of directors after IAC made a US$1 billion investment in MGM Resorts — a vote of confidence in the growth potential of online gaming and sports betting.
“IAC’s significant investment, expertise and support come at a pivotal time and will play a key role in MGM’s strategy to seize emerging opportunities and lead the industry with unparalleled in-person and digital experiences,” said Paul Salem, chairman, MGM Resorts’ board of directors.
Diller is chairman and senior executive of IAC and the chairman and senior executive of Expedia. Since December 1992, beginning with QVC, Diller has served as chief executive for a number of predecessor companies engaged in media and interactivity prior to the formation of IAC. Before that, he was chairman and CEO of Fox, responsible for creating Fox Broadcasting Co. and Fox’s motion picture operations.
Levin serves as CEO of IAC and sits on its board of directors. Prior to this, Levin served in various roles at IAC since joining the company in 2003, working with the mergers and acquisitions group. In 2009, he became CEO of Mindspark Interactive, a division of IAC, and led various businesses for IAC until his appointment to CEO and the board of directors in 2015. Before joining IAC, Levin worked in the technology mergers and acquisitions group for Credit Suisse First Boston (now Credit Suisse) in San Francisco.
Hay Creek Hotels named Jonathan Brashier general manager of Hotel Hartness in Greenville, South Carolina, opening early 2022. The Greenville native has more than 25 years of hotel management and operations experience. He comes to Hotel Hartness from Auro Hotels, where he was general manager of Greenville’s first dual-branded Marriott and its restaurant. Brashier — who has brand experience with Aloft Hotels, Courtyard by Marriott and Residence Inn by Marriott — has worked on many hotel openings and won the Opening General Manager of the Year Award by Marriott International, Marriott Diamond General Manager Award and a national Marriott Sales Excellence Award.
JC Hospitality, owner of Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, named Chad Brown vice president of marketing. Brown began his hospitality career at Treasure Island Hotel and Casino in 2005, where he was marketing manager. Since then, he has held myriad marketing executive positions within MGM Resorts International at Luxor Hotel & Casino, Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, and Bellagio Resort & Casino, all in Las Vegas. He recently oversaw marketing and technology initiatives as the vice president of marketing operations for MGM Resorts International. He is a U.S. Army veteran.
Carlos Cerda is opening general manager of Hotel Melby in Melbourne, Florida, a Hilton-branded Tapestry Collection property. Cerda has previous experience with Hilton, Marriott and IHG brands, and has spent eight years in the Melbourne market. In 2015, Cerda was nominated for the CEO Light and Warmth Award with Hilton Worldwide, and in 2016 and 2017, he won the General Manager of the Year Award and President’s Award.
Aimbridge Hospitality appointed Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, to its board of directors. Duffy joined Carnival Cruise Line in 2015 after a five-year tenure as the chief executive officer of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), which represents the global cruise industry. Prior to joining CLIA, Duffy spent 10 years at Maritz Travel Co., including six years as president and CEO. Duffy also sits on the executive committee of the U.S. Travel Association, as well as the Professional Advisory Board for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, of which Carnival is the official celebration partner.
Pendry San Diego appointed Victorio Gonzalez general manager. Gonzalez most recently was resort manager of Montage Los Cabos in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, where he played a key role in the resort’s 2018 opening. Before Montage Los Cabos, Gonzalez stepped in as acting general manager of Montage Beverly Hills in Beverly Hills, California. Gonzalez has served as one of the pre-opening team members for every Montage and Pendry hotel. Prior to joining the company, he was the managing partner of EDC, his own restaurant consulting and operations company, and also held senior general management positions at several restaurants.
The Langham, London, welcomed Doris Greif as managing director and regional vice president operations, Europe and Middle East, for Langham Hospitality Group. Greif has more than 19 years of experience in leadership roles for Jumeirah, most recently as senior vice president operations, MEASA, based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. She worked on rebranding Jumeirah Beach Club Resort & Spa in Dubai, repositioning Jumeirah Emirates Towers, also in Dubai, and opening Jumeirah Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Concord Hospitality Enterprises named Melinda Griffith senior vice president of business development. Griffith holds more than 35 years of experience in hospitality, spanning luxury, independent, full-service, select-service, extended stay and new build sectors. Prior to joining Concord, she was senior vice president of development and acquisitions at Interstate Hotels & Resorts (now Aimbridge Hospitality), where she contributed hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars in managed hotel revenue to the portfolio across her nearly 20-year tenure.
The Kimpton Sylvan Hotel, set to open in early 2021 in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood, appointed Tristan Haas general manager. Haas’s hospitality career began more than 14 years ago in Atlanta. He then moved to Ohio where he joined Kimpton as part of the opening management team for the Kimpton Schofield Hotel in Cleveland. Following that, Haas became general manager of the Kimpton Carlyle Hotel Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C.
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey, appointed Melonie Johnson president and chief operating officer. Johnson entered the role during the mandated COVID-19 shutdown and worked with local officials to safely reopen the property in July. She will continue to oversee daily operations and strategic direction at the property. Johnson has been with MGM Resorts since 2015, and has held leadership positions at major U.S. properties, most recently serving as president and COO of MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, and Gold Strike Casino Resort in Robinsonville, Mississippi. Johnson also serves on the board of Global Gaming Women.
Azerai Can Tho in Can Tho, Vietnam, appointed Ricardo Luja´n executive chef. Luja´n, a Mexico native, has worked around the world with extended stints in Bali, Indonesia; Yangon, Myanmar; and Mexico City, Mexico. He received formal training in classic European cuisine, including French, Italian and Mediterranean, and credits working alongside Japanese chef Fujimura San for introducing him to Asian cuisines.
Tswalu Kalahari in the Northern Cape, South Africa, appointed Nigel Pace head of hospitality. Pace has long been associated with boutique properties across Africa. His experience running small, luxury properties includes opening Niyama Resort, Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives, and heading Singita Kruger National Park in South Africa. Pace was also the general manager of the Cape Grace Hotel in Cape Town, South Africa, for six years. Prior to that, he was general manager of operations for The Collection by Liz McGrath in the Cape Province, South Africa.
McKibbon Hospitality appointed Matthew Ram vice president of acquisitions, responsible for leading the company’s move into the acquisition space. Ram most recently was investment manager for Tampa, Florida-based commercial real estate investment, development and management company, Liberty Group. Over the course of his career, Ram has held financial analyst positions with companies including J.J. Haines & Co., Wells Fargo and John Hopkins Hospital’s department of radiology.
Hyatt appointed Billy Sun general manager of Grand Hyatt Hefei in Hefei, China. In 2001, Sun started his career as a sales manager at Crowne Plaza Guihe Jinan in Jinan, China, and over the subsequent 13 years, rose through sales, marketing and management roles at Crowne Plaza Guihe Jinan, Crowne Plaza Hotel Dandong in Dandong, China, and Sheraton Jinan Hotel in Jinan. In 2014, he became general manager at Four Points by Sheraton Tai’an, China, before moving into the same role at Sheraton Yantai Golden Beach Resort in Yantai, China, then Sheraton Zibo Hotel in Zibo, China. In 2019, Sun became cluster general manager for six Marriott hotels in China’s Shandong region.
Christian Wiendieck is general manager of Kempinski Hotel Jinan, opening soon in Jinan, China. Wiendieck has spent more than 20 years with Kempinski. The native German started with Kempinski in the food and beverage department at Kempinski Hotel Bristol Berlin, Germany, and continued as food and beverage director at Kempinski Hotel Munich Airport in Munich, Germany. After three years at Grand Hotel des Bains Kempinski St. Moritz, Switzerland, he was promoted to his first general manager position at Kempinski Hotel Adriatic in Savudrija, Croatia, followed by appointments in Italy and the United Arab Emirates. He has been in China since 2010, most recently as general manager at Kempinski Hotel Fuzhou in Fuzhou, China.