Marriott International appointed Felitia Lee controller and chief accounting officer, succeeding Bao Giang Val Baudin as he assumes the role of chief financial officer for consumer operations, technology and emerging businesses.
Lee joined Marriott in May 2020, supporting management of the company’s accounting operations. “[Lee] brings a strong track record of leading large organizations through change and delivering results,” said Leeny Oberg, executive vice president and chief financial officer, Marriott International. “[Lee] has significant financial experience in controllership, audit, shared service and acquisitions and integrations. I look forward to her and [Baudin] playing pivotal roles in leading Marriott into the future.”
Prior to Marriott, Lee served as senior vice president and controller for Kohl’s Corp., where she led financial reporting, Sarbanes-Oxley processes, capital management, tax planning and compliance. Before Kohl’s, Lee held numerous roles with PepsiCo, culminating in positions as vice president and controller of Pepsi Cola North America, and after its merger with two of its largest bottlers, vice president and controller of Pepsi Beverage Co.
Delta Hotels Virginia Beach Bayfront Suites, opening in November in Virginia Beach, Virginia, appointed Meredith Bottenfield general manager and Lisa Hemphill director of sales and marketing. Bottenfield has held a variety of leadership positions throughout her career, most recently as general manager at Hyatt House Virginia Beach/Oceanfront, also in Virginia Beach. Hemphill has worked with Hyatt Remington Hotels, Crestline Hotels & Resorts, Coastal Hospitality Associates and Kimpton Hotels & Resorts. She recently was director of sales and marketing at The Kimpton Brice Hotel in Savannah, Georgia.
Hotel Equities promoted Bryan DeCort to chief operating officer, responsible for enterprise-wide performance, profitability and corporate strategy for the firm’s portfolio of more than 160 hotels and resorts in the United States and Canada. In 2017, DeCort joined the firm as senior vice president of operations, and most recently served as executive vice president. He has more than 30 years of hospitality experience, and has held progressive executive leadership positions with Marriott, Renaissance, Sheraton & Omni Hotels.
The Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort in Solvang, California, promoted Anthony Endy to director of culinary operations. Born and raised near The Alisal, Endy joined the resort in 2017. He is focused on cuisine created with seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. Prior to joining The Alisal, Endy was manager of culinary development at Paul Martin’s American Grill brand. He also worked at California restaurants including Chef Rick’s Ultimately Fine Foods in Orcutt, the Historic Santa Maria Inn in Santa Maria, and Wine Cask in Santa Barbara.
River House at Odette’s, opening in New Hope, Pennsylvania, named Theresa Fera general manager. Fera brings more than three decades of hospitality experience to the role, most recently serving as director of sales and marketing at Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington, Delaware. Specializing in restaurants and catering, Fera founded her own food service company, Fera Donna, which operated the Down Town Club in Philadelphia.
Host Hotels & Resorts appointed Sourav Ghosh executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer. Ghosh formerly served as the company’s executive vice president, strategy and analytics, and has held various leadership roles across Host’s corporate finance, strategy, business intelligence and analytics functions since 2009. Prior to joining Host, Ghosh held positions at Starwood Hotels & Resorts, including senior director of real estate investments and director of acquisitions and development. He currently serves on the boards of directors for the U.S. Travel Association and Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry.
Viceroy Los Cabos in San José Del Cabo, Mexico, appointed Marta Hagan director of sales and marketing, and Lorrianne Mesina director of leisure sales. Hagan joined the property from Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel in Santa Monica, California, where she was director of sales and marketing. Prior to Loews, Hagan was director of sales and marketing for several other Los Angeles-area properties, including Hotel Figueroa, Hotel Erwin, Shore Hotel, The Standard Hollywood and Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Mesina previously was regional director of sales and business development for Inspirato, a Coastline Travel Advisors affiliate. She led the new sales and acquisitions team for hospitality products for member vacation inventory in United States, Caribbean, Mexican, Latin American and European markets. Prior to that, she oversaw sales for multiple high-end hotels and hospitality brands throughout the U.S. and Latin America.
Ahmed Kamal is hotel manager of Ajman Saray, a Luxury Collection property in Ajman, United Arab Emirates. Kamal has been with the group since 2013, when he joined as director of sales and marketing. During his time with Marriott International, Kamal has spearheaded many campaigns, working with the Ajman Department of Tourism Development to elevate the city’s international recognition. Prior to his time in Ajman, Kamal worked at Le Méridien Fisherman’s Cove in Bel Ombre, Seychelles.
Onyx Hospitality Group made five hotel leadership appointments across Thailand as part of its ongoing expansion. Christoph Leonhard rejoined the group as general manager of Oriental Residence Bangkok. Leonhard has held rooms division and general manager roles with Onyx Hospitality Group’s Amari brand for close to a decade in Hua Hin and Koh Samui, Thailand, and in the Maldives. Sukamal Mondal was promoted to cluster general manager for the Shama Serviced Apartments portfolio of four properties in Bangkok and will continue to lead as general manager of Shama Lakeview Asoke Bangkok. Thomas Hain moved from Onyx Hospitality Group properties in Koh Samui to Krabi to become general manager of the renovated Amari Vogue Krabi. Hain joined the group in 2018 as the resident manager of Amari Koh Samui. Paul Halford is cluster general manager for Amari Koh Samui and Ozo Chaweng Samui after spending two years as opening general manager for Ozo Phuket. He joined the company in 2018 from Radisson Hotel Group, where he held senior roles in Australia, Fiji and Thailand. Richard Margo is general manager of Ozo Phuket. Since 2014, he has been hotel manager of Amari Phuket. He joined Onyx eight years ago as resident manager of Amari Pattaya in Pattaya, Thailand.
Christian Lueke is cluster director of sales and marketing for the first two Meliá Hotels International properties launched in Thailand. Lueke will oversee sales and marketing at Meliá Koh Samui in Koh Samui, and Meliá Chiang Mai in Chiang Mai, slated to open early next year. Leuke has worked in Thailand for 14 years, including most recently as Minor Hotels & Resorts’ regional director of sales for Southeast Asia. Before that, he was the Bangkok-based cluster director of sales and marketing for Hyatt Hotels. He also served as director of sales and marketing for Destination Properties, the cluster director of sales and marketing at Courtyard by Marriott, responsible for Thai resorts in Surin, Patong, Kamala and Hua Hin, and the group director of sales and marketing for the Onyx Hospitality Group.
Thomas Maechler is general manager of La Réserve Eden au Lac in Zurich, Switzerland. A Zurich native, Maechler spent 16 years as general manager at the Beau-Rivage Hotel in Neucha^tel, Switzerland. He also held positions at The Peninsula Hong Kong, The Pierre New York and The Drake New York. He currently sits on the executive committee of Relais & Cha^teaux and on the executive board of Swiss Deluxe Hotels.
Meyer Jabara Hotels appointed Richard Sprecher vice president of development, focusing on growing the company’s third-party hotel management contracts, as well as structuring joint venture agreements, obtaining hotel receivership assignments and identifying hotels for acquisition. He will also spearhead a new distressed asset division, Hospitality Strategic Services. Sprecher spent 11 years as vice president of business development at Aimbridge Hospitality. Prior to that, he was director of franchise sales for Choice Hotels International, where he sold more than 200 hotel franchises.
Gregory Viaud is resort manager at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort in Golden Oak, Florida. Viaud joined the property from Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center, where he was hotel manager. A 16-year veteran of Four Seasons, Viaud has worked at properties in London; Bora Bora, French Polynesia; Maui, Hawaii; Bali, Indonesia; and Los Angeles.
Thomas Willms will step down from his position as chief executive officer of Steigenberger Hotels and Deutsche Hospitality, effective September 30. Under Willms’ leadership, Deutsche Hospitality expanded to include five brands, including the launch of Maxx by Steigenberger and the acquisition of Danish brand Zleep Hotels. Willms also steered the IntercityHotel and Jaz in the City brands and worked on a cross-brand loyalty program called H Rewards. Matthias Heck, the company’s chief financial officer and director of human resources, will assume CEO responsibilities for the time being to ensure a smooth transition as Willms’ successor is chosen.