Accor named Thomas Dubaere chief executive officer, South America, and a member of the France-based company’s executive committee. Dubaere began his career with Accor in Belgium at the Novotel Bruges Centre in Bruges and held several general manager positions before being appointed delegate director economy brands, Belgium, and then director of operations economy brands, Belgium and Luxembourg. In 2010, Dubaere transferred to the United Kingdom as managing director economy brands Accor, U.K. and Ireland. Two years later, he became managing director, U.K. and Ireland.
In 2017, Dubaere integrated Fairmont properties The Savoy in London, and Fairmont St. Andrews, in St. Andrews, Scotland, into the U.K. network and expanded the company’s upscale offering under the MGallery and Pullman brands. He became chief operating officer Northern Europe in 2018, in charge of the U.K., Ireland, Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.
Aimbridge Hospitality promoted David Capps to executive vice president of development. Capps has been with Aimbridge Hospitality’s business development team for a decade and is responsible for adding more than US$ 1 billion in hotel real estate value to the company’s portfolio. Prior to Aimbridge, Capps was assistant vice president of Merrill Lynch Capital; before that, assistant finance manager for Merrill Lynch Global Banking Group.
Preferred Hotels & Resorts promoted Brenda Collin to senior vice president of Europe. In her new role, Collin will oversee a regional team managing more than 125 member properties across an expanded region that includes the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Nordics, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, Eastern Europe and Turkey. Collin joined Preferred Hotels & Resorts in 2013 as regional director of the U.K., Ireland, the Nordics and the Netherlands before she was promoted to the region’s managing director in January 2017. Prior to joining the company, Collin was co-founder and executive director of HotelRez, a U.K.-based agency providing representation and consultancy services to independent hotels. She also spent five years at Utell working in various capacities.
Vik Retreats appointed Virginia Contreras general manager of Vik Chile and Puro Vik in Millahue, Chile, and Stefano Michetti general manager of Galleria Vik Milano in Milan, Italy. Contreras joined from her previous role at Awasi – Relais & Chateaux in Chile, where she spent the past 11 years gaining expertise in the luxury marketplace. In her most recent role, she was hotel operations manager. She has also held positions as assistant manager at Las Balsas Relais & Chateaux in Neuquén, Argentina, and as an airport agent for American Airlines in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Michetti joined Galleria Vik Milano from Hotel Principe Di Savoia, Dorchester Collection in Milan, where he was sales account director. Michetti’s other past positions include senior sales manager at Meliá Roma Aurelia Antica in Rome; front office manager at Meliá Milano in Milan; NH Jolly Excelsior in Siena, Italy; NH Jolly De La Gare in Bologna, Italy; and NH Jolly Ambassador in Naples, Italy.
Amaala, an integrated resort across three sites on Saudi Arabi’s Red Sea, appointed Victor Clavell chief operating officer. During the course of his more than 30 years of experience, Clavell has guided property openings across the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, Bulgari, W and Edition hotels.
Under Canvas appointed Matt Gaghen chief executive officer and May Lilley chief marketing officer. Gaghen joined the company from KSL Capital Partners, where he was a principal in the strategic operating group, responsible for overseeing investments in the hospitality, wellness and ski sectors. Under Canvas is majority-owned by an affiliate of KSL Capital Partners. Before KSL, Gaghen held senior positions at Starwood Hotels. Lilley, who has 20 years of experience in the upscale, outdoor hospitality industry, most recently served as the company’s vice president of marketing and communications. Prior to Under Canvas, Lilley spent 18 years as part of the Vail Resorts organization, holding leadership positions within its marketing and communications teams.
Ted Knighton and Sofie Vasquez are general manager and director of sales and marketing, respectively, at Thompson San Antonio, opening early 2021along the River Walk in San Antonio, Texas. Knighton previously served in leadership positions with Makeready Experience in Dallas. Most recently, he was general manager at Alida, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel in Savannah, Georgia, where he also led pre-opening activities. He earlier served as general manager at Alida’s sister property, the Noelle, in Nashville, Tennessee. Prior to joining Makeready, Knighton was assistant general manager at Thompson Seattle. Vasquez has more than 15 years of experience in the San Antonio market, most recently as an associate director of sales at Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Spa in San Antonio. She also has held sales roles at hotels in San Antonio, including at La Cantera Hill Country Resort & Spa and Hyatt Place San Antonio/River Walk. She was director of worldwide sales at Hyatt from 2002 to 2008 on the national sales force.
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group appointed Greg Liddell general manager of Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid, Spain, and area vice president, operations, overseeing operations at Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona, and Mandarin Oriental, Canouan, St. Vincent & Grenadines. Liddell previously was general manager of Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, and area vice president, operations, responsible for Mandarin Oriental, Canouan and Mandarin Oriental, Taipei, Taiwan. He began his career with Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group in 2009 as general manager of the then-Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Liddell’s other roles with the group include general manager of The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, and Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona.
Ryan McNamara joined The Plasencia Group’s investment advisory team as managing director based in the company’s Chicago office, covering the firm’s Midwest and West regions. McNamara spent a decade at Hyatt Hotels Corp., most recently as a vice president of development, responsible for expanding Hyatt’s brands domestically. He has worked in Chicago, England and Switzerland for Hyatt corporate, and gained investment and operations experience at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Marriott International and a boutique private-equity firm.
Mark Morris joined Frontier Development & Hospitality Group as chief investment officer. Morris has structured and completed hotel sales transactions totaling more than US$3.5 billion. Prior to joining Frontier, Morris was managing director at Berkadia Hotels & Hospitality, where he co-founded the hotel investment sales platform. He also served as executive vice president and director of acquisitions and development for Modus Hotels, and held positions at Hunter Hotel Advisors, MK Hotels, SunTrust Bank and Riggs Bank.
Michael O’Donohue is general manager of Fairmont Grand Del Mar in San Diego. O’Donohue joined the team after nearly five years with Montage International as general manager at Pendry San Diego. Prior to that role, O’Donohue spent 10 years in various positions at Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Before that, he worked at InterContinental Hotels and Hilton Hotels.
Pradeep Raman is general manager of Baccarat Hotel New York in New York City. Raman most recently served as hotel manager for the Peninsula New York, also in New York City. Raman has held hotel operations and food and beverage leadership roles within The Montage Hotels, Wynn Resorts, Viceroy Hotel Group, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co. and the Taj Group. He also worked on the opening teams for various properties, and aside the United States, he also has worked in Hong Kong, Turkey, Malaysia and numerous assignments in Europe and Asia with Peninsula Hotels. Baccarat Hotel New York also appointed Tanja Hernandez director of environmental health and safety. Hernandez serves as a resource for guests and oversees new health and safety procedures, ensuring team members are sticking to the hotel’s guidelines.
Aparium Hotel Group named Evan Sheridan corporate culinary director of the brand, overseeing menu and program development across Aparium’s entire portfolio, currently eight hotels with seven more opening by 2022. Prior to joining Aparium, Sheridan, a 2-Michelin star recipient, was a team leader at hotels and restaurants including the St. Jane Hotel and Sixteen Restaurant in Chicago and The Inn at Little Washington in Washington, Virginia. Aparium also announced Douglas Rodriguez as executive chef at Hotel Haya in Tampa, Florida, and Amber Lancaster as executive chef at The MC Hotel in Montclair, New Jersey. Rodriguez has more than 30 years of food and beverage experience with a focus on Latino cuisine. He earned the James Beard Foundation’s Rising Star Chef of the Year Award in 1996, as well as nominations for Best Chef in South Florida, and has worked in restaurants across New York City, London, Philadelphia, and Coral Gables, Florida. Lancaster has worked at food and beverage establishments in Paris and Chicago. She has held positions at Michelin-star restaurants including Restaurant Guy Savoy in Paris and Alinea in Chicago, as well as at Hôtel de Crillon in Paris.
Focus Hospitality Management appointed Chris Stanley vice president of business development and asset management. Before joining the company, Stanley spent nearly three years as vice president of development at Radisson Hotel Group, where he helped establish Radisson in the California hotel market. Prior to his tenure at Radisson, Stanley was regional vice president of development at RLH Corp. He also spent nearly two decades at Starwood Hotels and Resorts, serving in several leadership positions for the company’s development team, and spent a decade at Westin Hotels & Resorts.
Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas, opening early 2021 in Encinitas, California, appointed Benjamin Thiele general manager. Thiele spent a decade with Kimpton Hotels, where he most recently was general manager of Kimpton’s Canary Hotels in Santa Barbara, California. Prior to that, he was general manager of Seattle’s Palladian Hotel. Thiele launched his career as a valet attendant, and has experience ranging from front of house to housekeeping management to leadership.