Norbert Speth is vice president corporate strategy and openings, a newly created position at Deutsche Hospitality, effective February 1, 2021. Speth started his career as a restaurant and bar manager for W Hotels before taking on director of food and beverage roles in Germany and Switzerland for InterContinental and Marriott, respectively. In 2014, Marriott International appointed him general manager of the Residence Inn München City Ost in Munich, Germany, and Courtyard Zurich Ost in Zurich, Switzerland. Prior to his appointment at Deutsche Hospitality, Speth was area director of operations at SV Hotel AG, where he also served as a member of the management board.
“Creating the new position of vice president corporate strategy and openings enables us to implement a further milestone in the strategic realignment of Deutsche Hospitality,” said Marcus Bernhardt, chief executive officer and chairman of the executive board, Deutsche Hospitality. “[Speth] is known across the sector as an experienced and dynamic hotelier. We are delighted to welcome him to the [Deutsche Hospitality] family and are looking forward to working with him as we continue to pursue the objectives Deutsche Hospitality has set itself.”
Four Seasons Resort and Residences Anguilla named Diego Angarita general manager. The post marks a return for Angarita, who served as the property’s resort manager from 2016 to 2017. His career with Four Seasons started in Punta Mita, Mexico, in 2001, and has included posts at resorts from The Bahamas to Hawaii. He most recently was hotel manager of Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills.
Stephen Blackford is general manager of Pendry Chicago, slated to open this spring. Blackford brings to his role nearly a decade of hospitality experience, specifically in the Chicago area. Most recently, he was managing director of the St. Jane Hotel in Chicago. He also held the general manager role at The Ambassador Chicago, The James Hotel Chicago and Affinia Chicago, sister property to The James.
Auro Hotels appointed Fernando Coppola executive chef of AC Hotel by Marriott Greenville Downtown, opening early 2021 in Greenville, South Carolina. Coppola has developed expertise in Spanish, Italian, French, South American and modern fusion cuisines. He comes to AC Hotel Greenville Downtown from W Chicago City Center, where he served as executive chef and director of beverage and food. He has also been executive chef at W Retreat & Spa – Vieques Island, Puerto Rico, and chef de cuisine at Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel in Doha, Qatar.
Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort in Nizwa, Oman, named Okan Demir executive chef. Demir has worked with Minor Hotels before at Anantara Banana Island Resort in Doha, Qatar, and brings more than 15 years of experience to his role, specializing in Mediterranean, French, Italian and Turkish cuisines. Demir recently was executive sous chef at the JW Marriott Muscat, Oman. He also previously served as chef de cuisine at another Muscat property, Al Bustan Palace Hotel, A Ritz-Carlton Hotel.
Albert Ettinger is hotel manager at Baron Palace Sahl Hasheesh in Hurghada, Egypt. Ettinger has more than 25 years’ experience in the hospitality industry, and throughout his career has worked with companies such as Movenpick, Marriott, Starwood and Jumeirah in countries including China, Jordan, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, Switzerland and Germany.
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts appointed Matt Holmes head of development for South East Asia and Pacific Rim (SEAPR). Holmes has two decades of experience, including 13 years spent with Wyndham. Since 2016, he has served as Wyndham’s director of development, Australasia, where he played a significant role driving the company’s regional presence, including the introduction of the Wyndham Grand to the Wyndham Garden brands in Australia, as well as the launch of the Tryp by Wyndham brand in New Zealand. Prior to this, he spent two years with RCI Pacific and six years with RCI Europe. Eudo Chan is director of development for SEAPR. Based in Singapore, Chan is responsible for development opportunities within Indochina. He previously held development roles with Onyx Hospitality Group and Radisson Hotel Group, as well as operational roles at Park Hyatt Chicago and Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, Vietnam.
Charles Lasvigne is hotel manager at Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center. He previously served as the hotel’s food and beverage director after joining the property in 2017 as part of the pre-opening team. An 18-year Four Seasons veteran, Lasvigne has worked around the globe, including at Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris, and at properties in Morocco and the Seychelles.
Roger Levanduski is vice president of finance for Steamboat Ski & Resort in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. In this role, Levanduski is responsible for financial, accounting and audit fulfillment operations for Steamboat Resort, The Steamboat Grand and Steamboat Central Reservations. Levanduski most recently was chief financial officer for KSL Resorts at Camelback Mountain Resort in Tannersville, Pennsylvania, where he oversaw unification and restructuring after KSL Resorts purchased Camelback Lodge and Camelback Mountain Ski Resort in 2019. Prior to Camelback, he was regional director of finance for Auberge Resort Collections based in Aspen, Colorado. He started his career with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in Dallas.
Sandpiper Hospitality named Joe Luck vice president of business development. Luck joins from Hospitality Management Corporation, where he spent the past two years as senior vice president of business development. Luck previously spent 14 years as vice president of franchise development for the Wyndham Hotel Group. Earlier in his career, he served as vice president of franchise sales and development for Red Roof.
Esperanza, Auberge Resorts Collection, Los Cabos, Mexico, appointed Luis Lujan director of operations. Lujan has more than 20 years of hospitality experience with an emphasis on culinary, business development and leadership. Originally from Oaxaca, Mexico, Lujan joins Esperanza, Auberge Resorts Collection from The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco, where he served for the last five years as director of food and beverage. Prior to his time in California, he worked for hotels and restaurants including: Blue at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; El Bulli Restaurant in Roses, Spain; and The Savoy Hotel’s Tournant Grill Room by Gordon Ramsay in London, England.
Kylie Ranger is director of sales and marketing for Hotel Emblem San Francisco, a boutique property from Viceroy Hotels & Resorts. Most recently, Ranger was area director of business and leisure travel for several of Viceroy’s San Francisco hotels, including Hotel Zetta, Hotel Zelos and Hotel Zeppelin. She played a key role overseeing the openings of all three hotels. Before joining Viceroy, Ranger held sales and event roles across a range of corporate, leisure and entertainment organizations in Los Angeles, and for 8Hotels Collection in her hometown of Sydney, Australia.
Hyatt Regency Houston appointed John Schafer managing director. Schafer joined the hotel from Grand Hyatt New York in New York City, where he was general manager and area vice president. He has more than 40 years of experience working with Hyatt Corporation, and has served as general manager and managing director at convention hotels across the country, including the Manchester Grand in San Diego, Hyatt Regency Chicago, and the Hyatt Regency and Grand Hyatt hotels in Denver.
Adero Scottsdale, an Autograph Collection hotel in Scottsdale, Arizona, appointed Dieter Schmitz general manager. Schmitz has more than 15 years of hospitality experience, specializing in hotel openings and the launch of new hotel brands. During his tenure with IHG, he played a leading role in the launch of Even Hotels, Hotel Indigo and the next generation of the Crowne Plaza brand. Most recently, Schmitz was regional general manager for Riggs Washington, D.C.
Marilyn Solatre is general manager of Pono Kai Resort in Kapa’a, Hawaii. She has been with Pono Kai since 1994, holding positions at the Pono Kai Resort including accounting clerk, office manager, accounting and human resources manager, and most recently, assistant general manager. Solatre has served as the resort’s charity event coordinator for the past 18 years.
David Southworth joined Cabot’s executive team in a consultancy role as special advisor. During his career, Southworth has developed more than US$2 billion in golf and hospitality projects, and more than 4,500 homes and homesites. He began his career with Hyatt Hotels in San Francisco before moving to the Pompano Beach Club in Southampton, Bermuda. Southworth joined Willowbend Development at its inception as president and chief executive officer, ultimately changing the company’s name to Southworth Development in 2005. He recently parted ways with his namesake company of 30 years to start a new development business.