Aman appointed Rudy Tauscher managing director of Aman New York, opening this spring in New York City. Tauscher joined from Four Seasons Hotel New York where he was general manager. Aman also welcomed Petar Krstic as Aman New York’s hotel manager. Krstic arrived in New York City from Amanpuri, Thailand, where he was a resort manager.
With more than 30 years’ experience in luxury hospitality, the majority in New York, Tauscher brings a wealth of knowledge to his new role. Prior to his three years at Four Seasons Hotel New York, he oversaw the opening of Mandarin Oriental, New York, where he was area vice president and general manager for 10 years. In this role, Tauscher worked on the global branding and marketing strategy for the brand in the U.S. market, as well as opening the Mandarin Oriental, Boston. Earlier in his career, he held general manager positions at Sofitel New York and Trump International Hotel and Tower New York, which he opened.
Krstic first joined Aman in 2017 as executive assistant manager at Amanjena in Marrakech, Morocco. Following that, he moved to Amangalla, Sri Lanka in 2019 where he was general manager before moving to Aman’s flagship property Amanpuri as resort manager. Before his time with Aman, Krstic worked for Rosewood and Mandarin Oriental in North America and Mexico, as well as spending time in New York City as part of the operations team at The Surrey.
Commonwealth Hotels appointed Aaron Bajorek general manager of Denver’s The Art Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton. Bajorek, who has more than 20 years’ experience, served as the property’s assistant general manager since joining the team in 2017. Before that, he worked at The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa in Denver, and at the Sonnenalp Hotel in Vail, Colorado.
Virgin Hotels announced James Bermingham as its chief executive officer. Bermingham joins the Virgin Hotels executive team following a nearly two-decade tenure with Montage International. He began his hospitality career in his hometown of Dublin, Ireland, followed by 10 years in London, England, including executive roles with ITT Sheraton Corporation. His career took him to the United States, where he held general manager roles at the St. Regis Hotel in Houston and the Montage Laguna Beach, California. Since 2008, Bermingham served as executive vice president, operations for Montage International, where he oversaw operations for the Montage and Pendry Hotel brand’s seven hotels and resorts.
Rosewood Hotel Group appointed Brad Berry vice president of global residential development and promoted three executive team members: Alexander Dadak is vice president, development, Europe; Deborah Kelly is vice president, talent and culture, Asia Pacific; and SiuYin Ko is vice president of global sales. Berry joined Rosewood Hotel Group with more than 20 years of experience in both branded and non-branded residential real estate. At Rosewood, he is responsible for overseeing the development of Rosewood Hotel Group’s branded residential segment. Most recently, he was chief operating officer and executive vice president of PortLiving Real Estate in Vancouver, Canada. Dadak, who joined Rosewood in 2018, previously was senior director of development, Europe. Formerly senior corporate director of talent and culture, Kelly now oversees all talent and culture functions in the Asia Pacific region. She joined Rosewood Hotel Group in 2019 after working in Asia for Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Wynn Resorts and Marina Bay Sands, overseeing senior leadership and development, as well as resort openings. Ko, formerly senior corporate director of global sales, now leads the global sales organization for Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, New World Hotels & Resorts and KHOS hotels. Since joining Rosewood in 2017, she has focused on establishing business partnerships and elevating brand awareness globally in key strategic locations.
The Industrialist Hotel, Autograph Collection in Pittsburgh and HRI Lodging appointed Robert Brashler general manager, Kelly Giger director of sales and marketing, and Gavin Hetrick director of food and beverage and executive chef for the hotel’s opening this spring. Prior to joining The Industrialist Hotel, Brashler was general manager for Even Hotel in Pittsburgh. He’s also held general manager positions at DoubleTree by Hilton at Pittsburgh International Airport, and New York City properties Sheraton Tribeca New York Hotel, Hyatt Place New York/Midtown South and Fairfield Inn & Suites Manhattan/Chelsea. After graduating with a degree in culinary arts, Giger joined The Doubletree by Hilton Hotel & Suites Pittsburgh downtown as director of banquets. In 2015, she transitioned to a role in group sales, eventually working her way up to director of group sales at The Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel. Hetrick previously was executive chef for Southern Tier Brewing Company’s Pittsburgh taproom. Earlier in his career, he worked at The Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel, then at Pittsburgh’s Revel restaurant and event venue, where he ultimately became the restaurant’s executive sous chef.
Barceló Hotel Group appointed Jose´ Canals managing director for the Middle East and Asia. Canals, who was already responsible for the Mediterranean and North Africa regions, will now head the expansion of the Spanish group’s presence in the Middle East, East Africa and Asia. Canals has been an executive at Barceló Hotel Group for more than 25 years and has extensive experience leading expansion plans for the hotel chain internationally.
Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa in Manalapan, Florida, named Chris Cantrel its first head sushi chef, leading the resort’s seafood and sushi department. Originally from Portland, Oregon, Cantrel worked in the raw bar of a local seafood restaurant before working his way through the kitchen into the chef de partie role. In 2012, he left Oregon for Orlando, Florida, and worked as a sous chef at the Errol Estates Country Club. He then took a culinary position at Universal Studios where he was on the opening team of the fusion sushi restaurant, Cowfish. He joined Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa in 2020.
Kevin Carter is managing director of Lansdowne Resort and Spa in Leesburg, Virginia. Carter, who has nearly 40 years of industry experience, most recently was president of Guests, Inc., a full-service hotel management company in Strasburg, Virginia. Carter’s experience includes a 16-year tenure as managing director of Airlie Resort Hotel in Warrenton, Virginia. He has served on the management team of properties including the U.S. Grant Hotel and InterContinental Hotel San Diego, both in San Diego; Club Corporation of America; Rancho Valencia Resort in Rancho Santa Fe, California; Kiawah Island Resort in South Carolina; and Bald Head Island Resort in North Carolina.
Dorsett Hospitality International appointed Michael Foster general manager of Dorsett Gold Coast on Broadbeach Island, Australia, the group’s debut hotel in Australia, opening Q4 of 2021. Foster has more than 15 years of hospitality and management experience, including pre-opening, overall hotel operations and sales and marketing. He previously was general manager of Holiday Inn Express Brisbane Central in Brisbane, Australia, and has held several senior roles for other hotel brands including InterContinental, Pan Pacific Hotels Group and Crowne Plaza.
Isla Bella Beach Resort and Faro Blanco Resort & Yacht Club in Marathon, Florida, appointed Justin Nels area managing director. Nels has been managing director of Isla Bella since July 2019. He has more than two decades of hospitality experience, with a strong background in sales and operations. Prior to joining the team, he held positions including general manager and director of sales at Ft. Lauderdale Marriott Golf Resort in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; Renaissance World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida; Le Méridien Philadelphia; and Embassy Suites in St. Augustine.
The Anam in Cam Ranh, Vietnam, promoted five team members: Le Huu Nghia is executive sous chef; Nguyen Duy Anh is chef de cuisine; Le Thanh Hoa is food and beverage manager; Le Thi Cam Van is assistant food and beverage manager; and Nguyen Thi Ngoc Nga is assistant purchasing manager. Nghia, who has worked at the Anam for more than three years, was the resort’s chef de cuisine before his promotion. He has also worked at other Vietnam properties and groups, including The Rex Hotel, Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, Van Thinh Phat Group and Mia Resort Nha Trang. Anh has also spent more than three years at the Anam and was a sous chef before his promotion. He has a decade of industry experience and has also worked at Paragon Villa Hotel and Mia Resort, both in Nha Trang, Vietnam. Hoa, who is from Nha Trang, started his career at Mia Resort in 2011 before joining the Anam in 2017 as an outlet manager. He was the resort’s assistant food and beverage manager prior to his promotion. Van, who has a decade of experience, had been outlet manager before her promotion. She also worked at Mia Resort for five years. Nga has worked at the Anam for five years and was a purchasing supervisor before becoming assistant purchasing manager. She previously worked in tax and accounting for the Vietnamese government.
Debuting this spring in Los Angeles, Thompson Hollywood appointed Matthew Pargament managing director and Sade Lee director of sales and marketing. Pargament, who will oversee operations and development of the hotel, has more than two decades of executive leadership experience with brands including Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Sbe Entertainment Group and The Standard Spa, Miami Beach, Florida. Prior to joining Thompson Hollywood, Pargament led the opening of The Miami Beach Edition, the brand’s first hotel in the U.S. Lee has more than 14 years of hospitality experience working with a portfolio of brands including Proper Hospitality, Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants, and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide (W Brand). She most recently was director of sales and marketing at Proper Hospitality, where she assisted in the openings of The Hotel June and Downtown LA Proper, both in Los Angeles, while also supporting the growth of San Francisco Proper.
Ryan Rauscher is general manager of The Ryder Hotel, opening this spring in Charleston, South Carolina. Rauscher joined The Ryder Hotel from Playa Largo Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection, in Key Largo, Florida, where he was director of rooms. Prior to that appointment, he held leadership roles across several luxury properties, including the Kimpton Cardinal Hotel in Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel & Spa in Vero Beach, Florida; and Caneel Bay, A Rosewood Resort in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Emmanuel Richardet is general manager at the St. Regis Bora Bora in French Polynesia. Richardet started his career as a bellboy in Paris, France, where he rose to become Concierge Clef d’Or and gained experience working in a variety of hotel departments, including sales and marketing, food and beverage, and operations. He has held general manager roles in Algarve, Portugal, at the Westin Paris Vendome and most recently, at the Westin Turtle Bay in Mauritius.
Barbary Beach House Key West, Florida, welcomed Edward Sheets as executive chef. Sheets most recently was culinary director of Live in the Vineyard Entertainment Group in Napa, California, where he coordinated all culinary aspects for various festivals. Before that, he was executive chef for Hotel Villagio Napa Valley in Yountville, California, and executive chef or the Wild River Grille in Reno, Nevada. He has also held a teaching position with Johnson & Wales University.
Benchmark named Chris Steffich general manager for the David Rubenstein Forum at the University of Chicago, a conference center recently opened in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood. Steffich had served as Benchmark’s general manager at Wingspread Retreat & Executive Conference Center in Racine, Wisconsin. Prior to that, he was director of operations for Eaglewood Resort & Spa in Itasca, Illinois. He also served as director of food and beverage for Lockheed Martin Center for Leadership Excellence, a Bethesda, Maryland, property managed by Benchmark.
Brush Creek Luxury Ranch Collection in Saratoga, Wyoming, named Catherine West event director. Originally from Wyoming, West served as the property’s event manager from 2018 to 2019. In her new role as event director, she will oversee event operations for the collection’s three ranches: The Lodge & Spa at Brush Creek Ranch; Magee Homestead, a Relais & Châteaux property; and French Creek Sportsmen’s Club, as well as assist in managing events at The Farm at Brush Creek. West returns to Brush Creek Ranch after spending a year with Parthenon Management Group where she converted all in-person conferences to virtual learning conferences for more than 1,200 attendees. Prior to that, she spent six years at JW Marriott Starr Pass in Tucson, Arizona.