Shanghai, China-based Urban Resort Concepts appointed Mark DeCocinis chief executive officer, charged with leading the next phase of the company’s growth and development of ultra-luxury destination properties, including The PuLi, Shanghai, PuXuan in Beijing, China, and RuMa in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“My priority is to collaborate in alignment with our owners, colleagues and partners, focusing on continued growth and business performance of the Urban Resort Concepts portfolio at a critical time in our industry,” DeCocinis said. “We will set new expectation levels in the ultra-luxury hospitality segment with experiences unique to each of the destinations with a deep culture of service and guest experiences recognizable as an Urban Resort Concepts benchmark.”
DeCocinis has more than 35 years of leadership experience in luxury hospitality. He served as president and chief operations officer of One&Only Resorts, leading its strategic development and operational performance in nine countries. Prior to One&Only Resorts, DeCocinis was executive vice president of Shangri-La International, overseeing global operations and development. He joined The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company in its foundation years, holding leadership positions in the U.S. and Asia for more than two decades. In his most recent role as regional vice president, Asia Pacific, he was responsible for the overall leadership of Ritz-Carlton in the region. DeCocinis increased the portfolio from six to 20 hotels, including opening Asia’s first Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Bulgari and Edition properties.
Bellyard, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel opening in Atlanta this spring, appointed Brendan Abraham general manager and Tara Warshaw director of sales and marketing. Abraham most recently was dual general manager of Hilton Garden Inn & Homewood Suites in Atlanta, as well as acting as the task force general manager for DoubleTree. He managed the Renaissance Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Airport Marriott, and helped open properties including the Westin Cleveland, The Logan in Philadelphia and The Darcy in Washington, D.C. Warshaw previously led sales and communication tactics as director of sales and marketing at Waldorf Astoria Atlanta Buckhead and Mandarin Oriental Atlanta. Before relocating to Atlanta, she drove revenue and marketing tactics for hotels including Bellagio, The Mirage, Vdara Hotel & Spa and Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
Hotel Equities appointed Syed Ali vice president of food and beverage, entertainment operations. Ali brings 25 years’ experience to the role. He most recently was with Fat Brands where he oversaw the beverage portfolio for 65 restaurants across nine states. Prior to that, he directed food and beverage for Fontainebleau Miami Beach, Florida, and facilitated multiple restaurant openings across Atlanta, Cleveland and South Florida markets.
Anthony Berkau is general manager for Willows Lodge, a Gemstone Collection property in Woodinville, Washington. Berkau has two decades of experiences and previously was Willows Lodge’s lodge manager. Before that, he was director of food and beverage after originally joining the property as its wine director.
Scott Broder joined Dreamscape Companies as executive vice president, head of hospitality investments, acquisitions and capital markets. Prior to this appointment, Broder was head of hotel investments at The Witkoff Group where he oversaw hotel acquisitions, dispositions and asset management. Before Witkoff, Broder was director of acquisitions at Sunstone Hotel Investors. During his career, Broder has completed more than US$2 billion in hotel transactions, including the acquisitions of Boston Park Plaza, Hyatt Regency San Francisco and the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa in Wailea, Hawaii.
Nicholas Issel is executive chef at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise in Alberta, Canada. Issel brings more than 25 years of experience to Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and has contributed to seven restaurant openings. He has worked as chef de cuisine at the Shangri-La Hotel in Cairns, Australia, and then in Vancouver, Canada. Following that, Issel was executive sous chef for a Shangri-La property in Singapore before becoming executive chef at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Manila, Philippines. Later, he joined the JW Marriott Parq and Douglas Autograph Collection hotels in Vancouver.
Rachel Jacobs is executive chef/director of food and beverage of the newly renovated Snow King Resort in Jackson, Wyoming. Before joining Snow King Resort, Jacobs was executive chef for Concord Hotels Hilton Doubletree in San Diego, and prior to that was executive sous chef for the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club in La Jolla, California. Jacobs has held many culinary positions in San Diego and Key West, Florida.
The Banneker, a luxury boutique hotel opening this May in Washington, D.C., named James Lee director of food and beverage. Before his appointment, Lee was director of food and beverage at The Graham Georgetown in Washington, D.C. Before that, he was assistant director of food and beverage for DoubleTree by Hilton in Tysons Corner, Virginia, and was also general manager at a Japanese restaurant in Arlington, Virginia.
Fenway Hotel in Dunedin, Florida, appointed Michael Melendez general manager. Melendez most recently was general manager of The Daytona, Autograph Collection, in Daytona Beach, Florida. Prior to that, he worked with the Shaner Hotel Group, serving as general manager to several properties, including Courtyard Jacksonville Beach Oceanfront in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, Durham Marriott City Center in Durham, North Carolina, and others.
Starwood Capital Group hired Jared Melnik as managing director and head of hotel acquisitions for the Americas. Melnik joined Starwood Capital after 15 years at KSL Capital Partners, a travel and leisure-focused investment manager, where he most recently was principal and member of the Investment Committee. In that role, he oversaw equity and debt investments in both hotels and leisure operating companies. Melnik implemented investment strategy and opportunity sourcing and partnered with portfolio company management to drive operational improvement. Prior to KSL, Melnik was an investment banker at Merrill Lynch.
Velaa Private Island Maldives appointed Wayne Milgate general manager. Prior to joining Velaa Private Island, Milgate was chief executive officer for Iniala Hotels and Resorts, as well as general manager at Iniala Beach House in Khok Kloi, Thailand, for six years. He also brings to his new role a wealth of luxury private island experience, having served as general manager to North Island, Seychelles in 2013 before a six-year tenure at Vomo Island, Fiji.
Getaway named Deslyn Norris its first chief people officer. Based in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, Norris has more than 20 years of experience in human resources. Prior to joining Getaway, Norris was chief people officer at Fitness Connection USA, vice president of human resources at Topgolf and manager of talent management at GameStop.
Garden of the Gods Resort and Club in Colorado Springs, Colorado, promoted Denise Perkins to director of sales and marketing after serving as its director of marketing for the past year and a half. Prior to joining Garden of the Gods Resort and Club, Perkins was director of sales and marketing for Noble House Hotels & Resorts in Napa, California. She’s also held senior hospitality sales and marketing executive roles at Red Mountain Resort and Spa in St. George, Utah; the Mandalay Resort Group Las Vegas; and was vice president of marketing and sales at the Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas.
Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, welcomed Adriaan Radder as general manager. Radder joined the property from his most recent position as general manager for Mandarin Oriental in Washington, D.C. His previous experience in hospitality and luxury hotels encompasses roles as senior vice president and general manager of One&Only Ocean Club in the Bahamas, and vice president and area general manager for Ritz-Carlton Hotels of Washington, D.C.
Amara Cay Resort in Islamorada, Florida, named Chris Smilgin executive chef, overseeing all culinary aspects of the resort, including its new restaurant, Reel Catch. Before joining Amara Cay Resort, Smilgin held various culinary director positions at properties including Ocala National Golf Club in Ocala, Florida; Key Largo Fisheries in Key Largo, Florida; and Black Diamond Ranch in Lecanto, Florida.
Le Méridien Pasadena Arcadia, opening May 25, 2021, in Arcadia, California, appointed Dan Zwirn general manager. Zwirn most recently oversaw the opening of the Tryp Hotel in Pittsburgh, a luxury boutique property. Prior to that, he held leadership roles in hotels across the U.S., including general manager at Le Méridien Philadelphia and opening general manager at The Westin Wilmington in Wilmington, Delaware.