Accor appointed Mark Purcell senior vice president, development, North and Central America. Purcell has contributed to Accor’s growth since joining the company in 2017. In his new role, he leads the development team into a year focused on strategic growth and hotel openings across North and Central America.
Over the course of his 12-year tenure at Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Purcell led the negotiation of more than 100 management and franchise agreements, adding more than 30,000 rooms to the group’s portfolio, including transactions such as The Westin Denver International Airport and the W and Element Philadelphia. Earlier in his career, he played a key role in numerous mergers and acquisitions during his nearly two decades at Interstate Hotels & Resorts.
“We are thrilled to have [Purcell] leading the development team in an integral year for Accor as we continue to place a significant focus on our growth across North and Central America,” said Heather McCrory, Accor’s chief executive officer, North and Central America. “[Purcell’s] strategic vision and drive, his expertise in the market and his keen understanding of Accor’s value proposition have uniquely positioned him to lead the charge in the growth of our portfolio, reinforcing our strength in the region.”
Omni Hotels & Resorts appointed Mary Bennett vice president of marketing and digital strategy. Bennett most recently was vice president, brand, marketing and digital at Marriott International where she built the field marketing organization and operating model from the ground up to support 30 brands and thousands of managed and franchised hotels in America. She also worked at Viceroy Hotel Group leading digital and commercial partnerships and at The Ritz-Carlton as lead of e-commerce and digital marketing.
Jelena Bojanic is general manager at A by Adina Canberra Hotel in Canberra, Australia. Bojanic started her career with TFE Hotels flagship Adina brand in Australia, starting in reception at Adina Apartment Hotel Wollongong before moving on to roles including assistant hotel manager at Adina Apartment Hotel Sydney Airport, as well as serving as relief assistant hotel manager at Adina Sydney Central, The Calile Hotel in Brisbane and Hotel Kurrajong Canberra where she assisted in crisis management during the Australian bushfires and COVID-19 pandemic.
City Lodge Hotel Group appointed Trevor Boyd to the newly created positions of general manager, food and beverage. Boyd started his career as a chef on South Africa’s Rovos Rail, eventually joining Fedics at Country Club Johannesburg, South Africa, as chef de partie then sous chef, followed by head chef at the Country Club’s Woodmead clubhouse. He then joined South Africa’s Carnival City where he was appointed executive chef in charge of all of the food and beverage outlets and catering. He went on to hold numerous positions at South African properties and launched Salon de Culinaire and Schweet Emporium before returning to the kitchen as executive chef of the InterContinental O.R. Tambo Airport in Johannesburg. He joined Johannesburg’s Michelangelo Hotel in 2015, overseeing all aspects of the kitchen.
Grand Hyatt Vail in Vail, Colorado, appointed Danielle Boyles director of sales and marketing. Before joining the Grand Hyatt Vail team, Boyles spent several years in various sales and marketing executive positions across groups including ConferenceDirect as chief sales officer, Hyatt Hotels as opening director of sales and marketing, HelmsBriscoe as vice president and Fairmont Hotels and Resorts in the Canadian Rockies as director of sales and marketing.
Leslie Chiyoma is general manager of Grand Park Otaru in Otaru, Japan. Chiyoma has more than 20 years of hospitality experience across multiple functions and leadership positions. He oversaw the development of a new resort and operated a new hotel in Niseko, Japan. Chiyoma spent nearly a decade as a hotel performance consultant providing analysis and guidance to improve revenue and cost for 38 hotels across the world.
Montage International appointed Liam Doyle senior vice president, operations. Bringing with him more than two decades of hotel management experience, Doyle joined Montage International from Marriott Luxury, where he most recently served as area vice president of the western region’s collection of luxury brands. Previously, he spent two years as area general manager of the same collection and prior to that, 12 years as a general manager, first at The Shelbourne Dublin, An Autograph Collection Hotel, then at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain in Marana, Arizona. He started his career in Ireland before earning a scholarship to the U.S. where he spent a decade with Hilton Hotels in New York and Atlanta.
HRI Lodging appointed Andrew Dryden general manager and Christopher Toy director of sales for Hilton Garden Inn Austin University Capitol District, opening this summer in Austin, Texas. Dryden most recently worked at the HRI Lodging-managed Aloft Philadelphia Downtown where he supported the hotel’s opening as assistant general manager before being promoted to hotel manager. Prior to that, he was director of guest services at the Hilton Philadelphia City Avenue following his role as front office manager at The Rittenhouse Hotel in Philadelphia. Toy most recently was director of sales and marketing overseeing The Ruby Hotel in Round Rock, Texas, and 7A Ranch in Wimberly, Texas. Prior to that, Toy was in the downtown Austin market with the Hilton Garden Inn Austin Downtown Convention Center and the Embassy Suites Austin Arboretum where he served as the director of sales and marketing.
Holston House, a boutique hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, appointed Shannon Foster area vice president and general manager and Daniel Wride chef de cuisine. In her new role, Foster also supports the HRI Portfolio of Hyatt Unbound Collection hotels in New Orleans and St. Louis. Before joining Holston House, Foster was corporate director of operations for Davidson Hospitality Group. She’s also held senior leadership positions with Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Fairmont Hotels, Sage Hospitality Group and Noelle Nashville. Wride previously served as sous chef at Tenn, Holston Houses’ signature restaurant. Prior to joining Holston House, Wride was sous chef at Barcelona Wine Bar in Nashville.
The St. Regis Bora Bora in French Polynesia appointed Thais Magri director of sales and marketing. Magri joined the property in 2015 as associate director of sales, Americas. She started her career with an internship at the Renaissance São Paulo, Brazil. Soon after, she joined L’Auberge Del Mar in Del Mar, California, as front desk supervisor before being promoted to reservations manager. She returned to Marriott to work at The St. Regis Punta Mita in Punta de Mita, Mexico, as senior sales manager before joining The St. Regis Bora Bora.
Island Hospitality Management named Michelle Marlowe senior vice president of accounting. Marlowe has three decades of experience. Prior to joining Island Hospitality, she spent 10 years as controller of Chatham Lodging Trust and was promoted to the group’s vice president in 2016.
Dream Hotel Group appointed Marc Marrone culinary consultant at the Dream Hotel & Residences in Doha, Qatar, opening early 2022. Marrone spent 20 years with Tao Group, eventually working his way up to West Coast corporate executive chef in 2010. He left Tao Group in 2018 and the following year, launched three of his own original concepts, Graffiti Bao and Gemma Gemma Pizza in Las Vegas, and HallPass food hall in Salt Lake City, with plans to expand these concepts nationwide, along with his other restaurant brands SkinnyFats and Italian Graffiti.
Brian Quinn is Sonesta Franchising’s chief development officer. Quinn brings more than 20 years of senior development and sales management experience to Sonesta, including nearly three years as chief franchise sales officer at Red Lion. He is a frequent industry speaker and is active in many industry and civic organizations, including in his current role as board member of the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board.
The soon-to-open Le Méridien Arcadia Pasadena in Pasadena, California, appointed Makoto Tanaka executive chef in charge of the opening of the property’s Mélange restaurant. In his career, Tanaka worked at Spago by Wolfgang Puck and later opened his own restaurant, Mako, in Beverly Hills, California, followed by Robataya in West Los Angeles and Jujuya in Palos Verdes Estates, California. Most recently, Tanaka served as a consultant for various restaurant groups and handled private catering for parties and events across Los Angeles.
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts appointed Jean-François Vary general manager of Fairmont Waterfront in Vancouver, Canada. Vary joined the team following his most recent role as general manager of Fairmont Winnipeg, Canada. Prior to his time at Fairmont Winnipeg, Vary held progressive leadership roles throughout Fairmont properties across North America. In 2018, he sat on the Fairmont Brand Committee to support the brand’s global team with the development of Fairmont’s future programming initiatives.
Wild Dunes Resort, a Destination by Hyatt hotel in Isle of Palms, South Carolina, appointed Robb Walker managing director. Walker most recently was chief operating officer of Catalina Island Company in Avalon, California. With 30 years of experience, Walker has served in multiple senior level roles during his career, including senior vice president of operations with Silverbirch Hotels and Resorts, and chief operating officer of Pacific Hospitality Group.
Virtuoso appointed Mary Beth Wressell vice president, product marketing, a newly created role for the company. Wressell has more than 25 years of travel industry experience, including a previous six-year run with Virtuoso. Before rejoining the organization, Wressell was vice president, marketing and public relations for Windstar Cruises. She also spent 13 years as vice president, marketing communications for Holland America Line.