Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group appointed Joanna Flint chief commercial officer, a newly created role in which Flint oversees the development and execution of the group’s commercial strategy while also taking executive responsibility for all aspects of Mandarin Oriental’s customer experience. Flint will also assume the responsibilities of Jill Kluge, chief marketing officer, who retires from Mandarin Oriental in September 2021.
Prior to joining Mandarin Oriental, Joanna spent 12 years at Google in general management and sales leadership roles, most recently as managing director, global partner business, responsible for industry go-to-market and commercialization for Google’s media and technology partners in Asia Pacific. Before her time at Google, Flint was principal consultant at Ogilvy Asia Pacific. She also spent a decade in the travel industry leading global e-commerce, CRM and customer service transformation programs for Singapore Airlines and British Airways.
We are delighted to welcome [Flint] to Mandarin Oriental,” said James Riley, group chief executive. “Her global leadership skills, digital expertise and understanding of customer behavior will strengthen our ability to innovate and enhance our position as a leader in the luxury market.”
The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa Avon, Vail Valley in Avon, Colorado, named Elizabeth Burks catering sales and events manager. With more than 14 years of industry experience, Burks joined the property from the Four Seasons Resort & Residences Vail, Colorado. She’s also previously held conference services positions at the Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta, The St. Regis Atlanta, The Westin Peachtree Plaza Atlanta, the W Atlanta Downtown and Crowne Plaza Atlanta Airport.
Snake River Sporting Club, a resort and residential community in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, appointed Chuck Greenwald director of hospitality and welcomed Sandy Beall to its leadership team. Over the past two decades, Greenwald has held several key management roles in operations, guest relations and multi-channel marketing at properties throughout the U.S. Most recently, he was general manager of Glorietta Trattoria, an elevated contemporary Italian restaurant in Jackson, Wyoming. Beall’s career accomplishments include founder of Ruby Tuesday and chairman and co-founder of Blackberry Farm in Walland, Tennessee. Additionally, Tori Arzt joined the property as executive chef. Arzt was previously with King Salmon Lodge in Alaska as the sole chef responsible for preparing a la carte dinners for up to 50 people each night. Prior to that, she served as executive chef at Glorietta Trattoria and was chef de partie at Bouchon Bistro, a Thomas Keller concept in Yountville, California.
Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa in Montauk, New York, appointed Robert Hamburg executive chef, Kate Killoran food and beverage director, and Lesley Blackburn director of catering and conference services. Hamburg has more than 30 years’ experience in F&B spanning roles at New York restaurants and private clubs, including Sands Point Golf Club, City Winery’s Pier 57 flagship eatery and David Burke & Donatella. Killoran most recently was director of food and beverage at The Dewberry Hotel in Charleston, South Carolina, while Blackburn has hospitality and wedding experience from her time at New York City properties including The Plaza Hotel, Cipriani and The Peninsula New York.
The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, in Fernandina Beach, Florida, appointed Okan Kizilbayir chef d’ cuisine of Salt restaurant. Kizilbayir previously served as sous chef at Michelin-three-starred Le Bernadin in New York City, led by Eric Ripert. Before joining Le Bernadin, Kizilbayir was Ripert’s sous chef at Blue by Eric Ripert at The Ritz-Calrton, Grand Cayman.
The Eliza Jane, a luxury boutique hotel in the Unbound Collection by Hyatt in New Orleans appointed Ellen LeMaire general manager. LeMaire has more than 20 years of executive leadership in hospitality management, most recently as opening general manager for the NOPSI Hotel in New Orleans. Prior to that, LeMaire was general manager of The Lodge and Spa at Cordillera in Edwards, Colorado. She has worked with Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Kessler Collection, Loews Hotels and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.
McKibbon Hospitality appointed Weejen Lynch vice president of engineering, Jihad Lofti vice president of revenue management and Kiel Lombardo director of food and beverage for Lifestyle Hotels. Lynch most recently was owner and chief executive officer of Lynchpin Consulting Group, and before that was vice president of engineering and process improvement for Bluegreen Vacations in Orlando, Florida. Lofti joined McKibbon Hospitality from Hotel Equities where he was regional director of revenue management, supporting the revenue management and marketing strategies of more than 30 hotels. Before stepping into his new role, Lombardo was executive chef at Luminary Hotel & Co. in Fort Myers, Florida. Prior to his time in Fort Myers, he was based in Tampa where he launched RL Hospitality Consulting.
Vishen Mootoo is director of sales and marketing at Cora Cora Maldives, opening October 1, 2021, in the Raa Atoll, Maldives. Born and raised in Mauritius, Mootoo has worked around the globe, including with Sun Siyam Resorts, Varu by Atmosphere, Tour East by JTB, The Small Maldives Island Co (Amilla Fushi and Finolhu) and Centara Hotels and Resorts, among others.
Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa in Manalapan, Florida, named Joseph Oesterwind chef de cuisine for Angle, the resort’s modern American restaurant. Oesterwind previously worked for The Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach (Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa) beginning as a cook before working his way up the ranks to chef de partie. He then took on the role of p.m. sous chef at Eau’s sister restaurant, Temple Orange, which operates a 24-hour kitchen.
Aimbridge Hospitality has selected Andrew Rubinacci as executive vice president of its Revenue Strategy division, effective immediately. Rubinacci will be instrumental in shaping the company’s revenue strategy initiatives while capitalizing on big data, innovation, and Aimbridge’s talent within its revenue group to drive market share gains for the Aimbridge portfolio. Rubinacci, a 25-year veteran of the hospitality industry, most recently served as executive vice president and chief commercial officer of Omni Hotels & Resorts.
Rosewood Miramar Beach in Montecito, California, named four new members to its food and beverage team: Justin Sanford is director of outlets; Devin Kennedy is director of bars; Shibani Mone is chef de cuisine; and Yannick Dumonceau is executive pastry chef. Before his new appointment, Sanford was general manager of Bourbon Steak, an American steakhouse in Los Angeles. Kennedy spent the last seven years working in the New York City bar scene where he worked for several standalone cocktail bars, most recently Pouring Ribbons. Mone most recently was interim executive chef at The Guild Hotel, a Marriott Tribute Collection property in San Diego, where she oversaw all F&B teams and the execution of the hotel’s menus. Before joining Rosewood Miramar Beach, Dumonceau was executive pastry chef at Alexander’s Patisserie, a pastry shop in Mountain View, California.
Stonehill made several leadership appointments to support its growing Stonehill Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) lending platform. The commercial PACE-focused unit has extended its leadership role by financing commercial loans to companies involved in renewable energy, energy-efficient components and seismic retrofitting. Stonehill promoted Jared Schlosser to senior vice president and head of Stonehill PACE, Lisa Nordel to vice president of operations and Allison Neary to senior analyst. Stonehill PACE recently hired Gabrielle Arieno and Robert Loeb as business development associates, and Jadeh Quick as a senior asset management analyst.
Hotel Emma at Pearl in San Antonio named Beth Ticku Smith chief marketing officer. Ticku Smith joined the property as vice president of marketing and part of the pre-opening team in 2014. Over her 30 years in the industry, she has worked with independent hotels, restaurants and spas including San Antonio’s La Mansion del Rio and Omni Mokara Hotel, and launched her own hospitality consulting firm.
Opening this June, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands named Nishantha Parana Vithanaga executive chef. He has more than 30 years of experience in luxury brands including One&Only, Jumeirah and Hilton Group in the Middle East and Asia and has trained under celebrity and Michelin-starred chefs.
Bellyard, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel in West Midtown, Atlanta, appointed Christina Wai executive chef for Drawbar. Before her appointment, Wai was with Rowdy Tiger Whiskey Bar & Kitchen at Renaissance Hotel Atlanta, where she led the restaurant’s rebrand, developed the culinary talent and created menus. Before that, she drove the culinary programs at Atlanta hotels and restaurants including Crown Plaza Hotel Midtown, Meliá Hotels International, Takorea and Gordon Biersch Brewery.
Pendry Park City in Park City, Utah, appointed Richard Wales general manager ahead of its winter 2021 opening. Wales has more than 20 years of global hospitality experience, including nearly a decade with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company where he worked at properties in United Arab Emirates, Boston, Puerto Rico, Florida and more.