Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts named Marc Speichert executive vice president and chief commercial officer. In this newly created role, Speichert oversees the development and execution of the company’s integrated commercial strategy with a mandate that includes the identification of new products and markets; revenue growth across the company; brand marketing, global public relations and social media; data analytics, market insights and customer engagement; the brand’s digital ecosystem; and global distribution and worldwide reservations.
“[Speichert] is an outstanding marketer and strategic business builder — a digital innovator with a global outlook who understands the evolving needs of the luxury consumer,” said John Davison, president and chief executive officer, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.
Prior to joining Four Seasons, Speichert spent four years as global chief digital officer at GSK Consumer Healthcare, where he led the digital transformation of its marketing functions, and more recently added supply chain, research and development, and the company’s broader marketing transformation to his scope of work. Before that, he was a senior executive at Google on its global clients and agency solutions team, and the first chief marketing officer at L’Oreal. He currently serves as chairman of MMA Global’s chief digital officer board and sits on the advisory board of Glasswing Ventures, a VC fund focused on funding entrepreneurs working with AI and frontier technologies.
Heather Anderson joined Hood River Hotel and Bend’s Campfire Hotel in Oregon as director of sales and business development. Anderson spent more than eight years as Travel Portland’s international tourism manager for the Americas, Oceania and Germany, and more than four years as tourism sales manager for the Washington County Visitors Association.
Rosewood Miramar Beach in Montecito, California, appointed Yannick Augy director of food and beverage. Augy was director of food and beverage at Virgin Hotels Dallas, and prior to that, held positions at Hakkasan Group in Las Vegas, including director of learning and development and restaurant operations U.S., as well as earlier roles with MGM Grand Hotel & Casino. Augy is also the food and beverage chair on Forbes Travel Guide’s Standards Advisory Committee.
The Aertson Hotel and Henley in Nashville, Tennessee, appointed Kristin Beringson executive chef. Beringson recently served as executive chef of Ellington’s Mid Way Bar & Grill inside The Fairlane Hotel in Nashville. Earlier positions of Beringson’s include chef de cuisine at The Green Pheasant, a Japanese fusion concept, and executive chef of City Winery, both in Nashville.
Huazhu Group Limited chose Hui Chen as its chief financial officer, following the resignation of Teo Nee Chaun, effective May 10, 2021. Chen, who has extensive financial management expertise in the travel and hotel industries in China, has served as the company’s chief compliance officer since February 2020. Prior to her time at Huazhu, she was chief financial officer of Cjia Group Limited, a Huazhu affiliate company providing apartment services, from March 2018 to February 2020. Huazhu Group Limited’s Dong Li, chief accounting officer, and Fei Ye, vice president of strategic investment and capital market, will serve as deputy chief financial officers of the company. Li has been Huazhu’s chief accounting officer since June 2020 and chief financial officer of Huazhu China Region since December 2020. Fei Ye has served as Huazhu’s vice president of strategic investment and capital market since March 2016. She is in charge of Huazhu’s investment and portfolio management globally.
Summit Hotel Properties named William Conkling executive vice president and chief financial officer. Most recently, Conkling was managing director in the real estate, gaming and lodging investment banking group for Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Prior to his time there, he was with the investment banking unit of Bear, Stearns & Co. Earlier, he worked in asset management for Host Hotels & Resorts.
Civana Wellness Resort & Spa in Carefree, Arizona, named Camila Frederico general manager. Formerly, Frederico was hotel manager at The Westin St. Francis. Prior to that, she spent several years as director of operations for W San Francisco, and worked at both The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, California, and The Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix.
The Resorts & Residences by CuisinArt, Anguilla, appointed Portia Holt director of marketing and communications; Stephanie Henzel spa director; Brent Brady director of finance; Christian Moreno director of revenue management and reservations; Darren Lopez director of security; James Rochester assistant director of security; Roberto Fernandez director of engineering; Vanroy Hodge assistant director of engineering; and Natasha Richardson front of house manager.
Kirkwood Collection welcomed Kenan Jones as its vice president of operations. Kenan joined Kirkwood after his latest role as opening general manager of The Hoxton, Los Angeles. Previously, he held general manager positions at Ace Hotel & Theater in Los Angeles and The Standard Hotel in New York City.
Opening this October in the Raa Atoll, Maldives, Cora Cora Maldives appointed Anna Karaseva director of sales and marketing. Karaseva joined the team from Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Maldives where she was sales and marketing executive and sales coordinator. Before that, Karaseva worked at Nikki Beach Resort & Spa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and at InterContinental Carlton in Cannes, France. The resort also chose Umberto Piccolini as culinary director. Piccolini has deep experience in the Maldives, having worked with brands including Four Seasons Maldives, Anantara Maldives and most recently, Crossroads Maldives. He has also gained experience in Dubai, Qatar, Thailand and Sri Lanka.
Hotel Amarano in Burbank, California, appointed Peter Kolla general manager. Kolla joined Hotel Amarano from Crescent Hotels and Resorts where he was general manager of The Mayfair Hotel in Los Angeles. Over the course of his career, Kolla has held leadership roles in the Los Angeles area, including director of operations at Four Points LAX, associate director of Hospitality at University of Southern California, and general manager of Tower Bar at The Sunset Tower Hotel.
Benchmark promoted Claire Lieberman to vice president of business development. Lieberman joined Benchmark in February 2020 as senior director of business development, bringing with her nearly a decade of hotel management, investment, acquisition and development experience. Prior to Benchmark, she was senior director of development for Red Lion Hotel Corporation in Denver.
The recently reopened Dominick Hotel in New York City appointed Justine McCleery general manager. McCleery has been with the hotel for more than seven years, starting as director of training and quality, a role in which she was responsible for training more than 300 hotel associates and 40 managers. She also worked as director of operations and was promoted to hotel manager.
Siyam World, Maldives, schedule to open fourth quarter 2021, named Tom McLoughlin general manager. McLoughlin began his hospitality career with brands including Accor and Hilton International and has more than two decades’ experience working in the Maldives.
Adero Scottsdale, an Autograph Collection hotel in Scottsdale, Arizona, appointed Chantelle Nikkel director of sales and marketing. Nikkel has helmed local and regional sales and marketing teams in six major metros throughout her career. Prior to joining Adero Scottsdale, she was director of sales and marketing for The Camby in Phoenix.
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) appointed Liz Ortiguera chief executive officer, effective May 17, 2021. Ortiguera’s 25 years of global experience spans several industries, including travel/lifestyle, technology, financial services and pharmaceuticals. She has worked at both multinational corporations including American Express and Merck, and in start-up environment. She spent 10 years as general manager for Amex’s Travel Partner Network in Asia-Pacific.
The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort selected Pedro Samper as executive chef. From San Sebastian, Spain, Samper gained experience working in some of Spain’s Michelin-starred restaurants, including Martin Berasategui, Quique Dacosta and Kokotxa. He then served as executive chef at Paradores Resort in Valencia, Spain.
Grassy Flats Resort & Beach Club along with The Lagoon on Grassy Key in Marathon, Florida, named Karen Thurman general manager. Thurman, a Florida Keys resident of more than 30 years, previously served as area director of operations for Spottswood Companies, where she oversaw operations for the Faro Blanco Resort & Yacht Club, Faro Blanco Marina and the Lighthouse Grill, as well as Holiday Inn Express, Tarpon Creek Marina and Tiki Restaurant.
The newly built Cambria Hotel Washington, D.C. Capitol Riverfront named Elif Sen general manager; Jenny Keuleman director of sales and marketing; Henry Dudley director of food and beverage operations; Magdalena Zalejska food and beverage manager; and Candy Hernandez executive housekeeper.
Hotel Du Pont in Wilmington, Delaware restructured its sales and marketing department, naming Anthony Stagliano Jr. director of sales, Merella Merulla director of group sales and Elaine Leies business development manager. Stagliano joined Hotel Du Pont from The Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia where he was director of group, catering and transient sales. Merulla has more than two decades of experience at Hotel Du Pont and has developed longstanding relationships and expertise across sales disciplines, including Wilmington’s extensive legal business. Leies, who joined Hotel Du Pont in February, has expertise in corporate and association meetings, retreats and incentive experiences.
Brandon Veitch is executive chef for the Goldmoor Inn in Galena, Illinois. Veitch has more than 12 years of culinary experience, including his most recent role as chef de cuisine for The Lobby at The Peninsula Chicago. Veitch has cooked at restaurants in Colorado and Chicago, including serving on the opening teams at Travelle in the Langham Chicago and Filini in Chicago’s Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel.
Opening this spring, Pendry Chicago appointed five members of its leadership team: James Winning is director of sales and marketing; Mario Orrico Jr. is director of engineering; Christine Wilsek is director of human resources; Erik DeBeukelaer is director of finance; and Jeremy Bratton is director of operations. Winning has a decade of experience, most recently with Fairmont Chicago. Prior to joining Pendry Chicago, Orrico was with the St. Jane Chicago and Sofitel Water Tower Hotel in Chicago. Wilsek was director of human resources for The Langham, New York, with regional responsibilities for all U.S. and Canada hotels, while DeBeukelaer was director of finance at the St. Jane Chicago. Bratton previously worked at Pendry’s Baltimore property and prior to that, oversaw operations at resorts and brands on the East Coast, including Sea Island Resorts, Lowrey Group and Live Nation.