Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts appointed five general managers for its properties on Egypt’s Red Sea coast. In Hurghada, Mandy Merks became general manager of Steigenberger Pure Lifestyle, Michael Nassiri joined Steigenberger Aldau Beach Hotel and Patric Loeser became director of the Steigenberger Aqua Magic. Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts chose Mohamed Elsayed and Ahmed Mahmoud for general manager roles at Steigenberger Alcazar Resort on the Sinai Peninsula and Steigenberger Coraya Beach in Marsa Alam, respectively.
“We are very much looking forward to working with Ms. Merks, Mr. Nassiri, Mr. Loeser, Mr. Elsayed and Mr. Mahmoud,” said Kai Gehrmann, vice president franchise, Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts. “All five are highly experienced leaders and passionate hosts. They have country-specific knowledge and identify with our quality commitment. This is precisely the profile we are seeking for executive management at our Egyptian hotels.”
Before her recent appointment, Merks was hotel manager of the Tui Blue Makadi and the Tui Blue Makadi Gardens in Makadi Bay, Egypt. Prior to his new role, Nassiri was resident and hotel manager at various Adaaran Hotels & Resorts in the Maldives. Loeser’s has served as cluster general hotel manager in Cuba and Jamaica, and general manager in Cancun, Mexico. Elsayed headed the Steigenberger Makadi Hotel, the Jaz Almaza Beach Resort in Mersa Matruh, Egypt, and the Beau Rivage Hotel Aqaba, Jordan, while Mahmoud has deep experience in the Egyptian market after working at numerous hotels in the country, including in his most recent hotel manager role at the Jaz Grand Resort in Marsa Alam.
Marin Management, Inc. named Kimberly Ali vice president of business development. Prior to her new appointment, Ali was with Empire USA where she served as asset manager of hospitality for the company’s hotel division. She has broad expertise in hospitality asset management, including responsibility for capital improvement projects, renovations and financial performance.
American Hotel Income Properties named Travis Beatty chief financial officer, effective June 7, 2021. Beatty previously was the chief financial officer of Northview Apartment, a Canadian group focused on owning and managing multi-family residential units. Prior to his time at Northview, Beatty spent many years at OPTI Canada, an energy infrastructure company. As its chief financial officer, Beatty oversaw OPTI’s 2011 sale for US$2.1 billion.
The Katharine Brasserie & Bar in The Kimpton Cardinal Hotel in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, promoted Eric Brownlee to executive chef. Brownlee, who grew up working on his grandfather’s farm in Pennsylvania, served as executive chef of String & Splinter Club in High Point, North Carolina, before becoming corporate executive chef for the Blue Plate Restaurant Group. In 2019, he joined The Katharine as executive sous chef.
EOS Investors welcomed Dan Bienstock as chief people officer. Bienstock recently held dual roles as senior vice president and chief people officer at Sydell Group. Before Sydell Group, he was director of compensation and benefits at Standard International.
Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech, Morocco, appointed Chadi Chemaly general manager. Chemaly has more than 17 years of international hospitality experience at brands including Luxury Collection with Starwood, InterContinental, Rosewood, Fairmont and Raffles. In his latest post, he was hotel manager at Raffles Hotel Singapore.
Inn at the Mission San Juan Capistrano, an Autograph Collection Hotel in San Juan Capistrano, California, named Fernanda Jaime director of event planning and operations, and Rod Gopiao director of food and beverage. Jaime was director of sales and catering at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara, California. Previously, she served as director of weddings and social events at The Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Coast, California. Before his new appointment, Gopiao was director of food and beverage at Omni Nashville Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, and director of event management at Los Angeles Airport Marriott. He began his career in banquet operations and continued to work in sales, convention services, and food and beverage teams for various Omni Hotels & Resorts and Marriott International properties.
Paula McColgan is director of sales and marketing at The Goring, London. McColgan most recently was director of sales and marketing at The Carlton Tower Jumeirah and Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel, London, ahead of their June 2021 relaunch. Prior to that, McColgan led the sales and marketing team at Kimpton Fitzroy London. From 2004 to 2016, she was director of sales and marketing at the Lanesborough in London, repositioning and relaunching the hotel in 2015 under the hotel’s new management company, Oetker Collection.
The St. Regis Deer Valley in Park City, Utah, appointed Tyler Mugford general manager. Mugford arrived at the property from Goldener Hirsch, a luxury boutique hotel and residential project in Park City where he completed the expansion of luxury residences in Silver Lake Village. Prior to Goldener Hirsch, Mugford was resort manager and assistant director of operations at the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa in Beaver Creek, Colorado.
Hotel Esencia in Quintana Roo, Mexico, appointed Sean Murphy general manager. Murphy previously served as the front office manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, in Dana Point, California. During his eight years at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, Murphy worked through different roles, gaining experience with the property’s operational aspects as well as driving revenue across all channels.
Interval International appointed Alexis Ralph vice president, business development for Latin America. Before joining Interval, Ralph was vice president of development for Mexico, Central America and Cuba at Accor Hotels. During his tenure with Accor, he held positions of increasing responsibility and led many of the company’s growth initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean. His past experience also includes roles with Horwath HTL and Grupo Financiero Banorte in Mexico.
Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort in Wailea, Hawaii, named Hillary Sandbach director of marketing. Sandbach has more than a decade of experience in hotel marketing within the luxury Hawaii space. Most recently, she was director of marketing with Hyatt, Hawaiian Islands, and prior to that, digital marketing manager at Four Seasons Resort Maui and Wailea.
Karen Sheldon is director of sales at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara, California. Sheldon’s hospitality career started with Westin Hotels and Resorts, where she worked in the Westin global sales office, opening the Westin SFO Airport in San Francisco before joining the Mauna Key Beach Hotel in Waimea, Hawaii. She spent 27 years leading The Ritz-Carlton global sales team as the company grew from 11 hotels to more than 100.
Adam Snow is executive vice president, strategy and analytics at Aimbridge Hospitality. Snow joined Aimbridge after serving in dual roles at IHOP as vice president, head of Dine Brands corporate strategy and vice president, strategy and analytics, where he led strategy, advanced analytics, business reporting and forecasting for IHOP and Dine Brands overall. Prior to that, he was director of strategy for Downtown Disney’s corporate alliances and gift cards.