Dorchester Collection, London, England, has appointed Teresa O’Farrell as global head of wellness and spa. A new leadership position within the company, O’Farrell will report to Eugenio Pirri, Dorchester Collection’s chief culture and operations executive. She will oversee the spa and wellness offering in current and future hotels and be responsible for developing fully integrated global wellness initiatives aligned with each of the brand’s hotels.
O’Farrell joined Dorchester Collection as spa director at Coworth Park in Ascot in 2018, and during her time she has successfully elevated the hotel’s spa offering, focusing on overall wellness and wellbeing. She will be retaining the position alongside her new responsibilities as global head of wellness and spa.
“With more than 25 years’ experience, Teresa is a passionate leader in the industry, and I am delighted to announce her promotion,” Pirri said. “Wellness is a fundamental part of the guest experience, and the introduction of this new leadership role reflects Dorchester Collection’s commitment to a global wellness and spa strategy.”
Malcolm Allan, who had been working as general manager at the AC Hotel by Marriott Hotel in Belfast, Northern Ireland, has been promoted to the role of director of operations and quality.
The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, California, has appointed Ernesto Alvarado as the property’s new executive chef. Alvarado joins the team from Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin, Texas.
Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mashantucket, Connecticut, has appointed Blair Bendel as the new senior vice president of marketing. Bendel previously served as the regional vice president of marketing at Boyd Gaming, Paradise, Nevada.
The St. Regis Washington, D.C., has appointed Kasia Bronisz as the director of sales and marketing. Bronisz was previously at Mandarin Oriental Washington, D.C., as director of sales.
Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Puerto Rico, has appointed Cliff Brutus as the director of sales and marketing. Brutus is joining the hotel from The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas.
The Abbey Resort, Fontana-On-Geneva Lake, Wisconsin, has added two new members to its management team. Nancy Clausen is the new rooms division director and Ashley Van Asten has joined as director of the Avani Spa. Clausen previously worked as director of rooms for the Hilton Milwaukee City Center, Wisconsin, whereas Van Asten was previously GM at the East Side Athletic Club in Portland, Oregon, and spa sales manager at the Montage Resort in Laguna Beach, California.
The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, selected Glen Cooper as executive chef for the resort. Chef Cooper was previously executive chef at The Westin Singapore since 2019.
Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Scottsdale, Arizona, has named Tiffany Cooper as head of development for North America and the Caribbean. Since 2018, she served for Kimpton as senior vice president, development, Americas.
Hilton announced Chintan Dadhich as the new general manager of Lower Manhattan’s Conrad New York Downtown. Dadhich was previously GM at the Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas.
The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, Hawaii, has hired Michael DiFrancesco as director of sales and marketing. DiFrancesco previously served as senior director of sales and marketing for the Autograph Collection since 2019.
O2 Beach Club & Spa, Saint Lawrence Gap, Barbados, named Christopher Eastmond as the resort’s general manager. Most recently, Eastmond served as GM at Belle Mont Farm Resort at Kittitian Hill in St. Kitts.
Kisawa Sanctuary, Benguerra Island, Mozambique, announced two executive appointments: Mathias Gerds as general manager and Silvia Manganaro as director of sales and marketing. Gerds’ brand experience includes the Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts and Kempinski Hotels. Manganaro was previously with the leadership teams at Aman Venice and Il Salviatino in Tuscany, Italy.
Tabacón Thermal Resort and Spa, La Fortuna, Costa Rica, has hired Andrey Gomez as the general manager. Most recently, he was managing director at Islas Secas just off the coast of Panama.
The Alida in Savannah, Georgia, welcomes five new team members to the sales team. Kai Hagen is the new sales manager. He was most recently with the group sales team at Hyatt Regency Savannah. Paula McGirt joins as group reservations manager. She previously gained guest services experience at JW Marriott and Westin Hotels & Resorts. Lucas Winters joins at catering sales manager. He was previously director of banquets t The Brice Hotel in Savannah. Jessica Johnson is the new corporate event manager after serving as event manager for Victory North Savannah. Jessica Wilkes-Berry is the new event manager. She was previously day of wedding coordinator for Love Actually Weddings and the events and weddings manager for Ships of The Sea Maritime Museum, Savannah, Georgia.
Rancho Bernardo Inn, San Diego, California, has appointed Chef Sergio Jimenez as new chef de cuisine of Avant, the resort’s premium culinary destination. This role is a return for Chef Jimenez who first joined the Avant team in 2014 as sous chef.
Outrigger Hospitality Group, Honolulu, Hawaii, announced two operational appointments: Dean Kamiya as executive chef at the brand’s flagship Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort and Mitch Yokoyama as general manager for the Outrigger-managed Hokulani Waikiki by Hilton Grand Vacations. Most recently and since 2007, Kamiya was executive chef at Ala Moana Hotel by Mantra in Honolulu, whereas Yokoyama was interim GM at the Hokulani Waikiki by Hilton Grand Vacations since 2021.
Benchmark, Pyramid Luxury & Lifestyle, The Woodlands, Texas, has named Rick Kinert general manager of Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa in Lake Arrowhead, California. Previously, he was regional vice president of resort operations for Diamond Resorts of Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, Colorado, welcomed Franck Labasse as its new executive pastry chef. He spent the last 10 years in Bordeaux, France, with his pastry shop Franck Labasse Patisserie.
Alila Ventana Big Sur, California, has chosen Zachary Ladwig as its new executive chef. Most recently, Chef Ladwig held roles at Relais & Châteaux properties, Dunton Hot Springs, Colorado, and Inn at Dos Brisas, Washington, Texas.
The Hythe, a Luxury Collection Resort, Vail, and Hotel Clio, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Denver Cherry Creek, Colorado, have chosen Tyler Landers as regional director of leisure sales for both properties. Landers was previously associate director of sales for the Stein Collection, Park City, Utah, and leisure and social sales/on-site reservations manager at Madeline Hotel & Residences, Telluride, Colorado.
Fairmont Century Plaza, Century City, California, has appointed Jan-Peer Lehfeldt as hotel manager. Lehfeldt previously held executive roles at The Savoy, a Fairmont-managed hotel in London; Hamilton Princess Hotel & Beach Club, a Fairmont-managed hotel in Hamilton, Bermuda; and Fairmont Empress in Victoria, Canada.
CoralTree Hospitality, Denver, Colorado, has expanded its East Coast team with the appointment of Steve Migliara as vice president of sales and marketing operations for the eastern region of the United States. He most recently worked for Hyatt as a regional vice president in the company’s new America’s Lifestyle division.
Porto Hotels and Resorts appointed Chef Ayman Moussa as executive chef. Moussa has a diverse culinary background with more than 24 years of experience within the industry working with global hotel chains such as Novotel, Sofitel and Movenpick.
Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Nashville, Tennessee, has chosen Aniello Turco as executive restaurant chef. Chef Turco’s background includes work at Michelin-starred outposts such as Noma in Copenhagen and Mio in Beijing.
Wyndham Destinations, Orlando, Florida, announced 11 appointments from within the company’s resort operations leadership team for the Club Wyndham, WorldMark by Wyndham, Margaritaville Vacation Club, and Shell Vacations Club brands. Jeff Pank, regional vice president of resort operations for the Southern California region has been promoted to regional vice president of resort operations for the California region. Reporting to Pank, Abdul Abou Shadi and Alan Hopkins have been promoted from their roles as general managers to directors of resort operations for Northern and Southern California. Beau Bryan is joining the company as the general manager at Peacock Suites in Anaheim, California. He was previously working at Bluegreen Vacations as resort manager in Williamsburg, Virginia. Racheal Giannecchini has been named general manager at WorldMark San Diego – Mission Valley following her time as general manager at Club Wyndham Harbour Lights, San Diego, California. Blaine Redfern is expanding his role as multi-site general manager at Club Wyndham Harbour Lights, Inn at the Park, and WorldMark San Diego – Balboa Park. Redfern has served in successive general manager roles since his start with Wyndham Destinations in 2003. Adam Ritch has been promoted to multi-site general manager for WorldMark Cathedral City and WorldMark Palm Springs. Ritch joined Wyndham Destinations in 2011 and progressed through the ranks in front-of-house and back-of-house roles throughout Southern California. Jacque Cruce has been appointed as multi-site general manager at WorldMark Rancho Vistoso and Club Wyndham Starr Pass Golf Suites in Arizona. Christina Douglas has been promoted to general manager at Club Wyndham/WorldMark Galena in Illinois. Her was previously assistant general manager for the company in Edisto Island, South Carolina. Todd Koth has been named the general manager at WorldMark Chelan Lake House in Washington. Michael Murray has been appointed as multi-site general manager at Club Wyndham Nashville and Margaritaville Vacation Club by Wyndham – Nashville in Tennessee. Derek Schmidt recently joined the company as general manager at Club Wyndham Resort at Avon in Colorado. Most recently, Schmidt was GM at Sitzmark Lodge, Vail, Colorado.
The Elizabeth Hotel named Carl Pratt as general manager of the Colorado hotel, which is a member of Marriott’s Autograph Collection and managed by Sage Hospitality Group. He joins the hotel from Arizona’s All Seasons Oro Valley, where he was executive director of the senior living community. Sage Hospitality has also appointed Daniel Birnstiehl as director of operations. Birnstiehl rejoins the hotel after a tenure as GM of the Hilton Garden Inn Sioux Falls Downtown, South Dakota.
Pendry Washington DC – The Wharf has chosen Alexander Schnoeller as director of operations and Kate Thompson as director of sales and marketing. Schnoeller most recently worked as director of food and beverage at both JW Marriott in Nashville, Tennessee, and Nobu Hospitality, Eden Rock, Miami Florida.
Kimpton Nine Zero has hired Brian Smith as the hotel’s general manager. Smith was previously general manager of the DoubleTree by Hilton Grand Junction, Colorado.
CordeValle, San Martin, California, has selected Abraham Torre as the property’s new executive chef. Chef Torre’s was previously executive chef at Alila Ventana Big Sur, California.
Historic Inns of Annapolis, Maryland, has selected Kenneth White as the new general manager of the three Annapolis-based Remington hotels. He started working with Remington hotels in 2017, where he served as general manager of the Springhill Suites BWI and Hilton Garden Inn BWI, both in Baltimore, Maryland.
InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, Vietnam, has appointed Mauro Zanusso as its new executive chef. Zanusso joins after serving as executive chef of The St. Regis Shenzhen and The Ritz-Carlton Xi’an in China.