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People on the Move: Virgin, Dorchester, Hilton

Lifestyle hotel brand Virgin Hotels, Miami, Florida, has named J. Gregor (“Greg”) Doman as chief development officer. Before joining Virgin Hotels, he served as senior vice president, development at Accor, where he led development for North and Central America as well as the development of luxury and upscale brands in South America. Doman’s tenure at Accor also included leading the global residential business.

In his new role, Doman will be responsible for setting and implementing Virgin Hotels’ global growth strategy, identifying opportunities in key markets, and structuring transactions that work for Virgin Hotels and its owner/developer partners. He will also spearhead Virgin Hotels’ entrance into the branded residential business.

“Greg Doman’s proven success and robust experience in transactions and business development is an exciting new addition to our talented team,” stated Virgin Hotels CEO James Bermingham. “We look forward to engaging his vision and talents as we grow the Virgin Hotels and residential brands.”

From top left, clockwise: Greg Doman (Virgin Hotels), Leticia Proctor (Donohoe Hospitality Services), Eugenio Pirri (Dorchester Collection) and Andrea Belfanti (ISHC)

Family-owned hospitality company Evans Hotels, San Diego, California, has hired Matthew Adams as its new executive vice president and chief operating officer, and Anthony Belef as its chief human resources officer. Prior to joining Evans Hotels, Adams served as chief operating officer for Windsor Hospitality, Santa Monica, California, and executive vice president of operations for Omni Hotels, Dallas, Texas. Belef previously worked for Omni Hotels and Resorts as a director and area director of human resources.

Ananda Bareño has been named the executive chef of Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas, California. She previously spent several years working as chef de cuisine for Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts in Amman, Jordan, before returning to San Diego as executive chef of The Kitchen Table in Rancho Santa Fe.

The International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC) has promoted Andrea Belfanti from executive director to chief executive officer. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Belfanti joined the organization as deputy executive director in 2009.

Royston Brady has been named the new general manager of Hilton Aventura Miami, Florida. Equipped with 20 years of international industry experience, Brady spent the last six years as the general manager and project manager of Bonaventure Resort and Spa in Weston, Florida, as well as consulting on the redevelopment and management of South Beach’s Tides Hotel in Miami Beach.

Duncan Clements is joining The Gabriel Miami, a Curio Collection Hotel in Florida, as its new general manager. Most recently, Clements was the general manager at the Hillsboro Beach Resort, Florida, where he served as the opening manager.

MGM Resorts International has named Brandon Dardeau as president and chief operating officer of Southeast operations, which includes Gold Strike Casino Resort in Tunica, Mississippi, and Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi. Dardeau most recently served as general manager and senior vice president of marketing and operations for Gold Strike, Tunica, Mississippi.

Vespera Resort on Pismo Beach, California, has named Jaclyn Dawson as its new director of sales. She was most recently a regional sales leader for San Luis Obispo-based Pacifica Hotels, where she was responsible for multiple properties along California’s coastline.

Chef Ned Elliott has been appointed as executive culinary director across Proper Hospitality’s diverse portfolio of properties. Elliott joins from Chicago, where he spent the past three years as corporate executive chef at Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, the city’s largest restaurant group.

Gonzalo Rodríguez Fernández-Díez has been appointed general manager of Puente Romano Beach Resort and Nobu Hotel Marbella, Málaga, Spain. He joins the resort from his most recent position as the pre-opening general manager of Six Senses Ibiza, Spain.

The Georges, a restored, 200-year-old boutique hotel in Lexington, Virginia, has named John Gomes as its general manager. He previously served in several roles in F&B and held leadership positions for major hotel brands in Asia, the Middle East, Canada and the U.S. Additionally, former Sous Chef Jason Wilkins has been promoted to head chef of Haywood’s Piano Bar & Grill, The Georges’ piano bar and restaurant. Also joining the team is Beth Moore as the hotel’s newly appointed sales manager.

Raffles Hotels & Resorts has appointed Dennis de Groot as acting general manager of both Raffles Hotel Le Royal, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and its sister hotel Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia. He previously served as hotel manager at Raffles Hotel Le Royal.

Benjamin Howell rejoins Remington Hotels, Dallas, Texas, after spending the first 10 years of his career with the third-party management company, rising from manager to general manager. Responsible for overseeing the operations of 12 to 15 properties in the Midwest Region, Howell previously held multi-unit roles with Sonesta Hotels and Resorts, Aimbridge Hospitality and Widewaters Hotels.

Siyam World, Maldives, has welcomed Chef Adam Lockwood to its team as director of culinary. He previously worked as executive chef onboard for Holland America Line.

Kimpton The Rowan Palm Springs, California, has appointed Brick Loomis as director of restaurants, bars and events for the culinary and bar concepts within the hotel: 4 Saints, Juniper Table, High Bar and Window Bar. Loomis most recently served as director of outlets at Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, Santa Monica, California.

The Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, a London-based global network in responsible hospitality, has appointed Glenn Mandziuk as their new CEO. Mandziuk most recently served as president and chief executive officer of Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, British Columbia, Canada.

David Mars has been appointed as the general manager of Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg, Virginia. He joins the property from its sister resort, The Henderson, a Salamander Resort located in Destin, Florida.

Montage Healdsburg, California, has appointed Devin McDavid as its new executive pastry chef, overseeing all dessert programming and baking operations for the resort’s dining concepts. Most recently, McDavid was the executive pastry chef of Auberge’s Chileno Bay Resorts & Residences in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Christian Ojeda has joined Bernardus Lodge & Spa, Carmel Valley, California, as executive chef of Lucia Restaurant & Bar. He joins the Bernardus culinary team from Montage Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah, where he held the post of executive chef.

Dorchester Collection, London, England, has promoted Eugenio Pirri to chief culture and operations executive. Having joined Dorchester Collection in 2011, Pirri will work out of the company’s corporate London office.

Leticia Proctor has been promoted to executive vice president – sales, marketing and revenue management by Donohoe Hospitality Services, a hotel management company based in Bethesda, Maryland. Prior to joining the Donohoe team, she was senior vice president – sales, revenue management and digital strategies with PM Hotel Group, Chevy Chase, Maryland.

Raj Radke has been appointed as the managing director of Daxton Hotel, Birmingham, Michigan, which is returning as an independently owned and operated luxury property, now fully owned and operated by Woodward Brown Ventures. Radke previously worked for various brands including Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and St. Regis Hotels & Resorts.

Tara Rothberg has been appointed hotel manager for Kimpton Marlowe Hotel, Cambridge, Massachusetts. She most recently served as general manager of Holiday House, Palm Springs, California.

Jennifer Stillwell has been appointed by auroHOTELS as vice president of marketing. For the past decade, Stillwell served VisitGreenvilleSC, the official destination marketing organization for the City of Greenville, South Carolina, as chief marketing officer and EVP/chief strategic officer.

Richard Stockton, CEO of Texas-based REIT Braemar Hotels & Resorts, has been appointed to the board of directors for American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), the largest hotel association in the U.S. representing all segments of the industry nationwide.

The Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club, Florida, has hired Richard Szilagyi as its new resident manager. Szilagyi joins The Vinoy from The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans, Louisiana, where he worked as the executive assistant manager and was responsible for the resort’s rooms, spa and retail operations.

Round Hill Hotel and Villas, Montego Bay, Jamaica, has welcomed Conroy Thompson to its executive team as resident manager. Most recently, he served as training and development manager with Half Moon, Montego Bay, Jamaica, where he was also responsible for quality management.

Owner-operator Main Street Hospitality, Stockbridge, Massachusetts, has appointed Scott Williams as its new vice president of brand and creative. Most recently, Williams was the president of The Nantucket Project and is the founder of growth advisory Hitchcock Partners.

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