Appointments in Wisconsin, New York, Florida and several in Texas fill out this week’s roundup of industry professionals taking next steps in their careers.
Sal Abaunza was named general manager for Monterey Tides, a Joie de Vivre hotel in Monterey, California. In 2012, The California Hotel & Lodging Association awarded Abaunza “Outstanding General Manager of the Year” while he was overseeing the operations of Viceroy L’Ermitage Beverly Hills in Beverly Hills, California and four other properties.
Pete Bauchle is now general manager of The Lismore Hotel Eau Claire – a DoubleTree by Hilton in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Prior to this appointment, Bauchle has served at hotels such as The Depot Minneapolis Renaissance Hotel in Minneapolis, Crowne Plaza Saint Paul in Saint Paul, Minnesota and the Adams Mark Hotel St. Louis.
Viceroy Hotel Group appointed Michael Bridges as general manager and Ingrid F. Braun as hotel manager at Viceroy Santa Monica in Santa Monica, California. Bridges is rejoining Viceroy Hotel Group after originally working with the company in 2013 on the pre-opening of Viceroy Central Park in New York City. Braun most recently was director of rooms for The Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, also in Santa Monica.
AC Hotel New York Times Square in New York City announced Benjamin Britton as general manager and Joanna Buiza as director of sales. Prior to this appointment, Britton spent several years in New York City working with multiple brands and service models. Buiza has 13 years of experience in the hospitality industry, managing, marketing and selling branded and independent hotels in New York City.
Benchmark named Nicole Considine director of sales and marketing for Delta Hotels – Marriott Dallas Allen & Watters Creek Convention Center, a property under construction in Allen, Texas, set to open in early 2019. She previously was director of sales and marketing for the W Dallas Victory Park Hotel and Residences in Dallas.
Enchantment Group appointed Victor Cortes executive vice president of development. Cortes most recently was vice president of development at Bald Mountain Development where he led the design and construction of the Four Seasons Resort & Residences in Napa Valley, California.
New Castle Hotels & Resorts announced Joseph Dadiego general manager of Portland Harborview in Portland, Maine’s arts district. Dadiego formerly was general manager of the Dedham Hilton in Dedham, Massachusetts outside of Boston.
Noble House Hotels & Resorts named Don Dennis vice president of operations for the West Coast, Jason Molls as vice president of rooms and Kelly Commerford as regional director of marketing for the West Coast. Dennis has been with the company for more than 15 years and is on the San Diego Tourism Authority Board of Directors. Mollshas been with the company for 11 years and had provided operational leadership to LaPlaya Beach & Golf in Naples, Florida. Commerford was promoted from the director of sales and marketing at Kona Kai Resort & Spa in San Diego.
Hilton appointed Noelle Eder executive vice president and chief information and digital officer, effective March 19. Eder has served as chief card customer experience officer at Capital One Financial and also spent nine years at Intuit, most recently as senior vice president and chief customer care officer.
The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami appointed Martin Jakubczak director of sales. He formerly was associate director of sales at the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Roedel Companies named Jason Jette executive chef for RGH Hospitality, the company’s hotel management subsidiary. Jette has served as director of food and beverage for RGH Hospitality since 2014, and before that was executive chef and beverage manager of Hilton Garden Inn Manchester in Manchester, New Hampshire.
InterContinental Hotels Group appointed Colleen Keating to chief operating officer, Americas, effective April 1. Keating most recently was executive vice president of operations for Davidson Hotels & Resorts in Atlanta.
Dennis Lanners joined Millennium Hotels and Resorts as vice president of operations, North America. Lanners formerly was vice president of food and beverage at Spire Hospitality.
Well & Being Spa at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess in Scottsdale, Arizona named Grant Lessard spa director. He also is a member of the resort’s executive committee. Lessard has 30 years of spa management experience, most recently as director of spa, fitness and retail at Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Spa Botanico in Puerto Rico.
OD Barcelona named Antonio Huguet Morera general manager. The boutique hotel in Barcelona, Spain opened last August. Huguet previously was general manager of the Olivia Plaza Hotel in Barcelona.
Kolter Hospitality named Sameer Nair vice president of hotel acquisitions. Nair has varied real estate experience from acquisitions, asset management, development and special servicing. He hails from Banyan Investment Group where he was vice president of hotel investments.
McKibbon Hospitality promoted Juli Norberg to market director of sales for its Clearwater Beach, Florida properties. Norberg previously worked as director of catering and conference services at the Hampton Inn & Suites Clearwater Beach. She also currently serves as the vice chair of the Clearwater Beach Chamber and the chairman of special events for the chamber’s board.
Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts appointed Mario Piazza general manager of Angsana Velavaru in Maldives. Piazza had been hotel manager of Banyan Tree Ringha in Shangri La, China.
Auberge Resorts appointed Eliezer Quinones general manager of Chileno Bay Resort & Residence in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Quinones, a former professional baseball player, had been general manager at Tafer Resorts’ two Puerto Vallarta, Mexico properties.
Benchmark named Richard Richardson director of finance for Doral Arrowwood, a resort in Rye Brook, New York. Richardson departed Dolce Hotels & Resorts where he was director of finance.
The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park in New York City appointed Daniel Ritacco executive chef. Joining from the Renaissance New York Times Square, New York City, where he oversaw culinary operations, Ritacco will lead culinary operations at the hotel, which features three dining outlets, including Auden Bistro.
Hotel 116 in Bellevue, Washington, operated and managed by Coast Hotels, appointed Jeff Running director of sales and marketing. Running had been sales manager at Embassy Suites Seattle-Pioneer Square in Seattle.
Mark Stebbings and Robert M. Berrey, Jr. have been appointed as general mangers of Miraval Arizona in Tucson, Arizona and Miraval Austin in Austin, Texas, respectively. Stebbings recently was director of operations and general manager of Travaasa Experiential Resorts where he oversaw the brand’s two properties, Travaasa Austin in Texas and Travaasa Hana on the island of Maui, Hawaii. Berrey formerly served as the general manager of The Gideon Putnam Resort & Spa, Saratoga Springs, New York.
The Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel appointed William A. Stratton to director of sales and marketing for the Phoenix property. Stratton held positions in events and sales at the Renaissance Phoenix in the past, as well as at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa, also in Phoenix. He most recently was a contractor relations program manager with Amazon Logistics.
The William Vale in Williamsburg, Brooklyn welcomed Deanna Thomas as director of sales and marketing. Thomas has managed hotels including The Gotham and The Highline in New York City and most recently was the U.S. director of sales for Grupo Habita.
David Toler became director of sales and marketing at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Arizona. In his career, he has worked with Wyndham Hotel Group, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and others.
White Lodging named Niels Vuijsters dual general manager of the Le Méridien Denver Downtown and AC Hotel Denver Downtown, both in Denver. Most recently, Vuijsters was general manager and director of food and beverage at the Kimpton brand’s Palomar Hotel in Phoenix.
Nikki Beach Worldwide brought on Kevin Wallace as president of Nikki Beach Hotels & Resorts Asia to lead the division’s expansion plans throughout China, India, Australia and Southeast Asia. Alexander Schneider will be vice president of Nikki Beach Hotels & Resorts in Europe and the Middle East. Prior to joining the company, Wallace was president of Centara Hotels and Resorts, managing director – Asia of Plateno Hotel Group and managing director – Asia Pacific for Dream Hotel Group. Schneider has worked with hotel operators including Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and Grand Hyatt, Germany.
Zota Beach Resort in Longboat Key, Florida named Jeremy White executive chef. White served as sous chef at the resort since the property’s opening last June. Prior to joining Zota Beach Resort, White was executive sous chef at Racquet Club Ladue in Ladue, Missouri.
Preferred Hotels & Resorts appointed Michelle Woodley president, taking over for Lindsey Ueberroth, the chief executive officer. Woodley has been with the company for 15 years, most recently serving as executive vice president. Kristie Goshow is now chief marketing officer. She formerly was senior vice president of commercial at Viceroy Hotel Group. Caroline Michaud was named executive vice president, corporate communications and public relations. She has been with the company since 2012, serving as senior manager of public relations for the Americas.
Crystal Springs Resort in Hamburg, New Jersey named Robby Younes chief operating officer. Younes has been with the resort for 10 years, most recently serving as vice president. He has worked in boutique hotels as well as for Waldorf Astoria, Starwood and Hilton properties.
Palace Resorts named Marci Zaworski regional director of sales, South Central, U.S. for its meetings and incentives segment, responsible for leading sales initiatives in the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions segment for Palace Resorts and Le Blanc Spa Resorts in Mexico and Jamaica.