Virgin Hotels named Thomas Becker senior vice president of operations, based in Miami. Becker is responsible for the operational performance of all Virgin Hotels and will work with the senior leadership team to drive growth and profitability.
Becker has 35 years of experience, most recently as area managing director for Two Roads Hospitality, overseeing Ventana Big Sur in Big Sur, California, and Carmel Valley Ranch in Carmel by the Sea, California. Prior to that, he held senior executive positions at Aria Resorts & Casinos, Mandarin Oriental, One & Only Resorts and Fairmont.
Daryl Aaron became general manager of the recently opened Bay Gardens Marina Haven hotel in St. Lucia. A former executive member of the Dominica Hotel & Tourism Association who has worked across the Caribbean, Aaron holds two decades of hospitality experience.
Fairmont Banff Springs, located in Banff National Park in Banff, Canada, named Robert Ash executive chef. He recently was area executive chef for Omni Hotels and Resorts in Orlando, Florida.
Frank Ashmore became managing director of 1440 Multiversity’s new learning campus in Scotts Valley, California. Ashmore had been area managing director for Omni Hotels and Resorts, based at Montelucia Resort and Spa in Paradise Valley, Arizona.
Como Hotels and Resorts appointed Fadzlon Bakar cluster director of sales and marketing for the Maldives, Como Cocoa Island and Como Maalifushi. Bakar has experience at Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts and at Four Seasons. She most recently worked at Alila Villas Soori in Bali, Indonesia, where she helped rebrand the property to become The Soori Bali.
Hard Rock International appointed Ken Blaustein to the newly created role of director of music and artist relations. Prior to joining Hard Rock International, Blaustein was senior director of artists and repertoire, and artist relations for Capitol Records and Virgin Records, as well as the director of artists and repertoire at Warner Bros.
Pacific Hospitality Group expanded its corporate leadership team by appointing Melanie Bucci chief financial officer, Ajeet K. Anand vice president, sales and marketing, and Stephen Schackne regional food and beverage director. Bucci most recently was vice president of finance at Montage International; Anand was senior vice president, global marketing for Cachet Hospitality. Schackne was a team leader and hotel manager at the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego, California, and consulted for Outrigger Hotels in Hawaii.
The recently refurbished Conrad Dublin in Dublin, Ireland, appointed Kevin Brennandirector of operations. Before joining Conrad Dublin, Brennan was director of operations at both Hilton London Wembley in Wembley, England, and DoubleTree by Hilton Burlington Road Dublin.
Canyon Ranch appointed Jack Breisacher managing director for Canyon Ranch in Tucson. Breisacher, who has more than 40 years’ experience in the hospitality industry, previously launched the brand’s first international expansion in Kaplankaya, Turkey.
Sharon Cabral became director of sales and marketing for Rosewood Miramar Beach Montecito, opening late this year in Montecito, California. Cabral has 10 years with Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, most recently as area director of sales and marketing for Northern California.
Tom Calame was named general manager at Sheraton Waikiki in Honolulu. Calame, a native of the Netherlands, has worked with Marriott International for nearly two decades, most recently as complex general manager for the Aruba Marriott Complex in Aruba.
Jumeirah Group appointed Glenn Carroll vice president, sales and marketing, Europe and Americas. Carroll has worked for hospitality brands such as InterContinental Hotel Group, where he was vice president commercial for Europe, as well as Corinthia, Oberoi and Como Hotels and Resorts, where he held a series of senior management sales and marketing positions.
Mandarin Oriental appointed Duarte Correia general manager of Mandarin Oriental, Canouan in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Correia recently led the rebranding of Essque Zalu Resort in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
Aqua-Aston Hospitality appointed Jim Franklin general manager to lead its managed Orlando, Florida, properties, The Fountains at ChampionsGate and Tuscana Resort Orlando. Franklin had been general manager for Starwood and Hilton Hotels including Hilton Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, The Marenas Resort and Spa in Miami Beach, Florida, and most recently the Sheraton in Mahwah, New Jersey.
Louis T Collection named Robert Hauck general manager of the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka, and area vice president for South Asia. Hauck most recently was general manager of Kanuhura in the Maldives, a resort that he saw through a reopening and repositioning project after an 18-month renovation.
Irvine Company Resort Properties welcomed Scott Hermes as its president. His prior hospitality experience includes 15 years at Starwood Hotels, where he served as area managing director for several hotels under its brands, and senior vice president of sales and field marketing for its North America division.
Tiburon Tavern, the signature restaurant at The Lodge at Tiburon in Tiburon, California, named Annie Hongkham executive chef. Hongkham recently opened Chicken Pharm by The Patio Group in Petaluma, California, and was culinary director for Chalk Hill Winery Estates and Foley Family Wines in Healdsburg, California.
Prestige Hospitality Group announced Robin Hottle as managing director of the firm’s new Charlotte, North Carolina, office. Hottle has more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, including 15 years in franchise service with Choice Hotels International.
Concord Hospitality Enterprises promoted Carl Hren to senior vice president of architecture and construction. Hren joined Concord Hospitality in 2013 as vice president of architecture and construction.
Sheraton Bay Point Resort in Panama City Beach, Florida, welcomed Theresia Kellyas spa director of Serenity Spa. Before joining the team, Kelly was a resort spa consultant for multiple spa and wellness centers across the nation.
Hyatt Hotels Corporation appointed Mia Kyricos senior vice president, global head of wellbeing, a newly created position in which Kyricos will be responsible for the company’s global wellbeing strategy. Kyricos recently served as president and chief executive officer of Kyricos & Associates, a boutique advisory firm for wellness-driven hospitality, tourism and healthy lifestyle companies.
Kona Kai Resort & Spa, a Noble House Resort on San Diego’s Shelter Island, appointed Andrew Ladd director of sales. Before joining the property, Ladd was director of sales and marketing for The Lafayette Hotel, Swim Club and Bungalows in San Diego.
The Resort at Glade Springs in Daniels, West Virginia, announced Phil Lane as director of sales and catering. Earlier in his career, Lane spent 12 years at the property, working in sales and conferences services.
Vista Collina Resort in Napa, California, promoted Vincent Lesage from executive chef to complex executive chef, overseeing culinary operations for the resort and its sister property, The Meritage Resort and Spa, also in Napa. Before joining the property, Lesage was executive chef at Bacara Resort & Spa in Santa Barbara, California.
The Ritz-Carlton, Denver, appointed Kami Lynch director of catering sales and Kimberly Pomerantz director of sales and marketing. Pomerantz most recently was director of sales at The Pierre, New York A Taj Hotel, New York City. Lynch previously held catering leadership roles at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill and at two Four Seasons properties.
Stonebridge Companies in Denver named Aaron McMullen revenue analyst. McMullen has spent more than six years in the hospitality industry working with multiple InterContinental Hotels Group properties, as well as independent hotels.
JW Marriott Grand Rapids in Grand Rapids, Michigan, promoted Becky Oldani from general manager of Ruth’s Chris Steak House Grand Rapids to director of food and beverage for the hotel. Oldani is a nine-year AHC+Hospitality veteran with experience at Amway Grand Plaza and Courtyard by Marriott Grand Rapids, both also in Grand Rapids.
Angsana Velavaru, a property in the Maldives under the Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts brand umbrella, appointed Jesús Eduardo Ordóñez Cruz executive chef. He had been part of the culinary team at Banyan Tree Cabo Marqués in Acapulco, Mexico.
Hyatt Carmel Highlands in Carmel Highlands, California, hired Gabriella Piombo as sales and events coordinator. Piombo had been social media coordinator at O’Bheal in County Cork, Ireland, and marketing intern at Philadelphia Insurance Companies in Walnut Creek, California.
Keno Rodriguez was promoted to opening general manager of the Hyatt Place San Francisco Downtown in San Francisco. Rodriguez formerly was the opening general manager for the Homewood Suites by Hilton Aliso Viejo-Laguna Beach in Aliso Viego, California.
Kempinski appointed Michael Schoonewagen general manager of Cabrits Resort & Spa Kempinski Dominica, opening in 2019 in Cabrits National Park, Portsmouth, Dominica. Schoonewagen has 30 years’ experience in luxury resorts across Europe, the South Pacific, Indian Ocean and Caribbean.
Corinthia Hotel London in London, England, appointed Alper Toydemir regional head of sales for the United States. Toydemir had been associate director of leisure sales at The Peninsula New York in New York City.
The year-old Kimpton Everly in Los Angeles named George Unseld general manager. Unseld most recently was director of operations for the Fashion Island Hotel in Newport Beach, California.
Benchmark named Lisa Wald director of human resources for The Abbey Resort and Avani Spa in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Wald formerly worked at the property as lifeguard and activities assistant for a summer, which turned into a 15-year employment with the property. She recently held a senior human resources business partner position for ProHealth Care of Wisconsin.