The San Diego Tourism Marketing District Corporation named an executive director with strong hospitality industry roots while EHL Group, the holding company of Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne in Lausanne, Switzerland, appointed a chief financial officer. Read on for more of this week’s career advancements and appointments.
Millennium Hotels and Resorts appointed Erik Anderouard senior vice president, North America, Jeremiah Galvin vice president finance, North America, and Tony Lee, vice president of human resources, North America. Anderouard has 30 years of operations and corporate management experience, including time at Pan Pacific Hotels Group and Sofitel Luxury Hotels and Resorts. Galvin previously held a number of positions with Marriott International and BF Saul Company Hospitality Group. Lee’s last role was director of human resources for the Plaza Athenee Hotel Company.
The San Diego Tourism Marketing District Corporation chose Colleen Anderson as executive director. Anderson, who has nearly three decades of hospitality industry experience, most recently was general manager for the Omni San Diego.
The Dorchester in London, England, appointed Sarah Barber executive pastry chef. Barber joined from Hotel Café Royal, also in London, where she won the Best Traditional Afternoon Tea Award.
Minor Hotels appointed Ramine Behnam vice president development for Europe, Middle East & Africa, based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Behnam formerly was director of development with Starwood Hotels, and subsequently Marriott International, Middle East & Africa.
Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort in Wailea, Hawaii, named Fabrice Benezit executive pastry chef. Benezit was executive pastry chef at Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. The property also welcomed Tadashi Yoshino as sushi chef. Yoshino re-joined the property from The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua in Kapalua, Hawaii, where he was sushi chef for 14 years.
Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London in London, England, made Yann Bouvignies head bartender. Bouvignies, who has extensive experience in London’s hotel bars, joined Scarfes Bar as bartender in August 2016.
In partnership with Union Square Events, Conrad New York in New York City named Trevor Brune director of catering and events. Brune departed the New York Hilton Midtown, also in New York City, where he was a senior catering manager.
Corinthia Hotels appointed Camilla Colley brand communications manager, based in London, England. Colley most recently was senior account manager at Travel PR.
The Resort at Paws Up in Greenough, Montana, appointed Laura Crugnale director of group sales. Crugnale has held senior leadership roles, including director positions at the Allison Inn & Spa in Newberg, Oregon, and the Preferred Hotel Group.
Grand Residences Riviera Cancun, a resort in Cancun, Mexico, appointed Guido De La Mora executive chef. Prior to joining the resort, De La Mora held similar roles in multiple award-winning restaurants in Spain, Kuwait, Qatar, the U.S. and in Mexico.
Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, promoted Ryan Grande to resort manager. Grande, who has nearly a decade of experience with Four Seasons, most recently was the resort’s director of rooms and residences.
LaKota Hotels & Resorts named Sam Haigh general manager of LaKota Oaks in Norwalk, Connecticut, formerly known as Dolce Norwalk. Prior to joining LaKota Oaks, Haigh was corporate director of operations for LaKota Hotels & Resorts and provided consulting to hotel owners and operators through his company, Fairwater Hospitality.
Crescent Real Estate promoted Chris Hanrattie to senior vice president, investments. Hanrattie originally joined Crescent in 2004 and returned to the company in November 2009. In 2014, he was promoted to vice president, investments.
Eduardo Hernandez joined Circ Hotel in Hollywood, Florida, as director of food and beverage. Hernandez previously held leadership positions at several hotels throughout South Florida, including Biltmore Hotel, Mondrian South Beach and The Shore Club.
PHD Hospitality appointed Chan Jin executive vice president, operations. Jin, who’s held senior positions across lodging segments, served as vice president of operations at PHD for more than four years.
Swissôtel Al Ghurair in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, appointed Gokce Karakus director of rooms. Karakus joined the Swissôtel brand in 2008 at Swissôtel Buyuk Efes Izmir, in Izmir, Turkey, as a receptionist, working his way up to eventually pioneer the pre-opening operations of Fairmont Quasar Istanbul in Istanbul, Turkey, as director of rooms and executive committee member.
The Peninsula Hotels appointed Mark Kobayashi senior vice president, sales and marketing. Kobayashi began his career with The Peninsula Hotels in 2006, most recently serving as vice president, marketing, based out of Hong Kong.
Union Investment Real Estate bolstered its investment management hospitality team by hiring Philipp Kunz, a trained economist and certified real estate investment analyst. Kunz joined the company from Deka Immobilien.
The Duniway, a Hilton Hotel in Portland, Oregon, welcomed Ryan Kunzer as general manager. Prior to this appointment, Kunzer, who has more than six years of general manager experience, spent 14 years at Kimpton Hotels in Portland and Chicago.
The Lord Baltimore Hotel in Baltimore welcomed Sandy Lawler as director of food and beverage operations and development. Prior to joining the property, Lawlers was a manager for the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts.
Matt Lederer joined Marriott as development director, United Kingdom and Ireland, focused on the development of the company’s select service brands in the region. Prior to joining Marriott, Lederer was senior vice president in the pan-European advisory team at JLL.
Donna Mitchell became business analyst for Stonebridge Companies in Denver. Mitchell has almost 20 years of hospitality industry experience, most recently with Marcus Hospitality.
Argonaut Hotel, a boutique hotel in San Francisco, appointed Irfan Mohamed director of food and beverage outlets. Mohamed had been general manager of restaurant and bar at Michael Symon Restaurant & Bar, Tap House & Kitchen.
EHL Group, the holding company of Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne in Lausanne, Switzerland, appointed Tony Morales chief financial officer and a member of the executive committee. Morales had been the global chief financial officer for Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours, and previously spent 16 years at Hyatt Hotels Corporation in various financial leadership roles.
Hilton New Orleans Riverside appointed Marc Osier executive chef of the New Orleans property. Osier most recently was executive sous chef at Hotel Del Coronado, Curio by Hilton in Coronado, California.
Hotel El Ganzo in San Jose Del Cabo, Mexico, appointed Carlos Peregrina Serralde executive chef. Peregrina Serralde previously was casino chef de cuisine at The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
Kimpton Hotel Palomar Los Angeles – Beverly Hills appointed Marco Scherer general manager and director of operations Los Angeles. Janice Tugaoen became area director of sales and marketing. Scherer has 13 years with Kimpton, including time spent in his recent role as general manager at Kimpton’s Hotel Allegro in Chicago. Tugaoen recently was director of sales and marketing for The Westin Long Beach in Long Beach, California.
Vijay Singh became managing director of resort operations for Sea Island Company in Sea Island, Georgia. Singh had been vice president of operations at Salamander Hotels, a hotel management and ownership company that he helped establish.
JD Smith became general manager of the DoubleTree by Hilton San Francisco Airport North hotel in Brisbane, California. Smith recently was general manager for several Southern California Doubletrees in Del Mar, Santa Monica and San Diego.
Mark Timbrell became general manager of Kempinski Hotel Amman in Amman, Jordan. Timbrell departed Oryx Rotana Doha in Doha, Qatar, where he was general manager.
McKibbon Hospitality named Nick Trainor vice president of engineering, overseeing engineering for McKibbon Hospitality’s portfolio, including each property’s maintenance department. Prior to joining the company, he was director of engineering and construction for Chesapeake Hospitality.
Philipp von Bodman became chief executive officer of Achat Hotels, replacing Wilhelm Kotter, who is retiring. Von Bodman has more than 20 years of experience in the international hospitality industry, most recently as chief executive officer of Primecity Investment in Berlin, Germany, and head of hotels for Aroundtown SA.
Vincent Wallez became executive chef of Rosewood San Miguel de Allende in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Prior to joining the property, Wallez was executive chef at Grand Velas Los Cabos Resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
The Brown Palace Hotel & Spa in Denver named Timothy Wolfe complex general manager of the hotel and the adjacent Holiday Inn Express Denver Downtown. Wolfe joined the complex following a seven-year stint as area managing director of Pyramid Hotel Group.