A 5-star Colombian resort welcomed a new executive chef, while a Houston hotel hired a director of F&B who started his career at the same property as a busboy in the 1980s. Here are more of this week’s executive moves.
Omni Hotels & Resorts appointed Keith Butz area managing director at Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center in Atlanta. Butz most recently was general manager at The Confidante Hotel in Miami.
The Hampton Inn & Suites Gainesville-Downtown in Gainesville, Florida, appointed Wayne Childs director of sales. Childs has spent the past 20 years in hotel sales, most recently serving as sales manager at The Plantation on Crystal River in Crystal River, Florida.
The Galle Face Hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka, named Mubarak Gaffoor resident manager, Narelle McDougall head of sales and marketing for the hotel and Ceylon Hotel Corporation, Saman Jayawardene corporate chef of Sri Lankan cuisine for the Ceylon Hotel Group and Ekho Hotels, Nalaka Dissanayake cluster director of human resources, responsible for talent for the Galle Face Hotel and Ceylon Hotel Group, and Jay Kay Govind executive chef.
Yoo Hotels and Resorts appointed David Grossniklaus head of operations and development, effective in March. Grossniklaus most recently was with Belmond in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, as senior director development for the Middle East, Africa and India.
Caleb Guiffre became senior field support specialist for Stonebridge Companies in Denver. Guiffre has been working in the hospitality industry for the past four years, most recently at Marriott International.
Colleen Huther became general manager of Belmond El Encanto in Santa Barbara, California. The resort also named Rob Roche director of sales and marketing. Huther, who has more than 30 years of luxury hotel experience, most recently was general manager at the Hilton Checkers in Los Angeles. Roche departed The Peninsula Beverly Hills in Beverly Hills, California, where he was responsible for implementing strategic goals for the principle teams across the reservations, sales, advertising, e-commerce, social media and public relations departments.
Sheraton Waikiki in Honolulu named Jason Kim, formerly general manager at the Aloft Seoul Myeongdong in Seoul, South Korea, hotel manager. The property also appointed Casey Obatake director of operational excellence. She previously was the hotel’s front office manager and director of front office. Shaun Ono was promoted to director of rooms from his previous position at the property as assistant director of rooms.
Benchmark appointed David Kingston general manager of Snow King Resort Hotel & Condos, a Benchmark Resorts & Hotels property in Jackson, Wyoming. He had been chief operating officer for Averill Hospitality of Whitefish, Montana.
The Cabrits Resort & Spa Kempinski Dominica in Portsmouth, Dominica, named Elizabeth Maisonet director of global group sales. Maisonet most recently was director of northeast accounts at the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, Florida.
Four Seasons Hotel Houston in downtown Houston named Khalid Mirza director of food and beverage. Mirza, who started his career in the hospitality industry at Four Seasons Hotel Houston as a busboy in the early 1980s, most recently was director of food and beverage at Carmel Valley Ranch, Carmel, California.
Kevin Rosa became director of sales and marketing at Château Élan Winery & Resort, Braselton, Georgia. Rosa’s previous work experience includes 23 years in the financial and insurance planner market.
Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort in Wailea, Hawaii, named Alvin Savella chef de cuisine. Savella, who was born and raised on Maui, most recently was restaurant chef for The Banyan Tree at Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, Hawaii, and chef de cuisine of Pulehu, an Italian Grill at the Westin Ka’anapali, Lahaina, Hawaii.
Martin Schrödl became general manager of the Maxx by Steigenberger Hotel in Vienna, Austria. After working with Deutsche Hospitality as regional director of sales and marketing for Austria and Eastern Europe, Schrödl went on to manage Loisium Wine & Spa Resorts Langenlois in Langenlois, Austria.
Jadan Sheive was promoted from his role as a dual property director of F&B at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter and Marriott Riverwalk in San Antonio, Texas, to director of F&B at JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, also in San Antonio.
Mark Speranza became general manager of Hotel Hayden in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood. He had been the opening director of sales and marketing for William Vale in Brooklyn, New York City, and director of sales and marketing for InterContinental New York Barclay, also in New York City.
Rafael Enrique Sua´rez Go´mez became executive chef at Conrad Cartagena in Cartagena, Colombia. Sua´rez Go´mez’s experience includes roles at the Sofitel Bogota Victoria Regia, JW Marriott Hotel Bogota, both in Bogota, Colombia, and Hotel Capilla del Mar in Cartagena.
Waterford Hotel Group appointed Kathy Tabora general manager of the TownePlace Suites in Albany, New York. Tabora had been general manager of the Residence Inn, also in Albany.
The Breakers Palm Beach in Palm Beach, Florida, named Tricia Taylor, formerly senior vice president and general manager, and a 23-year veteran of The Breakers, executive vice president and general manager. The property also promoted Denise Bober to senior vice president, human resources. She had been vice president, human resources, at the property.
Rockbridge promoted Todd Walker from executive vice president and associate general counsel to the role of general counsel. Kenneth Krebs, a Rockbridge co-founder, executive vice president and general counsel, will continue as a strategic partner and leader of the firm he helped establish 20 years ago.