Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sacramento at Fire Mountain, opening this fall in Northern California, named seven members of its executive team. Meanwhile, Margaritaville expanded its hospitality leadership team by appointing a director of hotel development, and Phoenix American Hospitality brought on a vice president of acquisitions and asset management. Read on for more industry appointments and promotions.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sacramento at Fire Mountain opening this fall in Marysville, California, named its executive team: Christopher Balaban is now vice president of finance, Ryan Flieger was named vice president of human resources, Anika Gaskins was named vice president of marketing, Paul Mollo was named vice president of table games, Matthew Morgan was named vice president of information technology, Will Provance was named vice president of slot operations and Kaywan Samadani was named vice president of hospitality.
Jessica Barrows was appointed general manager of the Courtyard by Marriott Denver Airport at Gateway Park in Denver. Barrows has 17 years of hospitality experience, including 11 as a general manager.
Benchmark named Frank Casarez, Jr. general manager for The Nautical Beachfront Resort in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. He had been general manager and managing director of sales for the Sheraton Crescent Hotel of Phoenix.
Chris Cash is now executive chef at Amara Cay Resort in Islamorada, Florida. Before joining the property, Cash held various executive chef positions at Florida Keys restaurants, including Book Key Bar and Grill, Bayside Gourmet and Morada Bay.
Provenance Hotels appointed Sean Castady general manager of Woodlark in Portland, Oregon. He most recently was regional director of hotel operations with the Aparium Hotel Group in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
David Child is now general manager of the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center in North Bethesda, Maryland. He had been general manager of the Bethesda Marriott in Bethesda, Maryland.
Ed Christensen was named director of food and beverage at Paséa Hotel & Spa in Huntington Beach, California. Before joining the property, Christensen was director of catering and event services at multiple Southern California properties, including the InterContinental Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles and The Hotel Del Coronado in Coronado, California.
The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa Avon, Vail Valley in Avon, Colorado, promoted Tom Davies from reservations manager to sales manager, and named Elizabeth Elia event manager. Elia had been event manager at the Vail Marriott Mountain Resort in Vail, Colorado.
Vaughn Davis is now general manager of Dream Hollywood in Hollywood, California. Vaughn has previous experience with the brand, having served as director of guest services, Dream Downtown in New York City from November 2013 to July 2015.
Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel named Kristin Duncan general manager of the 530-room property in Chicago’s Theater District. Duncan has 30 years of experience with Marriott in many roles, but she most recently served as general manager of the Chicago Marriott Oak Brook in Oak Brook, Illinois.
Marriott Marquis Chicago appointed Daniel Egan director of sales and marketing, and Steve Conklin director of group sales. Egan had been director of sales and marketing for the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel in Schaumburg, Illinois. Conklin, who has been with Marriott since starting as an intern in 1988, most recently was director of sales and marketing at the JW Marriott Chicago.
The Reef Resorts & Spa, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico’s boutique group of all-inclusive resorts, named Edgar Fayad sales and marketing assistant manager of its three properties. Prior to working at The Reef Resorts & Spa, Fayad, who has an advanced degree in project management from Westminster Business School in London, England, was a professional soccer player for Atlante F.C.
The Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C., welcomed Pascal Forotti as managing director. Forotti previously served as managing director at Rosewood Hotel Washington, D.C., where he led the transition of the hotel’s rebrand from Capella to Rosewood.
JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa in Tucson, Arizona, appointed Jimmy Furtado director of restaurants. Furtado had been assistant director of restaurants at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina in San Diego.
Rani Gharbie is now head of acquisitions and development for The Pod Hotels, tasked with leading the brand’s expansion plan from five to 50 properties over the next decade. He joined from Virgin Hotels where he helped grow the brand’s footprint in key markets.
Casa Palopó appointed Eduardo Gonzalez to lead culinary operations at the luxury boutique hotel in Santa Catarina Palopo, Guatemala. Gonzalez is locally known for his role on the television program “Flavors of my Land,” in which he highlighted native Guatemalan ingredients.
Sage Hospitality named Dean Griffin general manager of the JW Marriott Denver Cherry Creek in Denver. He most recently was a hotel manager at Loews Coronado Bay Resort in Coronado, California.
Melinda Hutchins was appointed director of sales and marketing at Naples Grande Beach Resort in Naples, Florida. Prior to this appointment, Hutchins spent 13 years at the Trump National Doral Miami in Doral, Florida.
Phoenix American Hospitality appointed Jan Kuehnemann vice president of acquisitions and asset management. In his previous vice president role at FelCor Lodging Trust, Kuehnemann closed on more than US$2 billion in hotel transactions and negotiated management agreements for newly acquired and existing hotels.
Matthew La Vine is now managing director of the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City in Universal City, California. He had been general manager at The Miramonte Indian Wells Resort and Spa Curio by Hilton in Indian Wells, California.
Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point, California, appointed Hansen Lee executive chef of the Monarch Bay Beach Club, currently undergoing a transformation debuting in late spring. During his career, Lee has served as chef de cuisine at The Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa in Pasadena, California, and as executive chef at Sheraton Grand Los Angeles Downtown in Los Angeles.
Margaritaville Holdings appointed Shamim Lodin director of hotel development, leading the portfolio expansion for both the Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts and Compass select-service brands across the Americas region. He most recently led the new business development teams and hotel sales support teams for the Americas region at InterContinental Hotels Group.
Hotel Erwin in Venice, California, named Paola Moreno director of food and beverage. She formerly was food and beverage manager at Hotel Casa Del Mar in Santa Monica, California.
The Ben, an Autograph Collection hotel opening later this year in West Palm Beach, Florida, named Bernardo Neto general manager. Neto had been executive director of hotel operations for Park MGM in Las Vegas.
The Ritz-Carlton, Denver, named Michael Poompan executive chef. He recently was executive chef of the Coronado Island Marriott Resort & Spa in Coronado, California.
Conrad Dublin in Dublin, Ireland, appointed Gary Rogers executive head chef. Rogers departed Lyrath Estate in County Kilkenny, Ireland, where he was executive chef.
Kevin Rohani returned to SBE as vice president of development. Rohani started his hospitality career with SBE, focusing on hotel operations and development. He most recently was vice president of development at Dream Hotel Groups.
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts appointed Ben Trodd senior vice president, sales and hotel marketing, consolidating the hotel marketing, hotel sales and worldwide sales office teams under a single leader. Trodd most recently was regional vice president and general manager of Beverly Wilshire, Beverly Hills, A Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.
Francis Zimmerman joined the Landmark Bangkok in Bangkok, Thailand, as general manager. He previously oversaw operations and business development for Next Story Group as managing director, Southeast Asia.