AMAN APPOINTS CEO FOR AMAN AT SEA
Aman has named Jonathan Wilson as the chief executive officer of Aman at Sea, which marks their inaugural luxury motor yacht developed through a joint venture between Aman and Cruise Saudi and slated to open in 2027.
Wilson brings over 20 years of experience to the position and will lead the development and implementation of the superyacht, working closely with Aman’s Chairman and CEO, Vlad Doronin.
“Aman has been a pioneer in ultra-luxury hospitality for over 35 years, and it is a privilege to be joining the company to lead the development of Aman at Sea – an exciting new endeavor for the visionary brand which will bring the first world-class Aman experience to the world’s oceans, setting a new standard in waterborne voyages,” said Wilson.
Wilson previously served as vice president, customer experience and innovation at Hilton Worldwide from 2019 to 2021, where he oversaw the product development of 17 hotels. For over 15 years, he also held leadership roles with Princess Cruises and Cunard Line, including vice president positions in hotel operations, product development and food and beverage.
NEW GMs
Rosewood London has appointed Tessa Gorman as the new managing director, effective 1 January 2024.
With nearly 20 years of experience, Gorman’s career spans roles within Aman, Bvlgari and Cheval-Blanc, among others. She has held general manager positions, most recently at One&Only Portonovi in Montenegro, as well as Bvlgari Resort Bali and Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Thailand. Before this, she acted as a hospitality consultant for brands, working on property launches from an operational perspective and managing ultra-luxury villa properties.
Waldorf Astoria Chicago has appointed Tamas Vago as general manager. Vago joins Waldorf Astoria Chicago from Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort and brings extensive knowledge of the luxury hospitality industry from his nearly 25 years of experience.
Vagos joins the hotel from Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, where he served since August 2019. Vago spearheaded the resort’s full renovation of guestrooms and public spaces and assisted with conceptualizing a new rooftop restaurant and bar experience. Before Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, he served as the hotel manager at The Diplomat Beach Resort from 2015 to 2019.
The Kimpton Harper, located in downtown Fort Worth, Texas, has appointed Rana Papson as general manager.
Before joining The Harper, Papson was most recently the hotel manager at the Arlo Wynwood in Miami, Florida. She rejoins Pivot, the lifestyle vertical of Davidson Hospitality Group, having served in various roles across the organization for six years.
Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection has appointed Mark Stanford as the new general manager of its oceanfront restaurant, CanoeHouse, a renowned culinary destination in Hawai’i. Lani will oversee all day-to-day operations at CanoeHouse and lead its restaurant team. In his latest roles, Sanford served as beverage director for the Steamboat Food & Wine Festival and the Telluride Reserve culinary festival.