The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) has announced three promotions among its leadership team.
Kiersten Pearce was promoted to senior vice president, executive and strategic initiatives. In her new role, Pearce will shape and develop key industry initiatives and ensure alignment and execution on AHLA’s strategic plan and organizational priorities. She’ll also oversee the coordination of the AHLA Board of Directors, Executive Committee and associated committees, and key operational functions, including legal. Kiersten joined AHLA in 2018 and previously served as AHLA’s vice president of member engagement and services.
Adrienne Weil was promoted to senior vice president, member engagement and services. In her new role, Weil will lead AHLA’s membership team and spearhead efforts to optimize AHLA’s committees and networks and ensure AHLA’s value proposition remains relevant as member needs evolve. Previously, Adrienne served as AHLA’s vice president of strategic partnerships and business development.
Kara Filer was promoted to senior vice president, strategic partnerships and business development. In her new role, Filer will optimize and expand sponsorship and event revenues from AHLA Allied member companies, aligning sales and relationship strategies between AHLA and the American Hotel & Lodging Foundation (AHLAF), where she will remain a key member of the leadership team and continue to drive the Foundation’s fundraising efforts. She previously served as AHLAF’s vice president of donor relations and development and orchestrated initiatives to accelerate overall revenue growth by introducing new events, engaging hotels and vendors and securing grants.
The announcements are part of the growth of the AHLA team which has played an increasingly critical role on behalf of the hotel industry, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. In the last two years, AHLA has grown from 44 to 65 employees, as the organization continues to serve as the singular voice of America’s hotels and remains deeply engaged in policy issues affecting hoteliers at all levels of government.
“I am proud to announce these well-deserved promotions,” said AHLA President & CEO Chip Rogers. “Kiersten, Adrienne and Kara have been instrumental to AHLA’s success over the last several years, and in their new roles they are even better situated to deliver ROI for our growing roster of members and keep the hotel industry moving forward.”
Corporate Management
Peachtree Group, Atlanta, GA, has appointed Michael Bernath as senior vice president of acquisitions. Bernath has over 15 years of hospitality real estate experience. He most recently served as a principal with Avison Young’s national hospitality group and its predecessor, Hotel Assets Group.
TAFER Hotels & Resorts, Mexico, has appointed Sasa Milojevic to chief operating officer of The Villa Group Beach Resorts & Spas, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. A seasoned hospitality veteran with nearly three decades of experience, Milojevic currently also serves as chief operating officer at TAFER Hotels & Resorts. Milojevic most recently served as president of global hotel operations and chief executive officer at Karisma Hotels & Resorts, where he oversaw 26 properties in six countries throughout Mexico, Latin America, and the Caribbean for 11 years.
SH Hotels & Resorts, Miami, FL, has announced the hiring of Marco Selva as executive vice president of operations. Most recently, he served as senior vice president of luxury and lifestyle hotels for Highgate, New York.
La Vie Hotels and Resorts, Sydney, Australia, has welcomed Shankar Sreekumar to the role of head of South and Southeast Asia. Sreekumar held numerous operations-focused roles, including that of vice president, operations for Onyx Hospitality Group, Bangkok, Thailand.
General Managers and Managing Directors
Nathan Sporbert is the new general manager at Kimpton Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City, UT. Sporbert brings eight years of diverse industry experience with him, with his most recent role being hotel manager for the Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix.
Food & Beverage
Proper Hospitality today announces the appointment of Manuel Portillo as executive chef at Hotel June’s flagship property in West LA, CA. Most recently, Portillo served in the same role at Nueva, in Venice, CA.