Aimbridge Hospitality appointed Thomas Song chief financial officer. Song most recently was CFO of Dine Brands Global, one of the world’s largest full-service dining companies with 3,600 restaurants, including Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar and IHOP brands. Prior to that, he was senior vice president of corporate development and innovation at Choice Hotels International. Earlier in his career, Song held positions in management consulting and investment banking.
“As we proceed with the next phase of Aimbridge’s momentous growth plans, it is the opportune time to have [Song] join us as CFO,” said Mike Deitemeyer, president and chief executive officer, Aimbridge Hospitality. “[Song’s] record of achievement in the hospitality sector and strong background in finance, M&A, development and fundraising, along with his culture-driven leadership style, will add tremendous value as we scale up innovation and accelerate our growth in a very dynamic environment.”
Song succeeds Judy Hendrick who will retire after 13 years as Aimbridge’s CFO. Hendrick will continue to support Aimbridge as a consultant working the company’s executive chairman on transformational growth projects.
AHC Hospitality promoted Ross Bartlett from assistant general manager to regional general manager of Amway Grand Plaza, Curio Collection by Hilton in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In addition to leading Amway Grand Plaza, Bartlett will lead AHC’s new project in Grand Rapids, Morton Hotel, and will oversee the security and parking departments for AHC Hospitality. He started at AHC Hospitality in January 2016 as director of rooms for Amway Grand Plaza and was recognized in 2018 as AHC Hospitality’s Operations Manager of the Year. He recently led the Epsilon Class of the AHC Leadership Academy.
Sage Hospitality Group promoted Ed Blair to area general manager, overseeing The Crawford Hotel, Denver Union Station, The Oxford Hotel and The Oxford Club, Spa & Salon in Denver. Blair, who has more than 25 years of hospitality experience, recently served as general manager of Denver’s The Curtis – a Doubletree by Hilton property. Before that, he was general manager at Sage’s Embassy Suites Denver Downtown. He also spent nearly a decade as the general manager of The Oxford Hotel.
The Seagate in Delray Beach, Florida, promoted Karl Bublitz to executive director of The Seagate, and welcomed Koji Akaboshi as general manager and Jessica Gonzalez as director of marketing of The Seagate Hotel & Spa. Bublitz has served as general manager of The Seagate Country Club, The Seagate Beach Club and The Seagate Residences. His new role as executive director encompasses the Hotel & Spa, Beach Club, Country Club and Yacht Club. He previously worked as director of golf operations for 16 years at the Grey Oaks Country Club in Naples, Florida. Akaboshi, who is fluent in English, Spanish and Japanese, is responsible for the overall operation of The Seagate Hotel & Spa, working closely with The Seagate Clubs to ensure a seamless experience for guests across The Seagate. He spent more than two decades with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, most recently as hotel manager for Four Seasons Hotel and Residences at The Surf Club in Surfside, Florida. Gonzalez previously was corporate communications manager for Hilton Worldwide in the Caribbean and Latin American region. At The Seagate, she is tasked with developing and executing the resort’s marketing strategy working with the internal marketing team along with marketing and public relations partners.
Deutsche Hospitality appointed Florian Daniel chief information officer, responsible for the areas of commercial and business systems, digital customer experience, data science and analytics, technology innovation and enterprise architecture, as well as infrastructure and data security, and business efficiency and integration capabilities. He’s also responsible for advancing the company’s digital transformation. Daniel’s previous role at Deutsche Hospitality was vice president group information technology. He joined the company in 2017 as senior director, group IT. Prior to this, he was director worldwide IT at Berlitz, responsible for global operational and strategic IT for 39 countries and 400 locations.
Aimbridge Hospitality promoted Joe Isaac to senior vice president, mergers and acquisitions, focusing on transformational growth, including capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, and new business opportunities. Isaac has been with Aimbridge for three years, most recently serving as vice president, financial operations and accounting strategy, where he worked with owner relations and was a key contact for the Aimbridge Owners Advisory Council. Prior to Aimbridge, Isaac was chief financial officer of a mid-sized tech company.
The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, appointed Bosther Kusich general manager, Jonathan Teague food and beverage director, and Christian Velez pastry chef. For the past four years, Kusich has served as the property’s director of operations before being named interim general manager, leading his team through the COVID-19 pandemic. Before joining The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale, Kusich held numerous senior leadership positions in operations, both domestically and internationally, including at four other The Ritz-Carlton properties. Teague’s hospitality career began as bar manager at restaurants in Panama City, Florida. Following that, he was general manager of the BeachClub at WaterColor Inn & Resort in Santa Rosa, Florida, where he oversaw food and beverage, recreation, retail and beach rental. Velez has served as pastry chef at a number of hotels and resorts across South Florida and has more than a decade of experience in the pastry industry. He began his career at Gianni’s at the Versace Mansion in Miami Beach, Florida. He then became assistant pastry chef at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida, managing a team of 15 people.
Ian Schrager Company (ISC) appointed Chelsea Olson chief marketing officer. Olson joins ISC with more than a decade of hospitality and marketing experience. She oversaw all marketing at Edition Hotel’s flagship property in Miami for four years as part of the opening team. She has also worked on Edition hotel openings in Barcelona, Spain, and New York City. Since leaving Edition in 2018, Olson started her marketing consultancy working on a variety of consulting projects in the lifestyle and hospitality sector while also contributing to Miami-based publications.
La Réserve Eden au Lac in Zurich, Switzerland, appointed Corina Sohner director of sales, effective March 1, 2021. Sohner comes to the appointment from the Widder Hotel in Zurich, where she has served since 2004, most recently as director of sales and marketing and executive assistant manager, guest relations. Sohner has worked with partners including Virtuoso, Leading Hotels of the World and American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts. A Zurich native, she began her career in the city’s The Dolder Grand, rising through the ranks to become director of sales and marketing.
Sweetgrass Inn in Charleston, South Carolina, named Dawn Spann director of spa for Spa at Sweetgrass Inn, opening in March. Spann has more than 18 years of experience in the spa and wellness industry, including 10 years with Destination Hotels & Resorts. She helped launch Glade Springs Spa at Suncadia Resort in Cle Elum, Washington; Cliff House Resort & Spa in Neddick, Maine; and Release Wellbeing Center in Westborough, Massachusetts. She’s also contributed to multiple projects by developing design concepts, spa and wellness programs, sourcing FFE and OSE specifications, creating pre-opening proforma, financial modeling and leadership support.
Adam Stewart is executive chairman of Sandals Resorts International. The company was built by his father, Gordon Stewart, who passed away on January 4, 2021. Before this appointment, Adam Stewart worked alongside his father for more than two decades, serving as chief executive officer and most recently, deputy chairman. Stewart helped oversee the expansion of Sandals Resorts International throughout the Caribbean and has been recognized for his contributions to the destinations where Sandals Resorts operated. In 2009, he launched Sandals Foundation, which has a mission to support communities through education, health care and environmental protection. He has also worked through the Sandals Corporate University to bring learning, mentorship and skills training to thousands of the company’s employees throughout the Caribbean.
Auro Hotels appointed Baileigh Wilson master mixologist and beverage director of AC Hotel by Marriott Greenville Downtown in Greenville, South Carolina. Wilson comes to Auro Hotels from Moxy/AC Hotel Atlanta Midtown, where she was director of restaurants and bars. She also previously managed Park 75 and Bar Margot at Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta. While at Four Seasons Atlanta, Wilson received her Cicerone certification.