TWO INDUSTRY VETERANS JOIN AIMBRIDGE
Aimbridge Hospitality has named Tiffany Cooper as chief development officer, Americas & Caribbean and Niall Kelly as head of development–EMEA.
Cooper brings nearly three decades of sales and marketing, operations and development experience to Aimbridge. Most recently, she served as head of development, North America and Caribbean, for Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants. Cooper began her hospitality career with Kimpton in sales in 1995 and rose through positions at global hotel companies, including Starwood Hotels & Resorts, where she managed property sales teams and led development opportunities for the Western US for the Real Estate Group. Post-merger with Marriott International, Cooper joined the development team to assist in the expansion of Marriott’s full-service and luxury brand footprint.
Kelly brings over 25 years of experience and most recently served as a development consultant to Marriott International, undertaking various deal structures from complex leases and residential deals to management and franchise. Before his consulting work, Kelly served as vice president of development EMEA for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, where he oversaw the growth of Starwood’s presence in Europe, including the introduction of new brands like W Aloft and Element.
NEW GMs
Mandarin Oriental, Canouan, the all-suite, all-villa luxury resort in St. Vincent and The Grenadines, has appointed Hemal Jain as general manager. Bringing more than 18 years of hospitality and executive leadership experience to the Caribbean destination, Jain joins Mandarin Oriental, Canouan, from Alila Villas Uluwatu and Alila Manggis, Virtuoso-affiliated properties in Bali, Indonesia, where he served as general manager. Before that, Jain held general manager, director of sales & marketing and front office manager positions at Alila Bangalore Hotel and Residence in India and a series of operational leadership roles with Park Hyatt Hadahaa, Maldives and Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa.
AC Hotel New Orleans French Quarter has appointed Taylor McInerney as general manager. Most recently, he was dual general manager at Hotel Indigo New Orleans French Quarter, overseeing the hotel and its onsite restaurant Common Interest. McInerney has held leadership positions at other New Orleans properties, including general manager/director of sales at the Cambria New Orleans Downtown Warehouse District, regional director of Operations at Q Hotel Management LaPlace and general manager at TownePlace Suites by Marriott New Orleans Harvey/West Bank.
Four Seasons Resort and Residences Cabo San Lucas at Cabo Del Sol has appointed Richard Raab as general manager. Most recently, he served as general manager of Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay and the former Four Seasons Hotel Lion Place St. Petersburg. Raab’s Four Seasons career began in the food and beverage division at the legendary Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills.
Hilton Anaheim has appointed Sergio Bocci as general manager. Bocci previously worked for the Hilton Anaheim from 2012 to 2015 as hotel manager and boasts 38 years of experience working for Hilton Hotels & Resorts. Bocci has been the general manager of the Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort since June 2020. His career with Hilton Hotels also includes holding various leadership roles, from director of operations to general manager, at several prominent properties such as DoubleTree by Hilton San Diego Mission Valley, Hilton Anaheim, The Beverly Hilton and Waldorf Astoria La Quinta Resort and Club.
Kimpton Taconic Hotel, located in the Manchester Village in Vermont and overlooking the Taconic mountain range, has announced the appointment of Nicholas Squire as general manager. Squire returns to Vermont after serving as general manager of Mill Falls at the Lake in New Hampshire. Before that, he served as General Manager for four years of the Four Columns Inn in Newfane, Vt., and lodging director of the Hermitage Club in West Dover, Vt., for three years.