BWH ANNOUNCES NEW BOARD CHAIRPERSON
BWH Hotels’ Board of Directors has elected Phil Payne as board chairperson for 2024. Payne, who previously served as board vice chairperson, brings decades of hospitality experience and over 40 years of BWH Hotels ownership to his new role.
Payne has owned and operated six BWH Hotels properties alongside his brothers since 1982. During his time as an owner, Payne also served as managing member of Best Western Plus Rio Grande Inn, Best Western Governor for Western New Mexico and member of the brand’s Reservation & Technology Advisory Committee.
“I am pleased to announce Phil Payne as our new Chairperson of the Board,” said BWH Hotels President and CEO Larry Cuculic. “Phil has been a long-tenured, trusted and highly valued member of our organization for over four decades. His many years of experience with BWH Hotels and crucial knowledge of the hospitality industry make him the ideal individual to serve as Chairperson for the upcoming year. I look forward to working alongside Phil and his colleagues on the Board of Directors during this exciting time for our brand as we navigate immense global growth and expansion, continue to deliver industry-leading customer care to our guests, and drive superior revenue to our hoteliers.”
Some of his previous roles include working as a CPA and attorney and co-founding a CPA firm in Alaska, where he designed and wrote tax, accounting and financial software systems for various firms.
HILTON APPOINTS CONRAD ORLANDO EXEC TEAMÂ
Hilton has announced appointments to the executive leadership team of Conrad Orlando, slated to open this January.
Conrad Orlando will feature 433 guest rooms with 61 suites, five restaurants and lounges, the Conrad Spa Orlando and Water Garden and over 65,000 square feet of indoor-outdoor meeting and event space.
Alyssa Gerzanick will serve as director of hotel operations and brings over 13 years of experience in the luxury hotel space to her new role. Gerzanick relocated to Orlando, Fla., at a young age and has held several positions at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando and Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, from director of front office to assistant director of housekeeping.
Joshua Murray has been appointed director of food & beverage. Murray has over 20 years of food & beverage experience in upscale restaurants, hotels and resorts. He served as director of food & beverage at Conrad Washington DC and also as executive chef at the property, in addition to other roles at properties like Marriott Marquis Chicago, Phoenix Renaissance Downtown and Lodge at Sonoma Renaissance.
Lindsay Neeley is the new director of spa, wellness & retail. Neeley joins the Conrad Orlando team with over 20 years of experience overseeing luxury spas, most recently as Spa Director of the Waldorf Astoria Orlando. Some of her previous positions include roles at Mansion on Forsyth Park and Bella Vita Medical Spa and as assistant spa director at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
PEACHTREE GROUP APPOINTS SENIOR VP OF EQUITY ASSET MANAGEMENT
Peachtree Group has named Sameer Nair as senior vice president of Equity Asset Management. In this role, he will oversee and implement asset oversight to Peachtree’s real estate portfolio and preferred equity investments.
With more than a decade of hospitality experience, Nair was most recently senior vice president of acquisitions and development for Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG), where he sourced equity, debt and third-party management opportunities. Prior positions include serving as vice president of investments and capital markets for Kolter Hospitality and vice president of hotel investments at Banyan Investment Group.
NEW COO AT INDIGO ROAD’S LODGING & LIFESTYLE DIVISION
The Indigo Road Hospitality Group has promoted Gabriel Perez to COO of its Lodging & Lifestyle Adventures division as current president Larry Spelts steps down.
Perez previously held the position of senior director of lodging operations at The Indigo Road. His hospitality experience also includes being a general manager with IHG Hotels & Resorts and Highgate, along with experience at several other prominent hotel brands.