Choice Hotels International, Rockville, Maryland, has appointed Megan Brumagim to the newly created role of vice president of environmental, social and governance (ESG).
In this new role, Brumagim will lead Choice’s sustainability and corporate social responsibility initiatives, championing the pillars of environmental sustainability, human rights, diversity and inclusion, philanthropic and community engagement, and corporate governance. In addition to furthering the company’s existing mission-driven initiatives, Brumagim will continue to develop the company’s ESG blueprint to drive alignment among key stakeholders and ensure Choice remains well-positioned to build on its corporate engagement efforts.
“Choice’s commitment to the communities in which our associates and franchisees live and work isn’t new – the company was founded upon the mainstay of community service, and this spirit is proudly fostered inside and outside of our doors each day,” said Patrick Cimerola, chief human resources officer, Choice Hotels. “Today, Choice is poised to build on these efforts, which is why we are proud to appoint Megan to the helm of this critical function. Megan is a passionate leader and a longtime champion of the Choice brand and community. This, coupled with her broad industry knowledge, makes her the ideal candidate to take our ESG program to the next level.”
Brumagim joined Choice Hotels in 2015 as the head of the company’s flagship Comfort Hotels brand and quickly ascended to the position of vice president of brand management, design and compliance, where she oversaw the strategy and performance of Choice’s largest brands. Brumagim led the pandemic response for Choice’s core brands and helped develop the company’s Commitment to Clean initiative.
Solage, Auberge Resorts Collection, Calistoga, California, has named Pete Alles as general manager. Prior to joining Auberge Resorts Collection, Alles held a tenure working with both Fairmont Hotels and Four Seasons Hotels in the Greater Los Angeles area as director of operations, director of food and beverage, as well as several other culinary and hospitality positions.
Dream Hotel Group, New York City, announced the appointment of Shane Batchelor as director of operations at Dream Nashville. He previously served as director of operations at Strategic Hospitality, a restaurant and entertainment hospitality company, and at Game Terminal, a popular lounge and arcade.
Chris Crary will be culinary director at 1 Hotel Nashville, Tennessee. Crary joins the team after leading the culinary team at 1 Hotel West Hollywood in California.
Jon Boggs has been promoted to general manager of LON’s at the Hermosa Inn, Paradise Valley, Arizona, after his two-year tenure as the assistant general manager at LON’s. The inn also announced that David G. Rosenbaum has been named the director of sales and marketing. Rosenbaum has more than 35 years of experience in the resort hotel and conference center sales arena, all in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area.
Mission Point Resort, Mackinac Island, Michigan, selected John Clements as executive chef and Michael Wilson as director of food and beverage. Clements had several roles in Michigan, including those of executive chef of The Village Club and Plum Hollow Country Club, as well as notably leading Birchwood Farms Golf and Country Club’s culinary team for more than seven years. Wilson joins Mission Point after gaining experience working seasonal management positions at the Pink Pony on Mackinac Island and at Keystone Ski Resort in Keystone, Colorado.
Gregg Forde has been promoted to president and COO of Island Hospitality Management, West Palm Beach, Florida, which he joined in 2003 and where he has held a series of increasingly important roles within the organization, including regional vice president, senior vice president of operations and executive vice president/chief operating officer before this promotion.
Florida-based McKibbon Hospitality announced the promotion and appointment of four key leaders to its corporate team. Ben Golson has been promoted to vice president of digital marketing and eCommerce. Golson joined McKibbon in 2012 and previously served as director of eCommerce. Heather Brinson has joined McKibbon as regional director of sales and marketing. Most recently, Brinson served as regional director of sales for Humanist Hospitality Group, Chattanooga, Tennessee. Rebecca Fernandez has joined as regional revenue manager. She most recently served as regional revenue manager for Hotel Equities, Georgia. Gianna Esparza is the new eCommerce marketing manager after her tenure as digital marketing and analytics manager in Hotel Paso del Norte, Texas.
Marquis Los Cabos, Mexico, announced the addition of new Executive Chef Claudio Hotter, and the promotion of longtime team member Casandra Luna to director of sales and marketing. Hotter previously held the role of executive chef at Iberostar Selection Playa Mita, Mexico, whereas Luna was associate director of sales at Marquis Los Cabos.
KHP Capital Partners, San Francisco, California, announces four new leadership appointments: Charlie Kim and Steve Reinstein were both appointed vice presidents in the investments group; Josefina Radcliffe and Mike Long will serve as vice presidents in the asset management group. Kim previously worked with the principals of KHP from 2014 to 2017. Prior to joining KHP, Reinstein spent over 10 years with DiamondRock Hospitality, most recently serving as vice president of investments and asset management. As for Josefina Radcliffe’s prior experience, she had increasingly senior roles with McWhinney, Hyatt Hotels Corp., and Sage Hospitality. Mike Long joins after nearly six years with Geolo Capital, most recently serving as vice president.
The Kimpton Overland Atlanta, Georgia, appointed Drew Kirkland as its new executive chef. Previously, Kirkland helmed the kitchen at the newly opened Epicurean Atlanta, an Autograph Collection Hotel.
Dusit International, Bangkok, Thailand, has appointed Prateek Kumar as senior vice president of operations. Prateek first joined Dusit 14 years ago as general manager of Dusit Thani Manila, where he has had several leadership positions, including his most recent role as regional vice president in EMEA.
Dimension Hospitality announced several new appointments at their Hyatt Regency Westlake hotel, California. Breann Levinson has been named general manager; her most recent role was that of director of operations at the Warner Center Marriott Woodland Hills, California. Scott McClatchey has been appointed catering sales manager. Scott previously served as director of catering and convention services at the Crown Plaza Ventura Beach Hotel and the Hilton Woodland Hills hotel, both in California. Barbara Flinn has rejoined the team as convention services manager. Martha Castano has been promoted to group sales manager after serving as guest services representative.
Hilton Anaheim, Orange County, California, promoted chef Juan Lopez to executive chef. Lopez has been a part of Hilton Anaheim since 1985.
Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa, Ponte Vedra, Florida, has named Edgar Maldonado as its new executive chef. Maldonado rejoins the resort where he once worked as sous chef after his experience developing his culinary style under some of the top chefs in the nation, including James Beard award winner Melissa Kelly. Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa has also chosen Patrick Beach as assistant sous chef of Cabana Beach Club. Beach previously worked at the resort at farm-to-table restaurant Vernon’s First Coast Kitchen & Bar.
Outrigger Hospitality Group, Honolulu, Hawaii, announced two executive appointments: Steve Miller as the new general manager of the iconic Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort and Cesar Herrera as the company’s vice president of design and construction.
Four Seasons Resort Lanai, Hawaii, appointed Avi Phookan as resort manager. He joins the Lanai property from the Alaia Belize, where he served as a pre-opening manager for the resort.
YOTEL Boston has chosen Guara Pimenta as chef de cuisine and Andrew Wolan as director of food and beverage. Pimenta brings 23 years of experience in positions at multiple Massachusetts restaurants including Kingston Station, Les Zygomates and Blue Ox Restaurant. Prior to joining YOTEL, Wolan held the role of beverage director of Mooo…. at XV Beacon Hotel.
General Hotel Mananagement welcomed James Reppuhn as the new executive chef of The Chedi Muscat, Oman. Reppuhn has over a decade of experience in the kitchens of hospitality groups across Asia Pacific, including Aman Hotels & Resorts, Four Seasons Hotels, Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts and JW Marriott.
The Ritz-Carlton, Boston, Massachusetts, chose Michael Rostafin as the new chef de cuisine. Most recently, Rostafin served as executive chef at the Provincetown Inn, Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Eden Hotels, Netherlands, chose Billy Skelli-Cohen as chief executive officer. Most recently, Skelli-Cohen co-founded soon to be launched hospitality brand Àterre.
Martin Sweeney has been named head chef at Covent Garden Hotel, London, England. Sweeney brings 17 years of experience to the hotel’s classic brassiere, including positions at Tramshed, HIX, Selfridges and Petersham Nurseries.
Hutton Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee, has announced the appointment of Larry Tsoumas as director of sales and marketing. Tsoumas has held director-level positions in sales and marketing across several top hotels and hospitality groups, including One&Only Palmilla, Peninsula Chicago, Four Seasons Santa Barbara, Ritz Carlton Amelia Island, and Mandarin Oriental Boston.
Hotel Viking, Newport, Rhode Island, named Adrienne Willis as Spa Fjör’s new director. Willis gained experience at multiple Hyatt properties including Hyatt Regency Monterey Resort & Spa in California and Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa in Hawaii.