First Hospitality, Chicago, appointed Chris Lorino senior vice president of operations. Lorino brings over 25 years of experience in overseeing hotel operations to his role with expertise in the lifestyle segment and hotel portfolio growth.
Lorino is responsible for supporting the company’s senior operational leaders, including vice presidents, regional and area directors, and general managers, as well as assisting in the growth of new hotels in the full-service sector.
Lorino spent the last four years working for Sage Hospitality, most recently as vice president of operations. He supported a portfolio that generated over US$350 million in revenue and led the operational aspects of adding 10 new hotels to his region.
“Beyond Chris’ management style and deep industry experience, he brings a dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusivity with forward-thinking leadership practices that align seamlessly with our company culture,” says David Duncan, president and CEO of First Hospitality. “I know Chris will uphold First Hospitality’s reputation as a trusted partner, as well as contribute to our long track record of high operational excellence.”
W San Francisco has named Amy Arbuckle as the new general manager at the hotel. She joins W after her experience as general manager at The Clancy, an Autograph Collection Hotel, San Francisco.
AC Hotel Fort Lauderdale Beach welcomed Nils Bergmann as its new general manager and Trish Pederson as director of sales & marketing. Bergmann takes on the role after his last experience as general manager at the Kimpton Goodland Hotel, Florida; while Pedersen arrives after being director of sales and marketing also at the Kimpton Goodland Hotel.
Philippe Clarinval is the new general manager of Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois in Basel, Switzerland. He is the former GM of the Carlton Hotel St. Moritz.
Pacifica Hotels appointed Sean Collins as the new executive chef at Marina del Rey Hotel and Billy Haynes takes on the role of executive chef at The Kinney SLO. Prior to Marina del Rey Hotel, Collins made stops at Baltaire, Wolfgang Puck at Hotel Bel Air, and Gordon Ramsey at The London West Hollywood, among others. Chef Haynes was most recently executive chef at Las Brisas in San Luis Obispo, California.
Georgia-based Atrium Hospitality welcomes Anneliesse Cooper as senior vice president of Human Resources. She will be responsible for supporting all the company’s associates within the Atrium-managed hotel portfolio across the United States. Cooper was previously vice president of Human Resources at Marriott International, supporting the company’s Caribbean & Latin America Region.
Hotel Valencia Santana Row, Silicon Valley, California, named Christine Davidson director of sales and marketing. Most recently, Davidson was regional director of Sales with Hersha Hospitality.
Corazón Cabo, the first venture in Mexico for Noble House Hotels & Resorts, hired Eric de Maeyer as executive chef. With more than two decades of experience in luxury resorts and hotels, Chef de Maeyer has worked at Cancun’s Grand Meliá and Live Aqua Hotel, the Grand Velas Riviera Maya, and the Fairmont Mayakoba.
First Hospitality is increasing operating capabilities with the promotion of numerous senior leaders. Jenna Fishel has been appointed senior vice president of revenue generation after overseeing of the marketing department and the regional sales team. Emily Dailey has been promoted to vice president of marketing. Mike Kuzmar has been named VP of revenue analytics after having played a role in expanding First Hospitality’s data capabilities through the pandemic. Mirela Longoni is the new VP of Revenue Strategies and additionally she’s taking on a greater role in expense ownership of the revenue generation department. Anthony Leitz has worked in all areas of property oversight and has been promoted to vice president of operations. Nick Johnson has also been promoted to VP of operations after overseeing the development team at First Hospitality. Last but not least in these series of promotions at First Hospitality, Jared Heglin’s role has been expanded to regional vice president of operations after launching Hilton’s first tri-branded property at McCormick Place in Chicago as the managing director.
NIZUC Resort & Spa, Mexico, promoted Jamie Jaramillo to corporate director of hotel operations for Grupo Brisas, Mexico. Jaramillo’s previous role was that of general manager of the resort. Markus Laahanen has been appointed as the new general manager. Laahanen served as general manager in Hotel Nomade and Be Hotels and worked with Hotel Palmaïa, The House of Aïa in Tulum.
Crystal Kennedy has been named area director of sales for The Statler, a Curio Colllection by Hilton hotel in Dallas managed by Aimbridge Hospitality. In her role, Kennedy will also lead sales at Hilton Dallas Lincoln Centre. Previously, Kennedy worked at Dallas’ Hilton Anatole Hotel.
Michael Kwan has been named executive pastry chef at The Dorchester, London, England. Michael joins The Dorchester after having worked at the Hotel Café Royal in London.
Melinda Maldonado is the new director of sales and marketing at the Hilton Miami Airport Blue Lagoon. During the pandemic, Melinda successfully led the sales and catering team.
Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, has named Alex Marozzi director of memberships. She will be responsible for facilitating and enhancing the resort’s membership programs for the Cabana Beach Club and Sawgrass Spa & Fitness facilities. Marozzi previously served as the director of member relations of the Florida Yacht Club.
Hotel Cerro, San Luis Obispo, California, has announced the hiring of Anna Olson as its new general manager. Olson has recently held roles as CEO and director of business development at the nearby Central Coast Distillery, as well as general manager roles at Allegretto Vineyard Resort, Inn at Morro Bay, Carmel Valley Ranch.
The Slate Denver, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, Colorado, has selected Michael Poompan as executive chef for the new 251- room hotel, located inside the historic Emily Griffith Opportunity School in downtown Denver, including the on-site restaurant –The Teachers’ Lounge Food + Drink– and the banquet and catering space. Poompan’s most recent role was that of executive chef at The Ritz Carlton, Denver.
Matthias Sieber-Wagner, general manager of the IntercityHotel Mainz, Germany, took on the additional responsibility of heading up the IntercityHotel Frankfurt Airport as of April.
Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, Hawaii, announced the promotion of Jillian Stevens to director of meetings and special events. In her previous role, Stevens was the assistant director of catering and conference services at Grand Wailea.
Grace Bay Resorts, Turks and Caicos, announced the promotion of Kulbhushan Tyagi as general manager of Grace Bay Club, the brand’s flagship property and the island’s first luxury all-oceanfront-suite resort. Tyagi has been working at Grace Bay Resorts for six years now. He was appointed executive assistant manager of food and beverage in 2016, and two years later was promoted to resort manager, where he was responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operation of the resort.
Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya appointed Francisco Vargas executive chef to lead culinary team and two new head chefs: Emilio González at the Japanese restaurant Ukai and Jersaí Miranda Sánchez at the signature restaurant Autor. Most recently, Vargas defined the food & beverage program at the opening of Conrad Punta de Mita in Nayarit; González launched three Japanese-inspired restaurants; and Sánchez worked at chef Pedro Abascal’s PRIMO.
Six Senses welcomes five directors of sales and marketing. Louise Smythe will take on that role in Fiji, after working at Kokomo Private Island. Mona Metwally will be leading the area in Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea, Saudi Arabia. She arrives at this new position after being senior portfolio revenue manager at IHG corporate office in Dubai. Bobby Bazemore, was named DOSM at Six Senses Ibiza, Spain. He previously worked at EDITION, London, England. As for Six Senses Zil Pasyon, Seychelles, the new director for this area is Harry Tangalos, who joins the team after having overseen regional sales and marketing for Six Senses properties in Thailand and also being part of the pre-opening team at Six Senses Krabey Island, Cambodia, and Six Senses Bhutan. Finally, Michael Vance takes on the position of regional DOSM in Maldives, overseeing Six Senses Laamu and Six Senses Kanuhura. Vance spent the last four years as the head of sales & marketing at Perowne International in London.
Viewline Resort Snowmass, Colorado, welcomes Craig Waterman as complex general manager and John Hearns as director of operations. In his previous experience, Waterman served as general manager with Davidson Hospitality Group, leading the reopening of BEI San Francisco in early 2022, whereas Hearns was managing director and general manager of the Taverna Restaurant on the Kapalua Resort, Hawaii.
Collective Retreats has announced Nicholas Wirth as general manager of Collective Governors Island, New York. Most recently, he served as director of Food & Beverage at The Greenwich Hotel, New York.