HSMAI NAMES NEW PRESIDENT, CEO
The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) has welcomed Brian Hicks as its new president and CEO. He assumes leadership of the HSMAI Americas, foundation and global entities. Hicks brings in experience in operations, commercial strategy and revenue management.
With over three decades of international experience, Hicks steps into the new role as the fifth CEO in HSMAI’s nearly 100-year history. He will continue to build upon the foundation laid by the late Bob Gilbert, who served as president and CEO for 30 years.
“Brian’s over 30 years of experience in hotel operations and commercial management have provided him the vision to lead the association through its next phase of growth. Having worked globally for Ritz Carlton, Starwood Capital and IHG, including several years in Europe, Brian sees international expansion as a key strategic thrust of our continued development,” said Michael Nowlis, program director, MBA programs at Imperial College Business School and chair of HSMAI Europe Board of Directors.
A long-time supporter and active member of HSMAI, Hicks’ leadership journey includes a tenure as COO of TMI Hospitality, a Starwood Capital subsidiary. Following TMI’s acquisition by Aimbridge Hospitality, he returned to IHG, where he most recently served as senior vice president of commercial and revenue management for the Americas.
LARISA USKAR’S NEW ROLE AT ROTANA
Rotana Hotels has appointed Larisa Uskar as corporate director of brand marketing. With experience across hotel brands such as Jumeirah, Fairmont, Raffles Hotels, Accor and IHG, she will be in charge of a brand uplift and the development of a new marketing strategy at both corporate and property levels.
Aligning with Rotana’s ongoing commitment to women’s empowerment, Uskar will play an important role in fostering female leadership and creating opportunities for women to thrive in the hospitality sector.
MORE MOVES
Meliá Hotels International has appointed Jordi Sanchis as senior development director, as part of its expansion strategy for the Middle East. With more than nine years of experience at Meliá, Sanchis will spearhead the brand’s growth in Southern Europe and parts of Africa, including key markets such as Spain, Italy, Portugal, Angola and Mozambique.
Sanchis will drive Meliá’s ambitious expansion plans across the Middle East. Having recently relocated to Saudi Arabia, he will leverage his international experience and understanding of hotel development to lead strategic projects that align with the company’s goals of strengthening its foothold in the Middle East.
Minor Hotels has appointed Rohit Chopra as area commercial director, India, as the group focuses on expanding its presence in the country. Chopra will lead commercial activities across Minor in India, focusing on driving revenue growth, building client relationships and elevating customer satisfaction and loyalty. He will report to Vijay Krishnan, vice president of operations, India and Richard Beh, vice president of commercial, Asia.
With a career spanning 26 years, Chopra started his career as a sales executive in 1998 and joined Hyatt in 2004 as director of sales and marketing. He moved to Accor in 2013, where he spent more than 10 years rising through the ranks and most recently served as director of national sales for India and South Asia.
Vincent De Croock has joined Park Hyatt New York, located in Manhattan’s Billionaires’ Row as director of sales and marketing. He will focus on growing strategic accounts and cultivating key relationships.
Bringing in more than 15 years of experience in the Hyatt portfolio, De Croock most recently worked as director of sales and marketing for Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort. Prior to that, his hospitality career began in 2005 at Park Hyatt Madrid before moving on to Park Hyatt Washington in Washington, D.C.
The Westin Alexandria Old Town has added two members to its team — Ravi Gaur as general manager and Corey Branham as director of operations.
For the past 12 years, Gaur has worked with Aimbridge Hospitality and hotels such as Pier 66 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; NoMo SoHo New York; The London New York; The Westin Portland Harborview; and The Westin Seaport Boston. He has been working at The Westin Alexandria Old Town for the past six years.
Branham joined Westin Hotels & Resorts in 2014 at The Westin Austin at the Domain. Five years ago, he moved east five years to join The Westin Alexandria Old Town as the restaurant assistant general manager and was then promoted to restaurant general manager later that year. After three years away, he has returned to the hotel in his new role to oversee F&B, rooms and engineering operations.
Brian Harrier has joined Viceroy Snowmass as the managing director. After serving as the director of engineering director of operations at the hotel between 2017 and 2021, Harrier has worked at East West Hospitality as general manager of the Westin Riverfront Resort and Spa in Avon, Colo.
Harrier began his career in engineering at the at the Westin Princeville and St. Regis, Princeville resorts in Hawaii and has leadership experience across hotel operations, spa and fitness and F&B.
The Eliza Jane, a Hyatt Unbound Collection hotel, has appointed Michael Farquharson as managing director. He will lead daily hotel operations, including guest relations and service at the onsite dining venues.
Farquharson brings a global perspective to the hotel with more than 20 years of international hospitality industry expertise. Most recently, he held leadership positions at several Canadian and American properties, including The Westin Bayshore in Vancouver, Sheraton Centre in Toronto, Hotel Colee in Atlanta and Canopy by Hilton in Atlanta.
NEW GMs
Hilton Cancun, an All-Inclusive Resort has welcomed Felix Schlokat as its new general manager. Schlokat, who joined the resort in September, will oversee hotel operations, guest experience and daily services.
Schlokat brings in more than a decade of experience in luxury hospitality. Most recently, he served as hotel manager at Hilton Tulum Riviera Maya All-Inclusive Resort.
Enjoy Group has appointed Frederic Cappello as general manager of El Mangroove, Autograph Collection located in Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula on the Gulf of Papagayo. Cappello’s career spans more than 20 years in the luxury hospitality industry.
Most recently, Cappello served as general manager of El Silencio Lodge & Spa in Costa Rica. Prior to that, he served as resort manager at Nayara Springs and Nayara Spa & Gardens.
Cheval Collection has appointed Christian Potvin as general manager at Cheval Maison-Expo City Dubai, ahead of the hotel’s opening in March 2025. Potvin brings in experience in the U.A.E., at a time when Cheval Collection is expanding in the region.
Most recently, Potvin served as cluster GM of Al Hamra Residence and Al Hamra Village in Ras al Khaimah. Prior to that, he was director of rooms for Accor at the Mercure Barsha Heights and director of rooms and acting GM at Dukes Dubai on The Palm. He has also worked for Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts and Emaar Group.
The Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa and the Westin Resort & Spa, Puerto Vallarta have welcomed Hugo Lecanda as the new multi-property general manager for the sister resorts. He will also serve as area general manager and helm additional properties in Puerto Vallarta and Punta Mita.
With a career spanning 29 years in the luxury segment, with 19 of those with the Marriott International across the Americas and Europe, Lecanda has held executive positions with JW, Westin and Marriott brands in Mexico and Ecuador. He has also served as general manager for Ritz Carlton properties in Cancun, Budapest and Tenerife, Spain.