Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG), Atlanta, Georgia, has welcomed Sameer Nair as senior vice president of acquisitions and development. He was previously vice president of investments and capital markets for Kolter Hospitality, Delray Beach, Florida, where he oversaw more than US$600 million in transactions.
“An industry expert with more than a decade of hospitality real estate experience, Sameer immediately brings a wealth of knowledge and industry relationships he’s acquired during his decorative career thus far. His presence immediately augments and broadens our already strong bench strength, and we look forward to Sameer playing an important role in helping HVMG and our owners and investors achieve their growth goals,” said Robert Cole, president and chief executive officer, HVMG.
Over the course of his career, Nair has sourced and closed more than US$350 million across Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, and Marriott-franchised hotels, as well as negotiating and restructuring US$1 billion of existing debt. In his previous role as vice president of hotel investments for Banyan Investment Group, Miramar Beach, Florida, Nair led or assisted in more than US$125 million of closed transaction volume. He also held analyst positions with firms as Aztec Group, Inc., St. Helier, Jersey; Starwood Property Trust, Greenwich, Connecticut; and HotelAVE, Providence, Rhode Island. Nair founded Culture to Culture Pals, a non-profit organization that provides computers to underserved children in Jamaica.
“Sameer has been pivotal in the growth of multiple, well-respected hospitality companies, and we fully expect him to have continued, similar successes here,” said Brian Young, executive vice president and CIO, HVMG. “The breadth and depth of his industry relationships and knowledge are expansive, assets we plan to put to use immediately.”
Corporate Management
Remington Hotels, Dallas, Texas, has welcomed Dan Falvey as senior vice president of business development. Most recently, he was head of real estate for The Demex Group, Washington.
PM Hotel Group, Chevy Chase, Maryland, has appointed Bob Frost as senior vice president, people and culture. Previously, Frost served as the senior vice president and chief people officer for Lerner Enterprises, Rockville, Maryland, and the Washington Nationals Baseball Club.
KSL Resorts, Irvine, California, has promoted Chris Riccardi to senior vice president, global sales strategy. Previously, Riccardi was executive vice president of Associated Luxury Hotels International, Dallas, Texas, a position he held for 15 years.
Peachtree Group has selected Natalie Robinson as vice president of people and culture. Previously, Robinson was the human resource director of OS National, Duluth, Georgia.
Centara Hotels & Resorts, Bangkok, Thailand, has appointed Siriwan Wangthamrong as executive vice president of human resources. Siriwan was most recently director, human resources and administration for G4S Security Services, Thailand.
General Managers and Managing Directors
McKibbon Hospitality, Tampa, Florida, has selected Curt Cerise as dual general manager of Courtyard by Marriott Atlanta Midtown & Element by Westin Atlanta Midtown, Georgia. Cerise joins from Chartwell Hospitality, Franklin, Tennessee, where he most recently served as dual general manager of the Courtyard and Residence Inn Kansas City Downtown Convention Center, Missouri.
Michael Dorfer has become general manager of Jaz in the City Vienna, Austria. Previously, Dorfer served as general manager at Moxy Vienna Airport.
Rosewood Hotel Group, Hong Kong, China, has appointed Roland Duerr as managing director of Rosewood Munich, Germany. Since 2016, Duerr served as managing director of Rosewood Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Omni Hotels & Resorts has welcomed Todd Gagnon as general manager at Omni Tempe Hotel at Arizona State University. With nearly 10 years of experience at Omni Hotels & Resorts, Gagnon most recently served as general manager of the historic Omni Severin Hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana.
JW Marriott Hotel Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, has chosen Yudit García as general manager. Before joining, she served as general manager of the Courtyard Santo Domingo.
Pacifica Hotels, Aliso Viejo, California, has selected Greg Heyn as general manager of Springhill Suites Paso Robles, Atascadero, California. Previously, Heyn was general manager at Creek Lodge in San Luis Obispo, California.
Pacifica Hotels, Aliso Viejo, California, has welcomed William Stout as area general manager at Cambria Collection. Most recently, Stout was director of operations at Hyatt Carmel Highlands, Carmel-By-The-Sea, California.
Delta Hotels by Marriott Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada, has selected Derek Hiscoke as general manager. Hiscoke has extensive experience, having managed at the Calgary Marriott Hotel (Calgary, Alberta, Canada), the Millennium Bailey Hotel (London, England), the Sopwell House (St. Albans, England), Arc The Hotel (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada), and the Waltham Abbey Marriott (Waltham Abbey, England).
Mainsail Lodging & Development, Tampa, Florida, has appointed Jason Perkins as general manager of The Karol Hotel, Pinellas County, Florida. Perkins is replacing Adam Duffey, who is now the new general manager of the Fenway Hotel in Dunedin, Florida. Previously, Perkins was dual director of operations at the Lexington Marriott City Center & Residence Inn, Kentucky.
David Stanton has been appointed as general manager of The West Hollywood Edition, Los Angeles, California. Stanton has worked with Edition for over five years, most recently serving as general manager of The London Edition, England.
Rosewood Villa Magna, Madrid, Spain, has appointed Friedrich Von Schönburg as managing director. Von Schönburg most recently worked as the general manager of El Palace Barcelona, Spain.
Food & Beverage
The Marriott Marquis Houston, Texas, has selected Pablo Aguirre as executive chef. Most recently, Aguirre held the same role at the Houston Airport Marriott at George Bush Intercontinental.
Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa, South Walton, Florida, has named Fleetwood Covington as the new executive chef at the onsite Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood. Having joined Seagar’s team in 2017, Fleetwood most recently served as chef de cuisine.
DDR Hospitality, Oakhurst, California, has appointed Chris Flint as culinary director. Previously, Flint was the executive chef at Fellow restaurant in Los Angeles, California.
The Kimpton Sawyer, Sacramento, California, has appointed Didier Gerbi as executive chef and Mark Reck as director of food and beverage. Gerbi most recently served as executive chef of Harris Ranch Inn & Restaurant in Coalinga, California, while Reck served as director of food and beverage at DoubleTree.
Perry Lane Hotel, Savannah, Georgia, has welcomed Dan Herget as executive chef. Herget previously served at The Standard Spa Miami Beach, Florida.
Hector Prieto has been named executive chef at the Caribe Hilton in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Prieto has been with Caribe Hilton since 2004, after receiving a degree in culinary arts and starting as sous chef.
Alila Marea Beach Resort, Encinitas, California, has named Chris Simmons as director of restaurants, bars, and events; Juan Sanchez as beverage director; Jessica Carreira as sous chef; and Vanessa Tewilliager as the assistant director of food and beverage. Simmons has been with Alila since its opening, previously holding roles at several San Diego hotels and restaurants including a stint as outlets manager at Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, Rancho Santa Fe, California. Sanchez was most recently the beverage director for Belmont Park Entertainment, San Diego, California. Carreira has been with Alila since its opening, working in the pastry kitchen. Tewilliager most recently served as the general manager and director of training and development for the Villagio Hospitality group, Manassas, Virginia.
Sales & Marketing
Hilton Alexandria Mark Center, Virginia, has appointed Isabel Anderson as director of sales and marketing. Previously, she served as director of sales and marketing for the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Sunrise, Sawgrass Mills, Sunrise, Florida.
Omni Hotels & Resorts has selected Matt Drusch as director of sales and marketing at Omni Tempe Hotel at Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona. Most recently, Drusch served as director of sales at Omni Oklahoma City Hotel, Oklahoma.
Pacifica Hotels, Aliso Viejo, California, has selected Yogini Geria as director of sales at Residence Inn Yorba Linda Anaheim Hills, California. Previously, Geria was sales director at The Hotel Fullerton Anaheim.
Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, has hired Jay Marsella as vice president of sales and marketing. Marsella most recently served as complex director of sales at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando and Signia Bonnet Creek, Orlando, Florida.
Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront, Florida, has announced Kerry Murtaugh as senior sales manager. Murtaugh joined from Hyatt Lodge Oak Brook Chicago, Oak Brook, Illinois, where she was group sales manager.
Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel, California, has appointed Jeffery Shen as international wholesale sales manager. Shen joined from JBS Group Inc., Arcadia, California, where he advanced from a tour services manager to sales director and eventually operations director.
Silverado Resort and Spa, Napa, California has named Coleen Reardon as director of marketing. Previously, Reardon was with Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah.
The Trade Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has welcomed Samantha Sullivan as director of sales. Most recently, Sullivan held a position where she worked with East Coast Association Companies for the Marcus Hotel & Resorts Area Sales Team, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.