Fairfax, Virginia-based Playa Hotels & Resorts has appointed a new executive vice president and chief development officer, someone who was with the company at its inception in 2006. InterContinental Hotels Group made an internal executive promotion, and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts named an internationally-renowned fitness expert to the role of global fitness advisor. (This person has worked with such minor celebrities as Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga and Gwyneth Paltrow.) Read on for the exciting moves and even more compelling people who make them.
Global Hotel Alliance, an alliance of independent hotel brands, appointed Andrew Boshoff Chief Financial Officer, a newly-created role. Boshoff has more than 20 years of experience working with the world’s leading hotel and travel industry companies, as well as major U.S. and European financial investors.
Palm Mountain Resort & Spa appointed Steven Boswell general manager. Most recently, he served as the regional managing director of multiple hotels in the southwest region, including The Nautical Beachfront Resort and Tivoli Lodge.
The Kimpton Cardinal Hotel in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, named Kelly Brown general manager. Most recently, she was GM at the Inn at Diamond Cove located in New England.
Mayflower Inn & Spa, Auberge Resorts Collection, a retreat in the Connecticut countryside, named Marco Bustamante interim general manager. Bustamante was formerly hotel manager of Auberge’s Chileno Bay Resort & Residences in Los Cabos, Mexico.
Swietlana Cahill joins Atrium Hospitality as general manager of the Hilton Long Beach in California. Cahill brings more than 25 years of hospitality experience to the 399-room hotel, including 12 years in the Los Angeles area.
Joseph Cardone was named general manager of DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Washington DC – Crystal City. Most recently, Cardone served as hotel manager at Florida’s Hilton Orlando.
Nanuku, Auberge Resorts Collection in Pacific Harbo, Fiji, appointed Nathan Decker as the first U.S.-based director of sales for the resort. Most recently, he served as director of sales for The Resort at Paws Up in Montana.
Hilton Grand Vacations named Patrick Duda vice president, enterprise digital capabilities. Most recently, Duda worked in the auto and home insurance industry, where he helped advance digital, customer experience and data-oriented capabilities for Erie Insurance, a Fortune 500 company.
Hilton Washington D.C. National Mall named two seasoned hospitality professionals to its executive team: Claudia Eggspuhler as general manager and Vanessa Wilson, director of sales and marketing.
Costa Hollywood named Caitlan Etchevers director of sales and marketing. Previously she was director of domestic sales at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Orlando, Florida-based Hilton Grand Vacations named Hollie Gilbert as vice president, field marketing. Recently, Gilbert served as chief marketing officer for Zealandia Holding Company, which specializes in hospitality and vacation ownership.
Park Hyatt Aviara Resort Golf Club & Spa, a luxury resort on the Pacific Coast in North San Diego County, California, named Geoff Gray general manager. Prior to joining Hyatt, Gray served as director of rooms at The Statler Hotel at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.
Gregory Gubiani was appointed general manager of The Westin Kuala Lumpur in Malyasia. A French national, Gubiani is fluent in French, English, Italian and is knowledgeable in Spanish and German. He graduated from the School of Tourism and Leisure Management in Strasbourg, France. Gubiani previously spearheaded the Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral from 2015 to 2018.
InterContinental Hotels Group promoted Christian Hempell to senior vice president of Global Loyalty and Partnerships. Hempell joined IHG in 2003 as director of global strategy, based in the UK. and since that time has worked across the brand portfolio in Europe and the Americas.
Clemens Hoerth was appointed area vice president of operations for Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. Hoerth will continue as general manager of Mandarin Oriental Pudong, Shanghai and will still oversee the operations at Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing, Beijing and Mandarin Oriental Qianmen, Beijing, two new properties scheduled to open in China’s capital in 2019.
21c Museum Hotels named Gabe Isaac general manager of 21c Museum Hotel Lexington in Kentucky. Isaac joined 21c Museum Hotels in 2007 as a front desk agent at 21c Louisville, and quickly worked his way up to general manager of 21c Cincinnati in 2014.
The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua in Maui named Curry Kucherer director of national accounts. Previous to joining Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, Kucherer spent the past 12 years at the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa in Tucson, Arizona, where she held several positions.
Marriott International named Hector Ladevezeas general manager of W Costa Rica – Reserva Conchal. Prior to moving to Costa Rica, Ladevezeas held the role of hotel manager at Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel and Towers.
Washington, D.C.-based The Hay-Adams appointed Toby Lent director of catering. Most recently Lent served as the director of catering and private events at the Peninsula Beverly Hills.
Leland M. Lewis was named general manager of Chautauqua Hotel Company, which includes the historic Athenaeum Hotel in New York, and all of the institution’s dining and lodging service. An experienced senior executive in the hospitality industry, Lewis has served as interim general manager since August.
Noble House Hotels & Resorts, a hotel ownership and management company, named Heinrich Morio general manager to Ocean Key Resort & Spa, an oceanfront property in Key West, Florida.
Fairfax, Virginia-based Playa Hotels & Resorts appointed Fernando Mulet executive vice president and chief development officer. Mulet is a founding member of Playa’s management, beginning with the company at its inception in 2006. Before joining Playa, Mulet was director of International Investments and Asset Management with Highland Hospitality Corporation. A native of Spain, he began his career in the hospitality industry at Barceló Hotels & Resorts.
The Mandarin Oriental, Boston named Kenneth Ng director of marketing and commerce. Ng joins Mandarin Oriental from InterContinental Boston, where he served as director of sales and marketing for a decade.
Dream Hotel Group has assumed management of the Tideline Ocean Resort & Spa in Palm Beach, Florida, as well as appointed Emily Nichols general manager of the resort property.
Aylin Nöske was appointed general manager of the IntercityHotel Dubai Jaddaf Waterfront. The 37-year old Ms. Nöske has been with IntercityHotel GmbH since 2008. Her most recent role was at the IntercityHotel in Darmstadt, where she took over the reins in 2012.
New York-based Sixty Hotels named Maureen O’Brien vice president of sales and marketing. Prior to joining Sixty, O’Brien served as senior vice president of sales and marketing at Denihan Hospitality Group.
Mii amo, a destination spa in Sedona, Arizona, appointed Holly Palmer head chef. Palmer most recently served as Party Chef for Michael’s Catering, one of the Southwest’s largest caterers.
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts named internationally-renowned fitness expert Harley Pasternak to the role of global fitness advisor. With notable clients including Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga and Gwyneth Paltrow, Pasternak is a New York Times bestselling author who has also served as an exercise and nutrition scientist for Canada’s Department of National Defense.
Choice Hotels International promoted Abhijit Patel to vice president of marketing and distribution strategy and operations. Patel joined Choice Hotels in 2015 as a director of business planning and, throughout his tenure, has held roles of increasing responsibility.
San Diego-based Kimpton Solamar Hotel promoted Edward Podolske to director of finance. Prior to joining Kimpton, Podolske held various roles at other San Diego hotel properties including the Omni Hotels & Resorts, where he served in a paymaster role for more than two years.
Conrad Dublin named Gabriela Gómez Quintana executive head chef and Bartosz Szynaka sous chef at the luxury Ireland hotel. Quintana joins Conrad Dublin touting 17 years of experience at 4- and 5-star hotels around the world. Previosuly, Quintana has held various positions at Hilton and Conrad properties in Colombia, Japan, Portugal, Bakú and Barcelona.
Stuart Race was named executive chef for Delta Hotels – Marriott Dallas Allen & Watters Creek Convention Center, a Benchmark Resorts & Hotels property set to open in January of next year. Race was previously executive chef for the Sheraton Dallas Hotel and Convention Center.
Dorchester Collection has appointed two new senior executives to take leading positions in sales and marketing for its three UK hotels – The Dorchester and 45 Park Lane in Mayfair, and Coworth Park in Ascot. The duo, Matthew Rowlette and Susannah Luri were appointed area director of sales and marketing and director of sales for North America, respectively.
The Benson Hotel, a 287-room property near Portland, Oregon’s Pearl District and operated and managed by Coast Hospitality, named George Schweitzer managing director. Most recently, he served as CEO of West Coast Event Productions, where he managed operations, sales and administration for the company’s Portland headquarters, as well as branch locations in Bend, Oregon, and Las Vegas, Nevada.
Chicago-based Spire Hospitality, proudly welcoming Marletta Smith to the team as regional director of sales. Most recently, she served as corporate director of sales for NewcrestImage and Pillar Hotels and Resorts.
The Governor, a 122-room property located in Olympia, Washington, and operated and managed by Coast Hotels, named Lisa M. Stolte operations and sales manager. Most recently, Stolte held the position of director of sales at Holiday Inn Express Columbus East.