BARBARA MUCKERMANN JOINS KEMPINSKI AS CEO
Kempinksi Hotels, one of the Europe’s oldest luxury hotel groups, has named Barbara Muckermann as CEO. She is the first woman to helm the group in its 127 years of history. Muckermann was earlier responsible for leading Silversea Cruises, part of the Royal Caribbean Group.
With a career of more than 25 years, she has expanded sales and profitability, along with upgrading the guest and customer experience for global brands in luxury and travel, including Loro Piana, MSC Cruises and NCL. A native of Germany, Muckermann joins Kempinski as the hotel group prepares to widen its footprint into newer markets across the world.
“I could not be more thrilled to be joining Kempinski Hotels as CEO during such a pivotal time for the brand,” said Muckermann. “I am delighted to play an integral role in this incredibly iconic brand’s next chapter while honoring its rich history, and very much look forward to working in tandem with amazing colleagues globally to continue to make the Kempinski name synonymous with individual luxury.”
SANDBOURNE SANTA MONICA’S LEADERSHIP TEAM
Sandbourne Santa Monica, the beachfront hotel slated to open this spring, has appointed an all-female leadership team ahead of its opening. The new appointments include:
- Jessica Rincon as managing director. The former general manager of the Chateau Marmont in Hollywood and The Wayfarer in downtown Los Angeles will lead all operational, sales and marketing initiatives.
- Erica Thorne as director of sales and marketing. She will oversee Sandbourne’s marketing efforts and brand conceptualization, while driving revenue. Prior to her new role, she served as director of sales and marketing at Le Merigot Hotel.
- Jenni Hwang as regional director of marketing, Crescent Hotels & Resorts, Sandbourne’s management firm. Hwang will specialize in omni-channel and multi-channel marketing strategies for diverse properties, including Sandbourne. Her role involves coordinating marketing efforts across five properties.Â
MINOR HOTELS APPOINTS HEAD OF ASIA
Minor Hotels has appointed Puneet Dhawan as head of Asia as the global hotel owner and operator plans to expand its Asian and Indian portfolio. Dhawan will lead the performance of all Minor Hotels senior leadership team from July. He will report to Minor Hotels CEO and Group CEO of Minor International Dilip Rajakarier.
Dhawan brings three decades of experience in hospitality to his new role, with a career spanning Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Prior to his new position, he served as senior vice president of operations – India and South Asia at Accor. During his 25-year tenure at Accor, he oversaw the opening of the first Raffles hotel in India and served as the group’s vice president of operations, Middle East and several general manager positions.
“We are excited to welcome Puneet to the Minor Hotels family. His operational experience and empowering leadership will be invaluable as we work to achieve our growth ambitions in Asia and India in the coming years,” said Rajakarier.
ACTABL NAMES NEW PRESIDENT, COO
Actabl, the hospitality software company, has welcomed Andrew Arthurs as the president and COO. He will join in early June and spearhead several strategic departments within customer experience and operations.
With a background in hospitality technology and management, Arthurs most recently served as the chief information officer at Aimbridge Hospitality. Arthurs has more than two decades of experience and has held leadership positions at Two Roads Hospitality and Vail Resorts.
“I am thrilled to welcome Andrew to the Actabl team. Andrew’s experience and deep commitment to hospitality come at a pivotal moment for us as we renew our commitment to empowering the people who power hospitality. Andrew is an exceptionally talented executive and someone who will help us maintain close-knit and responsive relationships with our customers as we continue to bring four industry-leading products into a single platform,” said Steven Moore, CEO of Actabl.
ADAM PATENAUDE JOINS DREAMSCAPE HOSPITALITY
Dreamscape Hospitality has appointed Adam Patenaude as its new president. He will leverage his expertise to drive Dreamscape’s trajectory as a hotel operator and drive strategic and profitable initiatives for the brand’s portfolio across the U.S.
Patenaude brings an operations-focused leadership background to his new role, with hotel management experience in all verticals, from extended-stay and select-service to full-service, luxury, resorts and independent hotels. He spent 15 years at Aimbridge Hospitality and most recently served as senior vice president of operations.
“Adam’s expertise and drive for innovation are a seamless match for our mission and brand. With Adam steering the ship, I’m confident Dreamscape Hospitality will flourish and redefine the essence of excellence in hospitality management,” said Dreamscape Founder Eric Birnbaum.
HOTEL VIN ANNOUNCES KEY TEAM MEMBERS
Hotel Vin, Autograph Collection, the 120-key boutique hotel in Grapevine, Texas, has announced two appointments. The hotel has welcomed Kalyana Krishnamoorthy as hotel manager and Michael Cole as director of sales and catering.
Krishnamoorthy will be leading the hotel’s food and beverage program, security team and the rooms division. Since beginning his career at a young age at his family’s hotel in Malaysia, Krishnamoorthy went on to work at several leading hospitality brands, such as Four Seasons Resort Napa Valley, The Ritz Carlton, St. Regis, MGM Grand and The Luxury Collection Hotel.
Cole will be responsible for cultivating relationships with new and existing customers, leading the sales and catering team and contributing to the overall success of the property. He brings 20 years of hospitality experience and has worked at properties across Texas, including with Remington Hospitality, Intermountain Hotels and Atrium Hospitality as well as Empress Hotels in the U.K.
MORE MOVES
The Stafford Collection, the independently-owned luxury portfolio of properties in the U.K., has welcomed John McLean as general manager. McLean has 20 years of experience in the hotel industry and has helmed multiple premium hotels in London.
Prior to his position at The Stafford Collection, McLean served as interim general manager at The Cadogan Hotel in Chelsea. He has also worked as general manager of The Kensington, hotel manager and interim general manager of Brown’s Hotel London and executive head of F&B at The Lanesborough.
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has named Stephane Massarini as managing director of Rosewood Kauri Cliffs, Rosewood Cape Kidnappers and Rosewood Matakauri in New Zealand.
He will lead all managing director responsibilities of the three properties, curate guest experiences while preserving the native culture at three resorts. Part of the Rosewood family since 2021, Massarini was the resort manager of Rosewood Le Guanahani St. Barth in the Caribbean’s French West Indies. Previously, he served as general manager at the IHG InterContinental Beppu and Spa in Japan.
Terri A. Haack has returned to Wild Dunes Resort after 17 years as its new managing director. She will oversee the overall strategy and management of the hotel, which is located on Isle of Palms, S.C.
In her most recent position, Haack served as senior vice president of Loew Corporate Headquarters in Los Angeles, where she contributed in the success of Lowe and CoralTree Hospitality, particularly at Lowe’s Terranea Resort, where she served as president. Prior to her role at Terranea, she served as executive vice president and managing director at Wild Dunes Resort.
Joakim Velinder has joined Shangri-La Muscat in Oman as director of sales and marketing. He is a member of the leadership team at the Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah and Shangri-La Al Husn, a complex comprising 640 rooms with 14 outlets, located along the Gulf of Oman.
Formerly associated with the Hyatt Group, Velinder gained early experience in Europe and most recently, served as the cluster director of sales and marketing for Alila Hotels in Oman.
The Elms Hotel and Spa, part of the Destination by Hyatt portfolio, has appointed Mark Johnson as director of sales marketing and events. He will be in charge of the hotel’s sales and marketing initiatives and capitalize on revenue opportunities.
He brings more than 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, with expertise in sales, business development and hotel operations. Prior to his new role, he served as director of sales, marketing and events at Hyatt Place Hotel and Conference Center in Kansas City for almost three years. Before joining the Hyatt family, Johnson held a leadership position with Peachtree Hotel Group leading all sales efforts and above property support for a portfolio of three hotel brands and 11 Peachtree Hotels.