Banyan Tree Phuket in Thailand named two directors while Benchmark announced a chief sales officer. Meanwhile, AC Hotel Grand Rapids Downtown appointed a team of operations managers, all natives of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Here are more hospitality moves and promotions as we enter March.
Tuckers Point in Hamilton Parish, Bermuda, named Paul Adams general manager of club operations. Adams returns to Tucker’s Point after four years at Turtle Hill Golf Club in Southampton Parish, Bermuda, where he was PGA director of golf.
Anna Corrine Barrett is now director of food and beverage for Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa, a Benchmark Resorts & Hotels property in Lake Arrowhead, California. Barrett, who earlier in her career worked within the food and beverage department at the resort, most recently was general manager of food and beverage for the Napa Valley Wine Train of Napa, California.
Rocco Forte Hotels named Giacomo Battafarano general manager of Verdura Resort, a Rocco Forte Hotel in Sicily, Italy. Battafarano has deep experience in the luxury hotel industry, previously working at properties in Italy, Portugal and in London, England.
Victoria Batten departed her role as director of sales and marketing at The Langham, London, England, to take on dual roles of regional director of sales and marketing for Langham Hospitality Group in North America, and director of sales and marketing at The Langham, New York, Fifth Avenue, in New York City.
Edgar Carrera was named executive chef of The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee in Greensboro, Georgia. Originally from Mexico, Carrera has been with The Ritz-Carlton since 2005, holding positions such as banquet chef and executive sous chef with The Ritz-Carlton Resorts of Naples, Florida.
David Child is now head of communications and marketing, hotels and resorts, for Thomas Cook. Child, who had been head of communications for the company, will add marketing to his responsibilities. The company also announced that Phil Gardner assumed responsibility for United Kingdom marketing in addition to his existing commercial role.
Montage Kapalua Bay in Kapalua Bay, Hawaii, appointed Aubrey Concar director of catering and conference services. Concar joins Montage Kapalua Bay from Two Roads Hospitality in San Diego where she was assistant director of conference services.
Benchmark named Eric Gavin chief sales officer. He was promoted from his previous position of senior vice president sales and marketing.
Pablo Gonzalez was named chief marketing officer of Kasa Hotel Collection in Mexico. He most recently was director of sales and marketing of Colibri Boutique Hotels in Tulum, Mexico, and Little Corn Island, Nicaragua.
Cushman & Wakefield’s EMEA Hospitality team entered the Spanish market, recruiting Magma Hospitality Consulting’s entire senior team. Magma Hospitality Consulting founding partners Albert Grau and Bruno Hallé joined as co-heads of Cushman & Wakefield Hospitality Spain, with two senior consultants, Marga Claret and Ana Rojas, also joining the global real estate services firm.
Benchmark named Christina Gregg vice president human resources. Gregg, who previously worked with the company on a contractual basis supporting strategic human resource initiatives system wide, also has held leadership positions for Marriott International, Gaylord Entertainment Company and NBC Universal, Universal Orlando.
Great Wolf Resorts named Wendy Hoekwater vice president of sales, responsible for the overall leadership of group sales and catering operations. Hoekwater most recently was vice president of marketing at Choice Hotels, responsible for the WoodSpring Suites brand.
Park Hyatt Washington, D.C., appointed Tyler Jones director of sales, marketing and events. He joins the property from Hyatt Regency Dulles in Herndon, Virginia, where he was director of sales, marketing and events.
The Adolphus in Dallas appointed Nicholas Katz as general manager of food and beverage. Katz previously was director of restaurant operations at Headington Companies where he oversaw the opening of four new concepts in Dallas.
Cody Leonard was named restaurant chef at the Driskill Grill at The Driskill in Austin, Texas. Leonard, who has nine years of experience, is passionate about sustainable practices and farm-to-table cuisine.
The Elms Hotel & Spa, A Destination Hotel in Excelsior Springs, Missouri, promoted John Mormino to general manager. Mormino, an Excelsior Springs native, previously was hotel manager.
The Mandarin Oriental, Boston, appointed Jason Paluch director of spa and wellness. Paluch joins the property from the former Mandarin Oriental, Atlanta, where he was director of spa and wellness.
Bettoja Hotels Collection appointed Luca Rombi director of Hotel Massimo D’Azeglio in Rome, Italy. Rombi has been with the InterContinental Group since 2015, most recently working to open the Fifty House in Milan, Italy, as well as consolidating the operation of the Colonna Pevero Hotel, in Porto Cervo, Italy.
Kyra Rydlund is now director of sales and marketing for the Kimpton Shorebreak Resort in Huntington Beach, California. Rydlund most recently was director of sales and marketing at InterContinental Hotel Group’s Hotel Indigo Denver Downtown Union Station, where she played a key role in the Denver property’s 2017 launch.
Banyan Tree Phuket in Phuket, Thailand, appointed Chatuporn Srisoi director of events and Filipa Carvalho De Sousa director of marketing communications. Srisoi has a 10-year background in sales and reservations, and extensive knowledge of the Phuket market. Sousa previously served as director of communications at Rosewood Abu Dhabi in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Ahead of its spring opening, AC Hotel Grand Rapids Downtown and AHC+Hospitality appointed Melissa Stanley, Nicholas Curtis, Jeffrey Burns and Lindsey Ochmanski operation managers of the 130-room hotel in Grand Rapids, Michigan. All managers are Grand Rapids natives with prior experience at AHC+Hospitality-managed hotels.
Ben Thiele became general manager of the Kimpton Canary Hotel Santa Barbara. Thiele started his hospitality career at Kimpton nearly 15 years ago as a valet attendant at The Hotel Monaco Seattle. His most recently job was general manager of the Palladian in Seattle.
Recently reopened Postcard Inn Beach Resort & Marina in Islamorada, Florida, promoted Ryan Wisely to executive chef. He previously was executive chef of Amara Cay Resort, Postcard Inn Beach Resort & Marina’s sister property, also in Islamorada.
James Wolfe is now general manager of Seven Hills, a historic boutique hotel in Lenox, Massachusetts. Wolfe comes from the Comfort Inn & Suites Sturbridge in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, where he also was general manager.