The Leading Hotels of the World, New York City, has named Andrea Scherz the chairman of its executive committee. Scherz is the proprietor and general manager of Gstaad Palace, Switzerland, and has served on LHW’s executive committee for 11 years, most recently as vice chairman.
Scherz will serve as the sixth chairman in LHW’s history, which dates back to 1928. He follows in the footsteps of his father, Ernst Andrea Scherz, who also served as LHW chairman. In his role, Scherz will be at the helm of LHW’s Executive Committee, which is comprised of seven hoteliers that represent the shareholder members of the company.
Scherz grew up in the hotel business at Gstaad Palace and studied at École Hôtelière de Lausanne, Switzerland. Before returning to Gstaad, he worked for various hotels in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Italy and the United States, including the Beau-Rivage, Savoy, and InterContinental. In 2001, he returned to Gstaad Palace and assumed the position of general manager. In addition to his role at LHW, he holds a board seat with Swiss Deluxe Hotels and the Gstaad-Saanenland Airport Association, Switzerland.
“Since a young age, LHW has always been very present in my life and close to my heart. This started in my childhood through my father. My family’s hotel, Gstaad Palace, has been a member of LHW for more than 60 years and my relationship with the company grew even deeper when my father held the position of chairman for 15 years,” Scherz said. “Today I am deeply honored to serve as the chairman. Even during the pandemic LHW did not stand still. We developed an array of new initiatives and services to ensure the success and strong positioning of our members within the market. In the years ahead, demand for independent, luxury hotels will only increase, and our community is ready to meet this moment with our outstanding curated collection. I am enthusiastic to continue on this successful path together with the strong management team of LHW and my skilled colleagues on the board. Together we will ensure that LHW is the only choice for independent luxury hotels and travelers far into the future.”
Cliff Atkinson has been named president of Fontainebleau Las Vegas, Nevada, slated to open next year. His most recent role was as the president and chief operating officer of Luxor Las Vegas, Nevada.
Susan Baer has been appointed the director of sales at the new Hilton North Scottsdale at Cavasson, Arizona, which is scheduled to open in October 2022. Prior to joining Hilton North Scottsdale at Cavasson, Baer spent 16 years working for Hilton as an area director of sales and marketing.
The Ritz Paris, France, has appointed Eugénie Béziat chef at the hotel’s fine dining restaurant, L’Espadon, which is slated to reopen later this year. Prior to that, she served as chef at the restaurant La Flibuste, Villeneuve-Loubet, France.
EOS Hospitality, New York, has appointed Jennifer Collins executive vice president of operations. Most recently, Collins was the head of enterprise operations at the Local Initiatives Support Corp., a national non-profit social enterprise based in New York.
Kimpton Journeyman, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has named Brian Cripps the new executive chef for its two restaurants, Tre Rivali and The Outsider. Cripps previously served as executive chef of Pacci Italian Kitchen + Bar, Savannah, Georgia.
Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas, Texas, has appointed Tony France as the resort’s first new executive chef in more than two decades. Chef France joins Four Seasons from his post at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara, California, where he rose from banquet chef to executive sous chef in 2021.
Planned to open this spring, The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad has appointed Bastian Germer the new-build hotel’s general manager. Germer was most recently the general manager of the New York Edition.
Sherif Guirguis has joined Lodging Dynamics Hospitality Group, Provo, Utah, as chief operating officer. After spending nearly 25 years with Marriott International, Guirguis served as vice president of regional operations for White Lodging Services, Merrillville, Indiana, followed by overseeing the operations of Silverwest Hotels, Denver, Colorado.
David Izquierdo has been named executive chef at The Santa Maria, Panama, a Luxury Collection Hotel & Golf Resort. He previously helmed the kitchens at various hotels and resorts across Panama, Mexico and Spain, including St. Regis Mexico City.
Ilana Kadoche has joined HALL Arts Hotel, a Curio Collection by Hilton property in Dallas, Texas, as its new director of food and beverage. Kadoche will also serve as the general manager of Ellie’s, the eatery located in the hotel. Some of her past roles have been with Shutters on the Beach, Santa Monica, California, and The French Room at The Adolphus, Dallas, Texas.
Michael Klein has been appointed general manager of The Eliza Jane, a boutique hotel in the Unbound Collection by Hyatt, New Orleans, Louisiana. Most recently, Klein served as the director of operations at Holston House Nashville, Tennessee.
Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, San Diego, California has appointed Cassandra Kosky the resort’s assistant spa director. Kosky previously held global positions with 8Hotels in Australia and Fairmont Orchid in Hawaii, before residing in San Diego with additional key roles at The Westgate Hotel and Fairmont Grand Del Mar. The resort has also promoted two members of its culinary team: Executive Chef Alex Bloom and Executive Pastry Chef Stephanie Tesnow. Prior to being promoted to executive chef, Bloom served as executive sous chef. Tesnow was formerly pastry chef at Rancho Valencia.
Jason Logan has been selected to lead the dining concepts and culinary team of The Valley Hotel, Homewood, Alabama, as executive chef. He previously served as the hotel’s executive sous chef upon its opening in February 2021.
JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa, Phoenix, Arizona, has appointed Paige Lund to the role of general manager. Lund joins the team from JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa, Arizona, where she held the same position.
Jekyll Island Club Resort, Georgia, has appointed new culinary team leaders. Louis Marchena has been named director of food and beverage, after having served as executive director of F&B for Mission Point Resort, Mackinac Island, Michigan. Executive Chef Michael Christner has joined the Jekyll Island Club Resort from Lansdowne Resort, Leesburg, Virginia, where he served as assistant director of culinary operations. Jafet Tellez has been appointed the property’s chef de cuisine.
Terramor Outdoor Resort, Bar Harbor, Maine, has promoted Jenny McCullough to director of operations and marketing. She previously served as the resort’s brand marketing director.
GF Hotels & Resorts, Center City, Philadelphia, has promoted multiple members of its executive team. Vineet Nayyar has been named president, owned division. Having joined the GF Hotels & Resorts team in 2000, Nayyar will continue as chief operating officer for the owned division. John Rubino has been promoted to president, managed division, while serving a dual role as the chief operation officer of the same subsector. Lisa Drake has been appointed vice president, development and owner relations.
Crestline Hotels & Resorts, Fairfax, Virginia, has promoted two members of its executive team: Aaron Olson to executive vice president of operations and Carolee Moore to senior vice president of revenue strategy. Olson joined Crestline in 2017 as vice president of operations for the West Coast and was subsequently promoted to SVP of operations. Moore joined the company in 2000 and was promoted to VP of revenue management and e-commerce in 2016.
Mark Pandaleon has been named general manager of the newly opened Smyth Tribeca, New York. He previously helmed Stewart Hotel, New York, also managed by Highgate.
The Biltmore Hotel Miami, Florida, has appointed Chef Thomas Russo director of culinary operations. He previously served as an inspector with the Florida Division of Hotel and Restaurants.
KSL Resorts, which has assumed management of Silverado Resort and Spa, Napa Valley, California, has appointed Todd Shallan the resort’s new managing director. Prior to that, Shallan was chief operating officer at the hospitality division of Alterra Mountain Co., Denver, Colorado.
Preparing to open in June 2022, Emerald Faarufushi Resort & Spa, Raa Atoll, Maldives, has appointed Patrick de Staercke general manager. He joins the resort from SAii Lagoon Maldives, where he held the same position.
Jeff Smith, area managing director and general manager for Omni Frisco Hotel, Texas, has been named vice president and managing director of Omni PGA Frisco Resort, Texas, planned to open in spring 2023. Gus Tejedaalso joins the Omni PGA Frisco team as director of sales and marketing, after having served as director of marketing at Four Seasons Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Pellicano Hotels Group, Rome, Italy, has promoted Daniele Tasca to general manager of the Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa, Ischia, Italy. Tasca previously served as resort manager of Hotel Il Pellicano, Porto Ercole, Italy. Filling the now-open resort manager position at Il Pellicano is Angelo Maria Russo, who most recently held the role of deputy director of operations at the Hotel Bauer Palazzo, Venice, and deputy director at the QC Termeroma Spa & Resort, Fiumicino, Rome.
Davidson Hospitality Group, Atlanta, Georgia, has appointed Lance Tucker its chief financial officer. He most recently served as chief financial officer of CKE Restaurants, Franklin, Tennessee.
The Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Louisiana, has added two leaders to its executive team, with Cole Wallace being named hotel manager and the promotion of Chef Ryan Conn to executive sous chef. Previously, Wallace was the regional vice-president for NEXCOM, Navy Lodge Program, assisting with the management of nine hotels in the southern United States. Chef Conn joined The Roosevelt New Orleans as a banquet chef in 2019.