Loews Hotels & Co. named Alex Tisch president, working closely with Jonathan Tisch, chairman and chief executive officer, along with the executive leadership team to execute the company’s strategy, manage capital and resource allocation, and oversee general operational effectiveness. Tisch, whose family founded the company more than 70 years ago, will continue to lead the commercial, acquisitions and development teams, and the Loews Hotels at Universal Orlando Resort teams in Orlando, Florida.
“[Alex Tisch’s] steady demeanor has added reassurance and confidence to our team members, partners and guests during a difficult time in our industry,” said Jonathan Tisch. “Over the last three years, Alex has helped shape the future development and growth of our company. His judgment, thoughtfulness, analytic ability, strategic focus and congenial manner have served his teams and our company extremely well.”
Tisch joined Loews Hotels in June 2017 from Loews Corp., where he was a vice president. He has since executed the company’s growth strategy, further strengthened the company’s partnership with Comcast NBC Universal in Orlando, and developed a more agile, dynamic and data-driven approach in the organization’s commercial group. Previously, Tisch worked at Credit Suisse, arranging leveraged buyout financings along with handling merger and acquisition advisories.
Tamarack Resort in Tamarack, Idaho, appointed Wolfe Ashcraft vice president of resort operations. He has been with Tamarack since 2004, leading departments including the Sports School, retail, marketing and most recently, base operations. Dustin Simons, who has been with Tamarack since 2006, was promoted to director of base operations. In his tenure at Tamarack, Simons has managed waterfront recreation, retail and ticketing, and has been head golf pro for the Osprey Meadows Golf Course. John Calhoun joined Tamarack as director of real estate and marketing. His experience in destination, resort and master-planned communities includes leading real estate efforts in Park City, Utah; Aspen and Snowmass, Colorado; and Palm Springs, California. Tom Knill joined the resort as director of human resources. Knill comes to Idaho from Lake Tahoe, Nevada, where he was a member of the Tahoe Donner Association’s executive team.
Cheeca Lodge & Spa in Islamorada, Florida, appointed Alex Beaumont and Patrick Cleary executive chefs. Beaumont joined the team with a 25-year career in hospitality, including time spent at Marriott and Waldorf Astoria. Before this appointment, he was complex executive chef at Casa Marina & Beach Resort Waldorf Astoria in Key West, Florida. At Cheeca, Beaumont will oversee the management and kitchen at the resort’s in-house dining, Atlantic’s Edge, Mia Cucina and Nikai Sushi Bar & Restaurant. Cleary has worked with companies including Hilton, Hyatt and Waldorf Astoria. His expertise spans a variety of roles in managing a portfolio of kitchens, including large convention hotels and historic resorts. Before joining the Cheeca team, Cleary was executive chef at the Hilton Denver City Center in Denver. At Cheeca, he will oversee the management and kitchens at the recently acquired Morada Bay Beach Café and Pierre’s.
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino in Incline Village, Nevada, named Kemp Dowdy outdoor and adventure specialist. Through this new role, Dowdy will work with guests to curate and personalize Lake Tahoe experiences. Dowdy, who grew up in the area, has experience in the ski and hospitality industries. He has worked with several Hyatt properties throughout the country in roles ranging from recreation director at Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa in Koloa, Hawaii, to general manager of the Bird & Bone Restaurant at Confidante Miami Beach, Florida. In addition to his role as outdoor and adventure specialist, Dowdy also serves as the property’s director of outlets.
Delta Hotels Virginia Beach Bayfront Suites, opening this November in Virginia Beach, Virginia, named Kevin Dubel executive chef and director of outlets. Most recently, Dubel was chef de cuisine at The Cavalier Hotel in Virginia Beach, where he also had the opportunity to cook for the James Beard House. He’s held positions at Virginia Beach restaurants including Terrapin, Zoe’s and Eurasia.
Alma in Cam Ranh, Vietnam, named Vu Thi Huong Giang executive assistant manager of food and beverage, and Tran Quoc Dat executive assistant manager of rooms. A native of nearby Nha Trang, Vietnam, Giang started her career in 2004 as a member of the wait staff at Six Senses Ninh Van Bay in Ninh Hoa, Vietnam, where she climbed the ladder over a decade to become a food and beverage manager. She has also worked for the Vinpearl Land amusement park and Mia Resort in Nha Trang, and was the food and beverage director at The Anam, also in Cam Ranh. Dat, who was born in Hanoi, Vietnam, started his career as a food and beverage attendant at the Sheraton Hanoi Hotel and Towers. He ascended the ranks with the Sofitel Plaza Hotel, Sunway Hotel Hanoi, Silk Path Hotel Hanoi and more, before his most recent appointment as rooms division manager for Radisson Blu Resort Phu Quoc in Phu Quoc, Vietnam.
Caesars Entertainment appointed Jacqueline Grace senior vice president and general manager for Tropicana Atlantic City Casino & Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Grace formerly was vice president and assistant general manager at Caesars Entertainment’s Horseshoe Baltimore property. She helped oversee several of the casino’s expansion projects, including the launch of multiple celebrity chef concepts, an extensive renovation of The Marketplace and the opening of The Terrace, a US$15 million outdoor gaming and entertainment venue.
Radisson Hotel Group appointed Bill Hall and Jason Yarbrough senior vice presidents of development for the Americas. Hall will lead a team of franchise sales and development directors covering the Western U.S., and Yarbrough will lead a similar team covering the Eastern U.S. Hall has spent more than 30 years holding leadership roles in the franchising business, most recently serving as senior vice president of franchise operations at Red Roof. Prior to that, he was chief business development officer for InnFocus Hospitality Solutions. Yarbrough, who has 25 years of experience, previously served as regional vice president of franchise development at Red Roof. In this role, he managed the franchise sales team. Under Yarbrough’s leadership, his team met and exceeded sales goal every year, and he achieved top sales honors as the sales leader of the year for three consecutive years. Reporting to Hall and supporting development in the Western region are Gabe Borquez, Rich Edin, Charles Isola and Dale Prout. Reporting to Yarbrough and supporting development in the East are Lisa Farrell, Frank Pena, Michael Renwick, Fran Taloricco and Tom Williams. Gerardo Valdes will continue in his position as director of franchise sales and development across Latin America and report to Phil Hugh.
Montage Healdsburg, opening late fall in Healdsburg, California, named the following to its executive team: Doug Kaminski is director of sales and marketing; Raphaël Piveteau is director of food and beverage; Judy McDonagh is director of finance; Peter Pagano is director of rooms; William Kamaka is director of people; and Tysen Gregersen is director of engineering. Kaminski spent 20 years with Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, most recently as director of sales and marketing at Four Seasons Hotel Chicago. Piveteau joined from the Baccarat Hotel & Residences in New York City where he was director of food and beverage, while McDonagh, who joined from The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co., was director of finance at several properties, including four in the Washington, D.C., area. Pagano previously was director of rooms at Fairmont Grand Del Mar in San Diego. Kamaka joined from The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, in Truckee, California, where he was the director of human resources. Gregersen also joined from The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, where he was director of engineering.
Joseph Paire is executive chef of Limewood Bar & Restaurant at Claremont Club & Spa, A Fairmont Hotel, in Berkeley, California. Paire joined from his most recent role as executive chef at The Southern Gentlemen in Atlanta and immediately prior, he held the same position at Barcelona Wine Bar & Restaurant in Washington, D.C. At Limewood, Paire will oversee a staff of 12 culinary professionals and balance his time between the creative and business sides of food and beverage operation.
The Oaks Ibn Battuta Gate Dubai, United Arab Emirates, a new addition to the Minor Hotels portfolio, named Siva Ram Putta general manager. Putta also manages three other Minor brand properties in the United Arab Emirates, Avani Deira Dubai, Oaks Liwa Heights Dubai, and Oaks Liwa Executive Suites in Abu Dhabi. He began his career with Oaks Hotels and Resorts in Australia in 2005, then moved to the United Arab Emirates in 2009.
JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa in Orlando, Florida, named Vibeke Sansone director of sales and marketing. Sansone began her career at JW Marriott Century City, Los Angeles, as director of national accounts. She held sales leadership roles in several Marriott-branded properties, including Ritz-Carlton and Renaissance in Los Angeles, New York City, Florida, Mexico and the Caribbean. Most recently, Sansone was director of sales and marketing at the Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club in St. Petersburg, Florida.
River House at Odette’s, opening this fall in New Hope, Pennsylvania, appointed Adam Sheff executive chef. Sheff was executive sous chef at Hyatt Regency Atlanta, assisting with the culinary oversight of the property’s three restaurants while also contributing to the culinary development of Hyatt’s Select Service Properties as a member of the Select Service Corporate Culinary Team. Prior to his role at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta, Sheff was executive chef at Andaz Scottsdale Resort and Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Holiday Inn Club Vacations Inc. promoted John Staten to president and chief operating officer. Staten joined the company as chief operating officer in March 2019. During that time, he launched initiatives around customer obsession and digital transformation, while championing innovation in every facet of the business. Staten has nearly 30 years of experience in launching and growing businesses from venture stage to public companies, along with expertise in developing strategy, mobilizing organizations into action, driving change while managing risk and effectively leading teams of all sizes.
Markus Treppenhauer is general manager of Fairmont San Francisco. He recently served as general manager of the Fairmont Olympic in Seattle, where he managed the operation of the historic hotel, leading it through a more than US$50 million renovation. He joined Fairmont Hotels & Resorts in 2007 as director of operations at Fairmont Orchid, Kohala Coast in Waikoloa, Hawaii. Following that, Treppenhauer was promoted to hotel manager at Fairmont Banff Springs, Alberta, Canada, and accepted his first general manager role in 2012 at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Jasper, Alberta, Canada.
RLH Corp. appointed Christopher Trick senior vice president, chief marketing officer. Prior to joining Red Lion, Trick was head of marketing for Southern Carlson, a Kyocera Company, where he was responsible for brand marketing leadership, creative services and marketing-related technology solutions. Before that, Trick spent six years with Realogy Franchise Group. He also previously served as vice president marketing for the Marriott ExecuStay Brand at Marriott International, spearheaded long-term strategic marketing plans at Wyndham Hotel Group and led brand marketing programs at La Quinta Inns and InterContinental Hotels Group.
Rob van der Velden is general manager of Radisson Hotel & Convention Centre, Johannesburg, O.R. Tambo, in Kempton Park, South Africa. Van der Velden, who was born in the Netherlands, but spent most of his life in South Africa, started his career as a banqueting manager and worked himself up the ladder to hold key positions in hotels in South Africa, Egypt and Nigeria.