NEW CHIEF SALES AND MARKETING OFFICER AT MARRIOTT CALA
Marriott International in the Caribbean and Latin America (CALA) has promoted Louise Bang, who until now served as regional vice president of sales and distribution for the region, as chief sales and marketing officer, taking over from Diana Plazas-Trowbridge, who got promoted to senior vice president and global brand leader.
In her new position, Bang will be responsible for driving growth and revenue for the region and leading consumer-facing strategies, including the disciplines of sales, marketing, public relations, brand management and the loyalty program, Marriott Bonvoy.
Bang began her career with Marriott International in 1996, expanding her experience and skills in the European, U.S. and Canadian regions, holding leadership positions in Marriott’s Global Sales Organization, as well as the company’s luxury segments, focused on The Ritz-Carlton brand. In 2020, she was appointed regional vice president of sales and distribution for CALA.
citizenM’s NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR
citizenM has appointed Rani Gharbie as managing director, investment & development for the Americas. Gharbie will spearhead citizenM’s initiative to grow its Americas portfolio and other locations for the next phase of the company’s expansion, including new markets in the South, Southeast and West Coast of the U.S., Toronto, Vancouver and other major cities in Canada. Additionally, citizenM is actively looking into opportunities to acquire or develop more properties in cities where it already operates, such as New York City, Washington, D.C., Miami, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago and Austin.
Before joining citizenM, Gharbie founded New York-based real estate investment firm Cedar Funds and held senior roles with major hotel groups globally, such as Virgin Hotels, IHG, Hyatt and BD / Pod Hotels.
NEW GMs
The Sebastian-Vail, a luxury mountainside resort and private residence club in Vail Village, Colo., has welcomed John DâAngelo as its new general manager. DâAngelo brings over two decades of hospitality experience, most recently serving as general manager for Grand Hyatt Vail and Residences at Cascade Village. Before this role, he held various management positions at different properties, including Wild Dunes Resort, Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in Nassau, The Bahamas, Grand Hyatt Nashville and Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, among others.
OUTRIGGER Hospitality Group has promoted Geoff Pearson as the new general manager of OUTRIGGER Kona Resort & Spa in Hawaiâi. Pearson joined OUTRIGGER earlier this year as the director of sales and marketing and has also collaborated closely with OUTRIGGERâs corporate and global sales and revenue teams, particularly during a period of property enhancements.
Pearson brings a wealth of experience in the hospitality industry, including a prior association with OUTRIGGER as the hotel manager of the OUTRIGGER Reef Lanais in 1988. Other roles include director of sales and marketing for Halekulani and Halepuna Waikiki, director of rooms at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel, front office manager at the St. Regis Princeville Resort on Kauaâi and the Palace Hotel in San Francisco.