OMNI HOTELS APPOINTS NEW CCO
Omni Hotels & Resorts has announced the appointment of Jeff Doane as its new chief commercial officer. Doane brings over 20 years of hospitality experience to his new role from his previous senior executive positions with Fairmont Raffles Hotels International and, most recently, as chief commercial officer at Accor North America.
Doane will oversee all disciplines within marketing, including brand and tactical marketing, public relations, partnerships, social media and digital platforms. He will also oversee Omni’s global and hotel sales organizations, revenue management, the Select Guest Loyalty program as well as distribution and customer service.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jeff to the Omni family. His experience leading high-performing teams at successful brands, like Fairmont, will be a key asset to our organization as we continue to elevate our brand position and differentiate Omni Hotels & Resorts in the marketplace,” said Kurt Alexander, Omni’s president. “Being able to add a leader like Jeff in concert with the recent addition of our new COO, Vince Parrotta, also underscores Omni’s commitment to hiring best-in-class talent.”
Doane serves on the HSMAI CMO and Foundation Boards, the US Travel CEO Board and the Plug & Play Hospitality Vertical Advisory Board.
NEW DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AT MHC
McNeill Hotel Company (MHC) has named current vice president of sales & marketing Kim Knop as its new director of business development, where she will work with investor and ownership groups following MHC’s expansion plans of its third-party property management portfolio.
Knop has over 30 years of hotel experience in sales and marketing, including with MHC Co-Founder Mark Ricketts at Memphis, TN-based MASTER Hospitality and as area director of sales for Marriott International. She joined McNeill Hotel Company in 2015, soon after its founding, and has contributed to its growth across the Hilton, Marriott and Hyatt brands.
NEW GMs
Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, has appointed Marcel Kloet as general manager. Kloet brings over twenty years of experience holding leadership positions at properties across Europe, Australia and Asia. Some of his previous roles include general manager at The St. Regis Macao and The St. Regis Langkawi.
Scott Siebert has been named general manager of the Gaylord Pacific Resort and Convention Center, effective Feb. 3, 2024. The hotel, currently under construction in Chula Vista, Calif., is expected to open in summer 2025.
Siebert most recently was the hotel manager at Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn., a position he has held since 2021. Siebert previously served as area general manager over five Marriott International-managed properties in Charlotte, N.C. Throughout his career, he also served as food and beverage director and later resort manager at the JW Marriott Hill Country San Antonio, as well as in leadership positions at the Eden Roc Miami Beach Resort in Florida and JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort and Spa in Arizona.
Somnium Hospitality Group has appointed Raina Spasov as the new general manager of the Hilton Chicago Oak Brook Hills Resort.
Spasov began his tenure with Oak Brook Hills Resort in 2013 as an executive assistant to the general manager. Over the next ten years, she served as the operations manager, director of rooms, assistant director of sales and marketing and resort manager before being named the new general manager.
The Lodge at Sonoma, an Autograph Collection Resort, has appointed Fungai Muzunze as general manager. Muzunze brings over 25 years of experience working in luxury hotels globally, including as general manager of Hotel Emblem in San Francisco and management roles at Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco, The Alise Hotel and Infinity Hotel.