OTO DEVELOPMENT AND COURY HOSPITALITY APPOINT COOs
Matt McClelland has joined OTO Development as chief operating officer, replacing former COO David Ward, who retired on December 31 after 18 years with the company.
A 34-year hospitality industry veteran, McClelland began his career as a guest service representative with Marriot. He was promoted over the next eight years to on-property management positions before being recruited in 1997 by Concord Hospitality.
His tenure at Concord spanned more than 25 years, taking him from a hotel director of operations to corporate roles focused on facilities, capital assets, development and operations. In 2013, he was promoted to executive vice president of operations.
OTO Development, part of The Johnson Group, owns and/or operates approximately 65 select-service and lifestyle hotels across the U.S., many with proprietary restaurant concepts.
Coury Hospitality, a full-service lifestyle hospitality management company, has announced the appointment of Andrew Casperson as chief operating officer. Promoted from executive vice president of operations, Casperson joined Coury in the spring of 2023 and leads operations strategies for Coury’s portfolio of lifestyle hotels, bars and restaurant concepts.
Some of Casperson’s previous roles include being vice president of operations at Aimbridge Hospitality and Omni Hotels and Resorts, senior vice president of operations at Highgate and general manager at W Dallas – Victory.
RESOLUTE ROAD HOSPITALITY’S NEW VP OF OPERATIONS
Resolute Road Hospitality, a third-party management company, has appointed Tony Cruz as senior vice president of operations.
Cruz brings a wealth of experience to his new role. Most recently, he served as chief operating officer at Hawkeye Hotels. Before this, he held positions as senior vice president of operations, vice president of operations, regional director of operations and general manager at several hospitality companies.
MORE MOVES
Marriott International has promoted Martin Castaño to regional vice president of sales & distribution, Caribbean and Latin America.
With over 35 years of experience, Castaño has held many roles in operations, sales, marketing and revenue management. Most recently, he served as area director of sales & distribution for Central & South America at Marriott International, where he led strategies to drive revenue growth and support hotel openings.
Conrad New York Midtown, the 562-room, luxury property in the heart of Manhattan, has appointed Jimmy Sarfraz as general manager.
Boasting more than 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry and with Hilton, Sarfraz joins Conrad New York Midtown from San Jose, California, where he most recently led the rebranding and opening of Signia by Hilton San Jose.
Throughout his extensive career with Hilton, Sarfraz has held several managerial roles at various properties across the hospitality company, including Conrad New York Downtown; Millennium Hilton New York Downtown; Hilton San Jose; and Juniper Hotel Cupertino, Curio Collection by Hilton.
Highgate has appointed Scott Kawasaki as director of sales & marketing of the new Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa, slated to open in March 2024.
Kawasaki brings nearly three decades of experience in the hospitality industry. Most recently, he served as area director of sales & strategy, Asia, for Highgate’s Hawaii portfolio. Prior, he served as the director of sales & marketing at The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort and director of public relations for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Waikiki.