Rosewood Hotel Group appointed several executive team members to support the company’s strategic growth plan: Bede Barry is vice president, operations – Americas; Micah Friedman is chief information officer – global; Milet Lukey is vice president, talent and culture – Americas; Jeffery Wong is vice president, finance – Americas and Europe; and Jack Xiao is vice president, financial controller – Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa.
Barry joined Rosewood Hotel Group from The Venetian Macao and The Parisian Macao, both part of Sands China, where he was vice president of operations. Friedman led travel and hospitality management consulting for Cognizant Technology Solutions, and Lukey was vice president, talent and culture, Auberge Resorts Collection. Wong departed Accor, where he was vice president of finance and business support for North and Central America, and Xiao joined Rosewood from Kohler, where he was director of finance for the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa territories.
Rosewood also promoted several executives. Achim Lenders, formerly senior vice president, operations for the Americas and Europe, is now group vice president of global operations. Caroline MacDonald, formerly vice president of sales and marketing in the Americas and Europe, became vice president of global sales and marketing. Most recently serving as vice president of development for the European market, Irene Hoek is vice president of global residential development. Former Managing Directors Frederic Vidal, Daniel Scott and Davide Bertilaccio became regional vice presidents within their respective regions.
Noble House Hotels & Resorts promoted Troy Batten to executive chef for Hotel Terra Jackson Hole and Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa’s Spur Catering, both in Teton Village, Wyoming, as well as executive chef for Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa’s Spur Restaurant & Bar. Prior to this appointment, Batten worked at Spur as lead cook.
Playa Hotels & Resorts promoted Dayna Blank to senior vice president of human resources. Blank has held the leading role in the human resources department since she joined the company in 2014.
Grand Hyatt São Paulo in São Paulo, Brazil, appointed Eduardo Bressane general manager. He had been general manager at the Belmond Hotel das Cataratas in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil.
Choice Hotels announced five leadership positions: Megan Brumagim was promoted from senior director for signature brands to vice president, brand management, design and compliance. Duane Hart joined the company as vice president, business and analytic services. He had been vice president, data and analytics operations at Hilton Worldwide. Anna Scozzafava transitioned from her role at Choice Hotels as vice president of strategy and planning to the newly created position of vice president of brand strategy and operations, extended stay. Anne Smith transitioned from vice president, brand management, design and compliance, to vice president of strategy and planning. Finally, Anthony Goldstein is regional vice president, new construction, west. He previously held a similar position for Choice’s conversion brands.
Dan Carlino is general manager of Hilton Des Moines Downtown in Des Moines, Iowa. He was general manager of Red Lion Hotel Richland Hanford House in Richland, Washington.
Grand Hyatt Nashville in Nashville, Tennessee, named John D’Angelo general manager. He formerly was resort manager of the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in Nassau, Bahamas.
Garden of the Gods Resort and Club in Colorado Springs, Colorado, named Daniel Daughtry vice president of restaurants, bars and events, and Les Pedersen vice president of sales and marketing. Daughtry most recently was senior director of food and beverage at the Edgewood Tahoe Resort in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Pedersen recently worked for Four Seasons, spending six years as a director of sales at various properties.
The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago, welcomed Franco Diaz as executive chef. He formerly was executive chef at The Peninsula Manila in Makati, Philippines.
The Wayfarer DTLA, opening this fall in Los Angeles, appointed Francis Dimitrius executive chef. He most recently helmed the kitchen at Justice Urban Tavern in Los Angeles, and also spent time in the Neiman Marcus kitchen in Beverly Hills, California.
Thomas Cook Hotels and Resorts named Neil Evans director of operations, based in the company’s office in Palma, Spain. He left Karisma Hotels & Resorts, where he had been chief operating officer. Cecilia Svane departed GCH Hotels and joined Thomas Cook Hotels and Resorts as head of e-commerce.
Mathias Gerds is general manager at Evason Ana Mandara in Nha Trang, Vietnam. The German native has held senior roles at properties including Anantara Siam Bangkok in Bangkok, Thailand, St. Regis Kuala Lumpur in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Relais & Chateaux Palais Coburg in Vienna, Austria.
Hyatt Regency Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles appointed Charlie Gold executive chef of all food and beverage outlets, as well as meeting and event catering operations. Gold brings 15 years of experience in food and beverage operations at hotels including Hyatt Regency Century Plaza and Loews Hollywood Hotel, both in Los Angeles, and Manhattan Beach Marriott in Manhattan Beach, California.
Royal Kona Resort in Kailua, Hawaii, appointed Hawaii native George Gomes Jr. executive chef. He most recently was executive chef of the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort, also in Kailua.
Hilton Garden Inn Denver Union Station in Denver named Amy Healy general manager and Teresa McNamara-Worcester director of sales and marketing. Healy previously was opening general manager for Geronimo Parks. She also led the Hotel Indigo Denver team as opening general manager. McNamara-Worcester had been task force director of sales for Renaissance San Diego (now Hotel Republic, an Autograph Collection Hotel) in San Diego.
Hyatt Centric Mountain View, slated to open this month in Mountain View, California, named Rich Higdon general manager, Keith Battaglia director of sales, and Bryan Showalter executive chef of Fairchilds Public House, the hotel’s restaurant and bar. Higdon previously worked as opening general manager for Hyatt Place Emeryville/San Francisco Bay Area in Emeryville, California. Battaglia’s former positions include sales and marketing roles at a yacht club, a luxury ranch and glamping resort, as well as conference centers and hotels under the Marriot, Hilton and Hyatt brands. Showalter formerly was executive restaurant chef at the Grand Wailea Maui in Wailea, Hawaii.
Donna Italia is vice president of transitions, a newly created role at Concord Hospitality Enterprises. Italia was promoted from her previous position as area general manager, in which she oversaw the Renaissance Meadowlands Hotel in Rutherford, New Jersey, as well as four additional Concord Properties.
Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort in St. Lucia, welcomed Andrew Jones as executive chef. He departed Chamberlain’s of London, a seafood restaurant in London, England, where he was executive chef and director.
The Woodlands Resort in The Woodlands, Texas, appointed Nicole Kubitza director of sales and marketing. She joined the resort from Westin Snowmass Resort and Wildwood Snowmass Hotel in Snowmass Village, Colorado, where she was complex director of sales and marketing.
James Martin, who most recently led the kitchen at A10 in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood, joined 20 East at The Talbott Hotel, also in Chicago, as executive chef.
Luminary Hotel & Co. appointed Bob Megazzini general manager of the Luminary Hotel, opening late 2020 in Fort Myers, Florida. Megazzini had been area general manager for the JW Marriott Denver and Courtyard Denver Downtown.
David Parker is director of revenue for Obie Hospitality, based in Eugene, Oregon. Prior to joining Obie, Parker spent 18 years as director of revenue at the Sheraton Grand Seattle.
Anne-Sophie Pic joined Raffles Singapore as chef of La Dame de Pic, opening this July. Pic hails from a lineage of chefs and is a third-generation Michelin-starred chef.
The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay in Half Moon Bay, California, appointed Roberto Riveros executive sous chef. Riveros previously was chef de cuisine for Ozone at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong.
Hotel Indigo Williamsburg Brooklyn, opening this month in New York City, named Tracey Rucks general manager and Ryan Ocker director of sales and marketing. Prior to joining the property, Rucks spent 13 years overseeing properties for InterContinental Hotels Groups, Hilton Hotels and Marriott Hotels, most recently at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Manhattan Central Park and the Holiday Inn Times Square, both in New York City. Ocker had been managing director at Smart Hotel Consulting and director of sales at Hilton Brooklyn New York, also in New York City.
The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, named Javier Felipe Arango Salazar executive chef. He was executive sous chef at the JW Marriott Absheron in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Alexander Skibbe is general manager of the Steigenberger Hotel Bremen in Bremen, Germany. Skibbe has been director of operations at Steigenberger Hotel Hamburg in Hamburg, Germany, and has been responsible for the Steigenberger Hotels in Deidesheim and Munich, Germany, as interim manager.
BodyHoliday in St. Lucia named Alisha Smith resident yoga instructor. Smith has been studying yoga for roughly 14 years and has trained in India, Bali and Spain.