Working to strengthen its marketing force, Rosewood Hotel Group appointed Joanna Gunn chief brand officer. Gunn will lead the brand, marketing and communications teams across Rosewood Hotel Group’s three brands – Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, New World Hotels & Resorts and Khos.
Previously, Gunn was chief brand officer for Lane Crawford, a luxury multi-brand retailer. She played a key role in building the Lane Crawford brand across marketing and communications channels, launching six stores in Hong Kong and greater China, as well as acting as a strategic lead in creating China’s first omni-channel luxury fashion destination.
“[Gunn] has an extraordinary wealth of experience in the luxury industry and we are very fortunate to have her join the Rosewood team,” said Sonia Cheng, CEO, Rosewood Hotel Group. “[Her] experience in building global luxury brands will be invaluable to the group’s growing worldwide presence.”
Aimbridge Hospitality promoted Orkun Aydin to senior vice president of operations, leading a portfolio of full-service branded and independent hotels. Since 2015, Aydin served as vice president of operations at Aimbridge Hospitality. Before joining the company, he spent 11 years with Interstate Hotels and Resorts, most recently as area general manager for three Florida hotels: Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa – A Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, DoubleTree by Hilton Universal Studios in Orlando, and Westin Tampa Harbour Island in Tampa.
Karl Bublitz joined The Seagate Hotel & Spa in Delray Beach, Florida, as general manager for the Seagate Country Club, Seagate Beach Club and Seagate Residences. Bublitz spent the past 16 years as director of golf operations at the Grey Oaks Country Club in Naples, Florida. He also serves as president of the South Florida Professional Golfers Association. Bublitz previously was general manager and director of golf at a club community in Michigan, his home state.
The Heathman Hotel Kirkland in Kirkland, Washington, appointed Mike Hill general manager. Hill brings more than a decade of hospitality experience to the property, with the majority of his time in management roles at Kimpton Hotels in Seattle. He most recently was general manager for Kimpton Hotel Monaco Seattle and Kimpton Hotel Vintage Seattle. Prior to this, Hill was general manager of the Kimpton Grand Hotel in Minneapolis.
Fathi Khogaly is area vice president for Hyatt Hotels in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. In addition to his responsibilities as cluster general manager of Grand Hyatt Dubai and Hyatt Place Hotels Dubai, he will now also support all other Hyatt properties in Dubai, including Park Hyatt Dubai, Hyatt Regency Dubai (Deira), Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights and Andaz The Palm. Khogaly will oversee the brand’s expansion in the city, including the 2021 opening of Hyatt Centric La Mer.
Enchantment Group appointed Alex Kim president. Kim brings 30 years of leadership experience to Enchantment Group. He joined the team from Ojai Valley Inn in Ojai, California, where he was managing director for five years. Earlier in his career, Kim helmed resorts including Meadowood Napa Valley in St. Helena, California, and the One&Only Ocean Club in the Bahamas.
Iain McCormack is general manager at Vakkaru Maldives in Baa Atoll, Maldives. McCormack has more than 36 years in the hospitality business, including time spent managing Gili Lankanfushi and more recently, Fairmont Sirru Fen Fushi, both also in Maldives. McCormack, who has extensive experience managing remote, diverse and complex properties, started his career working at numerous hotels in the United Kingdom before moving to the Caribbean. After moving to the Maldives to manage Soneva Gili, McCormack went on to work with brands including Leading Hotels of the World, InterContinental and Shangri-La in locations including Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Indonesia.
Il Salviatino in Fiesole, Italy, welcomed Juan Miquel as general manager of the 42-room villa hotel, which will be reopening in March 2021. Miquel, a native of Mallorca, Spain, previously was general manager of Castello Banfi – Il Borgo in Montalcino, Italy, which received numerous accolades during his tenure. Before that, he was general manager of Villa Mangiacane, San Casciano in Val di Pesa, Italy.
Paramount Hospitality Management (PMH) named Rod O’Connor general manager of The Grove Resort & Water Park Orlando in Orlando, Florida. O’Connor has been with PMH for more than 10 years, working with various hotels over the course of his career, including Avanti International Resort and Floridays Resort in Orlando, and The Breakers Palm Beach Luxury Resort in Palm Beach, Florida. He’s also held roles at companies including Wyndham Hotels, Adams Mark Hotels and Aramark Corp. He served a five-year term on the Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association’s board of directors.
Timbers Resorts appointed Austin Watkins managing director, marketing and hospitality sales. Watkins joined Timbers Resorts in 2018 as global director of sales and marketing, hospitality. Prior to joining the company, he spent 15 years with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, most recently as regional director of hotel marketing for properties throughout Hawaii. Before this, Watkins held a variety of positions within Hyatt Hotels Corp. and Marriott International.