Rosewood Hotel Group promoted Caroline MacDonald to group vice president of sales, distribution and business performance from vice president of global sales and marketing. In her new role, MacDonald is responsible for leading the global sales, revenue management and partnership marketing teams across the group’s brands, including Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, New World Hotels & Resorts and KHOS.
In her four-year tenure with the company, MacDonald’s sales leadership has played a key role in the commercial success of 10 hotel openings worldwide, where she provided strategic oversight and spearheaded the development of sales, marketing, revenue and distribution teams. Prior to joining Rosewood, MacDonald spent 15 years with Auberge Resorts & Hotels, initially as senior vice president of sales and marketing before stepping into the role of chief marketing officer.
Luminary Hotel & Co., opening later this year in Fort Myers, Florida, named Tom Albrecht director of sales, Rhonda Decherd director of catering and convention services, and Lesley Miller area director of human resources. Albrecht most recently was with Detroit Marriott, where he was responsible for selling to national and state associations. Decherd was director of catering and conferences at South Seas Island Resort in Captiva, Florida. Miller had been director of human resources for Carillon Miami Wellness Resort, Miami Beach, Florida.
Kimpton Taconic in Manchester, Vermont, named Daniel Black executive chef and Peter DeLone general manager of food and beverage, overseeing The Copper Grouse restaurant. Black was executive chef at the Equinox Resort in Manchester. DeLone has 18 years of experience in different types of restaurants, including mom-and-pop shops, entertainment spaces and fine dining.
Kaleena Bliss is executive chef of Thompson Seattle. Bliss recently was executive sous chef at SixSeven at The Edgewater Hotel, also in Seattle.
The Hi-Lo Hotel, a Marriott Autograph Collection hotel in Portland, Oregon, named Dannel Christian general manager. Christian has extensive experience with Marriott, Hilton and Ritz-Carlton brands.
Swiss-Belhotel International promoted seven executives to support the chain’s expansion. Oliver Faull, previously vice president for Australia and New Zealand, is now senior vice president for Australia and New Zealand. Edward Faull moved from vice president to senior vice president for group technical services and projects (operations and development) in Vietnam and Thailand. Grant Gaskin is vice president for operations and development in Australia and New Zealand; he served previously as area general manager for those countries. Bernanda Karo-Karomoved from regional director of finance for Indonesia to senior regional area director of finance for Indonesia and Asia. After serving as regional director of sales for New Zealand, Matthias Schulz is regional director of sales for New Zealand and Australia. Lee Richards is vice president of operations and development, group marketing and communication, group human resource and talent development. Garry Garcia is regional director of operations and business development in the Philippines and remains general manager of the Valero Grand Suites by Swiss-Belhotel in Makati, Philippines.
Chutima Kaewta-Fortescue is general manager at U Nimman Chiang Mai and Eastin Tan Hotel Chiang Mai, both in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Kaewta-Fortescue originally joined Absolute Hotel Services Group in 2010 as a general manager of multiple properties, then returned to the company in 2019 as quality assurance director before assuming her new roles.
Gregg Fracassa is general manager of Snow King Resort, a Benchmark Resorts & Hotels property in Jackson, Wyoming. Fracassa had been regional managing director for Portfolio Hotels & Resorts, as well as general manager for the management company’s DoubleTree by Hilton property in San Diego.
Four Seasons Resort Nevis in Nevis, West Indies, welcomed Ruby Garcia as resort manager. Garcia arrived from Phulay Bay, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Krabi, Thailand, where she was general manager.
Timbers Resorts named Jesse Geremia director of operations. Geremia has more than 15 years of experience in luxury hospitality, including seven years at multiple Timbers Resorts properties, most recently as general manager for the opening team of Timbers Kiawah, Kiawah Island, South Carolina.
We Care Spa in Desert Hot Springs, California, named Greg Geurin general manager. Geurin had been general manager at The Inn at The Five Graces in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort in Anaheim, California, appointed Matt Harrisonresident manager, Rita Joshi director of finance, Clint Chadburn director of engineering, Dario Espinoza director of human resources, Scott Kimmel director of food and beverage, and Amol Agarwal executive chef. The resort will open in April.
Allen Highfield is general manager of Montage Healdsburg in Healdsburg, California. He joined from Montage Deer Valley in Park City, Utah, where was general manager.
City Lodge Hotel Group named David Jacobsz group revenue manager. He had been market manager at the Expedia Group. Dhanisha Nathoo is chief financial officer and member of the board and risk committee, effective March 9. She had been director, chief operating officer for global operations – trade validation, asset protection, clearing and change at Credit Suisse, London. The company also promoted Lischen Gurovich to group talent manager, and Sheree Snyman to group learning and development manager.
Best Western Hotels & Resorts named Aayesha Jada sales manager to support the company’s three new properties in Kenya. Jada has 20 years of travel trade experience spanning travel agent roles to international hotel sales.
Garden of the Gods Resort and Club in Colorado Springs, Colorado, appointed Grant Jones vice president of wellness, a newly created executive leadership position. Jones joined the property after serving as senior philanthropy officer for Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation.
The InterContinental Houston – Medical Center in Houston named Doug Kellydirector of sales and marketing. An employee of InterContinental Hotels & Resorts for the past nine years, Kelly recently was area director of sales and marketing based in Chicago. The property also named Stevie Vu director of sales and marketing. Prior to this role, Vu spent nearly eight years as a complex marketing manager for The Westin Galleria Houston and The Westin Oaks Houston at the Galleria.
Cote Family Destinations appointed Amy Lewis senior director of sales and marketing. For the past seven years, Lewis was director of sales and marketing for the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest Hotel in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.
Sheraton Kaua’i Coconut Beach Resort in Kapa’a, Hawaii, appointed Chris Machorekgeneral manager. He recently was managing director of the Renaissance Westchester Hotel in West Harrison, New York.
Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants named Jesseca Malecki general manager of Hotel Fontenot, opening in March in New Orleans. Malecki spent three years as general manager of W New Orleans – French Quarter.
Caruso appointed Philipp Posch senior vice president of hospitality. Posch joined from Equinox Hotels, where he was general manager of the group’s Hudson Yards property in New York City.
Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts in Egypt named three general managers. Islam Sabry is general manager of the Steigenberger Cecil Hotel in Alexandria, replacing Wael Aboelseoud, who moved into the general manager role at the Steigenberger Hotel El Tahrir in Cairo. Mostafa Khalaf is general manager of the Steigenberger Nile Palace in Luxor. Sabry recently was director of the Jaz Dahabeya Hotel in Dahab, Egypt, while Khalaf was operations manager at the Hilton Luxor Resort and Spa in Luxor.
Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in Nassau, The Bahamas, appointed David Samuel director of food and beverage. Samuel most recently was with Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico, where he was food, beverage and event planning director.
Russel Storey is general manager of Cabrits Resort & Spa Kempinski Dominica in Portsmouth, Dominica. Storey had been general manager at Royal Maxim Palace, Cairo in Cairo, Egypt.
Hotel Equities named Tyrone Tindell general manager of Reverb by Hard Rock in Atlanta. Tindell will lead the hotel’s opening team alongside Terri Hunt, director of sales and marketing. Tindell recently served as dual general manager of two new-build Marriott hotels in Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina. Hunt was director of sales and marketing for a Marriott hotel in Atlanta.
Michael Treanor is executive chef of Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles. Treanor joined the property from Montage Beverly Hills in Beverly Hills, California, where he was executive chef.
True North Hotel Group announced leadership title changes: Lewis Wiens shifted from chairman and chief executive officer to chairman; Richard Merkel, formerly president and chief operating officer, is now chief executive officer; and Bradley Wiens, formerly executive vice president and chief development officer, is now president and chief development officer.