Tess Mattisson, head of e-commerce & customer digital development, and Marcus Hammarström, head of marketing, have been recruited to join Stockholm, Sweden-based Scandic Hotels’ commercial management team to strengthen and develop the company’s digital innovation and branding journey.
Mattisson most recently worked at Choice Hotels International, Rockville, Maryland, as senior director, sales & marketing. She also has experience from a number of management positions in commercial growth, e-commerce and change management within transitioning from analog to digital on an international level.
Hammarström was most recently head of marketing & products for Birka Cruises based in Mariehamn, Åland Islands. Hammarström also has a long history of working for tour operators TUI, Hanover, Germany, and Ving, Youngstown, Ohio.
Mattisson and Hammarström will be part of Scandic’s commercial management team and joined the company during August.
“Tess and Marcus are two very welcome additions to Scandic’s commercial team and the accelerated innovation journey we’re currently on. They will bring broad expertise in e-commerce and digital service and brand development. I look forward to working with them to continue strengthening and developing Scandic’s offering,” says Anna Spjuth, chief commercial officer at Scandic Hotels Group.
Rosewood Hotel Group announced that Radha Arora, president of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, and Michael Dojlidko, group head of legal, will take on additional responsibilities as co-chief development officers. Most recently, prior to joining Rosewood, Arora served as the regional vice president and general manager of the iconic Beverly Wilshire, Beverly Hills, California. Prior to joining Rosewood, Dojlidko spent 12 years at Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Stamford, Connecticut, where he most recently held the title of senior vice president, general counsel – Europe, Africa, Middle East.
Makeready, a hospitality and retail operator and management company based in Dallas, Texas, welcomed new executives. Ted Arps is the new chief investment management and development officer. Arps has held various senior leadership positions throughout his career, including strategic operations for private equity and investment holdings groups. Gary Thomas is the new senior vice president of hotel operations. He has past experience in several general manager and senior operations roles with Morgan’s Hotel Group and SBE Hotels. Marcia Murphy is the new corporate director of commercial strategy. She joins Makeready having spent the last 20 years on the Los Angeles hospitality scene. Charles Olalia is the new corporate director of culinary. He previously opened Rice Bar and Ma’am Sir, his first restaurants showcasing his Filipino heritage.
Hyatt Place Phoenix/Downtown, Phoenix, Arizona, announced its leadership team, including David Belk as general manager; Griselda Chacon as director of sales; Jessica Uy as associate director sales; and Mike Shippy as director of operations.
Meliá Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai, Thailand, has welcomed Suksant Chutinthratip and Jay Tadifa Abiang as executive chef and director of F&B, respectively. Chutinthratip comes to the hotel’s pre-opening team after working as the executive chef at Courtyard by Marriott Bangkok. Prior to his appointment at Meliá Chiang Mai, Abiang was the F&B manager at Meliá Ba Vi Mountain Retreat in Vietnam.
Everwood Hospitality Partners, Charlotte, North Carolina, a hotel owner/operator, announced the company has named Tracy Kundey managing director of hospitality. Previously, Kundey was COO/CFO for Chandler Hotels, Scottsdale, Arizona.
Driftwood Capital, Miami, Florida, has expanded its executive team with the appointment of two new managing directors. Caroline Gould Lewittes has joined the firm as managing director, investor and public relations. George Rupp has joined the firm as managing director, business development and consultant relations. Lewittes most recently spearheaded investor and public relations at Kayne Anderson Real Estate based in Boca Raton and has consulted with several other private equity firms. Prior to joining Driftwood, Lewittes served as managing director and head of capital formation and institutional distribution at Walker & Dunlop Investment Partners in Denver, Colorado.
Red Roof, Columbus, Ohio, named George Limbert as president of the company. Limbert has been interim president since October of 2020. Limbert served as Red Roof’s general counsel for the previous eight years.
The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort welcomed the newest addition to its executive team as Helen Malmgren joins in the role of director of sales and marketing. Malmgren most recently led the sales and marketing department at Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi as commercial director.
Thompson Austin, Austin, Texas, announced the appointment of Serena McCabe as area director of sales and marketing. Prior, McCabe spearheaded the marketing and sales initiatives at Thompson Seattle, the brand’s first property in the Pacific Northwest.
Casa de Campo Resort & Villas, La Romana, Dominican Republic, announced the appointment of Rodrigo Menéndez as the new culinary director. Menéndez most recently worked as the executive chef for Sortis Spa & Casino, a Marriott Autograph Collection Hotel in Panama.
Peachtree Hotel Group, Atlanta, Georgia, announced the appointments of Delana Meyer as vice president of digital media and strategy and Jeanne Smith as vice president of revenue. Prior to joining the company, Meyer served as vice president of business development and marketing for Zion Heritage, where she was responsible for developing new lodging projects near Zion National Park, Utah. Before joining the company, Smith spent 30 years with Marriott International, Bethesda, Maryland, and Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Stamford, Connecticut.
ONE11 Hotel, New Orleans, Louisiana, announced the appointment of Lisa Miller as the General Manager. Prior to joining the ONE11 Hotel team, Miller was the hotel manager and director of sales & marketing at The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery in New Orleans.
The Balfour Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida, announced the appointment of James Moore to general manager. Moore joins The Balfour Hotel after leading the team at the Havana Cabana at Key West Hotel, Florida, for three years.
Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, has announced three new appointments to its executive team. Ali Murray has been named director of sales and marketing, Lukas Pesek is the new director of food and beverage and Michelle Wilkos is director of spa and recreation. Murray had previous roles at Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas and Treasure Island – TI Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas. Pesek previously worked at Aria Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, as director of food and beverage. Prior to joining the Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas team, Wilkos served as the director of spa and salon operations at Bellagio Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, and Treasure Island – TI Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas.
Flynn Properties, San Francisco, California, has announced that it has hired Julie Purnell to join its senior leadership team. Prior to Flynn, Purnell held leadership roles at several hotel companies as well as premier commercial real estate services and investment firms, including Maryland-based Marriott International.
Balboa Bay Resort, Newport Beach, California, announced the appointment of Francine Slosser as director of marketing. Prior to joining Balboa Bay Resort, Slosser was director of sales and marketing at NoMo SoHo in New York City, NY.
Jon Sterrett has been named executive chef at The Red Lion Inn, Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Sterrett was previously the executive chef at The Whale in the Distrikt Hotel.
Melanie Stroh has joined The Westin Los Angeles Airport as the property’s new director of sales. Prior to this role, Stroh served as the director of sales and marketing at The Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage. Mark Goldrup is the hotel’s new general manager. Most recently, Goldrup was recruited to manage the team at the flagship Toronto Marriott Eaton Centre Hotel.
Playa Largo Resort & Spa, Key Largo, Florida, welcomed Heather Turkay as director of sales and marketing. Turkay comes to Playa Largo Resort from the Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris, Westerville, Ohio, where she served as the pre-opening and opening director of sales & marketing.
Hotel Zachary, Chicago, appointed Michael Willson to director of sales and marketing. Returning to Hotel Zachary, Willson most recently worked under the Davidson Hospitality Group as the director of sales and marketing for Thompson Chicago.