Virgin Hotels, Miami, Florida, has welcomed three new members to its newly formed global sales team: Maya Latinovic as vice president of global sales; Peter D’Elia as global director of business travel and entertainment sales; and Alyssa Maselli as global director of group sales.
Previously, Latinovic was the director of brand sales at Edition Hotels; D’Elia was the global luxury and account executive at Marriott International; and Maselli was director of global sales in the Northeast region for The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.
Latinovic, who will lead the global sales efforts for Virgin Hotels, has more than 20 years of hospitality sales experience with a worldwide clientele. During her stint at Edition Hotels, she was responsible for optimizing travel industry sales performance for 13 hotels worldwide. She also spent 12 years as an integral part of the global sales team for Preferred Hotels. In her new role as the vice president of global sales, she and her team will uncover revenue opportunities for Virgin Hotels’ portfolio.
“I am thrilled that Maya, Peter and Alyssa have joined our global sales team during this period of incredible growth for Virgin Hotels,” Virgin Hotels CEO James Bermingham said. “Their strong account relationships, reputations in the industry and astute strategic focus will be a fabulous addition to our amazing hotel sales teams.”
The St. Regis San Francisco, California, has appointed Mikey Adams chef de cuisine. Chef Adams most recently led the seafood restaurant Angler in San Francisco.
Kim Avant has been appointed general manager of the Grande Colonial, La Jolla, California, as well as its NINE-TEN restaurant, part of the Franklin Croft Hospitality collection. Avant joined the Grande Colonial as assistant general manager in 2010 and transitioned to the position of director of human resources seven years later.
Hyatt Centric Downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, has recruited Michael Berk as general manager and Brian Ciemnicki as director of sales and marketing. Formerly the assistant general manager of the property, Berk has been promoted to general manager following the building’s transition from the Grand Hotel Minneapolis. Before joining the recently opened hotel, Ciemnicki served as director of sales and marketing at the Westin Minneapolis.
S Hotels & Resorts has appointed Bart Callens its new cluster general manager, tasked with leading SAii Phi Phi Island Village and SAii Laguna Phuket, Thailand. Most recently, Callens was InterContinental Hotels Group’s area general manager for Southern Thailand, while also serving as general manager of Holiday Inn Resort Phuket.
Max Beach Resort, Daytona Beach, Florida, has added Director of Operations Michael Codianne and Director of Sales and Marketing Laura Radford to its executive team. Most recently, Codianne was director of operations at the Daytona Beach Resort & Conference Center, and Radford worked at the Holiday Inn St. Augustine – World Golf Village.
Guy Crawford has been appointed chief investment officer at DelMonte Hotel Group, Rochester, New York. Prior to joining DelMonte, he was head of the hospitality platform at Lightstone Group.
The Brown Palace Hotel & Spa, Denver, Colorado, has added Marcia Davisson to its team as complex director of food and beverage across the hotel complex, including the adjacent Holiday Inn Express Denver Downtown. Davisson was previously corporate executive director of training and development for several international companies, as well as CEO of Convivial Consulting Group.
Along with the introduction of its three new restaurant and lounge concepts, Conrad Nashville, Tennessee, has appointed Dwayne Edwards executive chef and Jean-Christophe LeVarrat director of food and beverage ahead of its opening in May 2022. Edwards formerly served as executive chef at multiple Ritz-Carlton hotel locations throughout the United States. LeVarrat most recently led the food and beverage team at the Shutters on the Beach hotel, Santa Monica, California.
Lauren Giovannone has joined Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher’s Los Angeles office as a partner. Giovannone, formerly a partner at Paul Hastings, will continue her real estate practice, which concentrates on all transactional matters associated with the hospitality sector.
The Jekyll Island Club Resort, Georgia, has welcomed Steve Grainger as its new director of finance. Grainger most recently served as corporate controller for CUSA, a third-party property management company in Kennesaw, Georgia.
Chef Shane Ingram, former owner of Four Square Restaurant, has returned to North Carolina’s dining scene with his new role at The Durham. Executive Chef Ingram now leads a collaborative kitchen at the boutique hotel.
General Manager Thomas Jecklin has joined Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Los Cabos, Mexico. Most recently, he was the general manager of The St. Regis Mexico City.
Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, Maui, Hawaii, has appointed Wendle Lesher hotel manager. Most recently, he held the title of director of food and beverage at Hilton Waikoloa Village, Hawaii.
hihotels by Hospitality International, Atlanta, Georgia, has added Kimberly Midkiff to its corporate team as a franchise development and assurance and marketing program director. Midkiff most recently served as vice president of development for Sonesta and Red Lion Hotels.
Shangri-La The Shard, London, England, has welcomed new culinary talent with the appointment of Pastry Chef Leyre Pedrazuela and Executive Chef Paolo Belloni. In addition to having worked at various international hotels, including Mandarin Oriental, Pennyhill Park and South Lodge, Pedrazuela previously appeared on TV as a contestant on the UK’s Bake Off: The Professionals. Chef Belloni’s experience with hotel kitchens includes cooking at Kulm Hotel St. Moritz, Switzerland.
The Kimpton Sylvan Hotel, Atlanta, Georgia, has hired two new team members. Tenille Perry will serve as the hotel’s director of sales and marketing, and Bertrand Mangeot as general manager. Prior to joining The Sylvan, Perry worked in operations and sales across several brands including Residence Inn, Hilton, and Curio Collection. Mangeot was most recently a part of the InterContinental Toronto Centre team.
Sanjay Rawat has been named the chef de cuisine of a new culinary program dedicated to Indian weddings at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, Dana Point, California. He previously cooked in the banquet kitchen of the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach.
Bruce Roy has been appointed general manager of Hilton Anatole, Dallas, Texas. Roy joins Hilton Anatole from Hilton Boston Logan Airport, where he held the same position.
Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya, Mexico, has named Christopher Shiel director of sales and marketing. Prior to joining the Andaz Mayakoba team, he worked with Hyatt Hotels Corp. for six years, most recently as director of sales and marketing at Hotel 50 Bowery, New York City.
WaterWalk, Wichita, Kansas, has expanded its leadership team with the addition of Lili Tomovich, David Grissenand Jim Anhut to its board of directors. Tomovich currently serves as the chief marketing officer of Barclays U.S. Consumer Bank. Grissen previously acted as group president for Marriott International until his retirement in April 2021. Anhut most recently served as director of the hospitality business real estate minor at Michigan State University.
Peachtree Hotel Group, Atlanta, Georgia, has promoted four key team members: Greg Zabinski to executive vice president, capital markets for Peachtree PC Investors; Vivian Clarke to senior vice president, people and culture; Steve MacKenzie to senior vice president, operations for Peachtree Hospitality Management; and Michael Ritz to senior vice president, investments.