The Anam in Cam Ranh, Vietnam, added three members to its food and beverage team, while Shinta Mani Wild, a luxury tented camp in Kampot, Cambodia, named a general manager and executive chef ahead of its November opening. Read on for more recent appointments as September gets underway.
DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld named Harold Bassler general manager of the 1,020-room property in Orlando, Florida. Bassler recently was the regional director of operations and area general manager for Crescent Hotels & Resorts.
Kempinski appointed Axel Bethke general manager of Kempinski Hotel Bahía, Estopena-Marbella, Spain. Bethke joined the property following his recent assignment as general manager at Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Kokua Hospitality named Candice Cancino general manager at Carmel Mission Inn in Carmel, California. Cancino formerly was general manager of the King George Hotel, San Francisco.
Lee Chee Koon, former chief executive officer of The Ascott Limited, will be appointed president and group chief executive officer of Ascott’s parent company, CapitaLand Limited, effective September 15. He is currently the group chief investment officer of CapitaLand.
Shinta Mani Hotels named Sangjay Choegyal general manager and Kien Wagner executive chef of Shinta Mani Wild – Bensley Collection, a luxury tented camp opening this November in Kampot, Cambodia. Previously, Choegyal was director of Gal Oya Lodge in Sri Lanka, and Wagner was executive chef at Anantara Angkor Resort in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Spire Hospitality welcomed Dawna Comeaux as senior vice president. Comeaux had been executive vice president of operations and sales for Pillar Hotels and Resorts.
Fairmont San Francisco appointed Sion Edwards director of sales and marketing, and Darren Matsumoto director of conference services of the San Francisco hotel. Edwards departed Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa in Sonoma, California, where he had been director of sales and marketing since 2014. Matsumoto was director of conference services and catering at Fairmont Orchid in Waimea, Hawaii.
Fontainebleau Miami Beach named Farzanah Johnson director of national accounts for the property in Miami Beach, Florida. Johnson had been senior sales manager and business development manager at Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown.
Benchmark appointed Jackie Johnson, Jr., director of facilities for Turtle Bay Resort in Kahuku, Hawaii. He had been chief engineer for General Growth Properties of Honolulu, managing daily activities of mechanic and engineering staff, and maintenance crews for the Ala Moana Center of Honolulu, the world’s largest open-air shopping mall.
Marriott International announced Rebecca Gollan as director of sales and marketing at Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa in Surfers Paradise, Australia. Gollan most recently was national sales manager for Meriton’s 18 Australian properties.
The Murieta Inn and Spa, managed by Marcus Hotels & Resorts, appointed Samuel Kelly general manager of the 83-room hotel in Rancho Murieta, California. Prior to joining the property, Kelly was general manager of the Marriott St. Louis West in St. Louis.
Mexico’s Velas Resorts opened its first U.S.-based group sales office, which will be run by Cynthia Kunz, global sales director, meetings and incentives. Before joining the team, she was sales vice president and partner of Incentive Travel Solutions.
Carla Lopes, formerly general manager of the Kempinski Hotel Bahía, Estopena-Marbella, Spain, became general manager of Hotel Nassauer Hof in Wiesbaden Germany.
Kimpton Marlowe in Cambridge, Massachusetts, appointed Jamie Mantegazza hotel manager. Mantegazza has extensive experience with Kimpton, most recently as director of housekeeping for Kimpton Marlowe. She also supported the opening of the Kimpton Gray Hotel in Chicago, among other property openings.
Banyan Tree Phuket in Phuket, Thailand, appointed Chandra Mohan Arunasalam executive chef for all its restaurants. The Malaysian-born chef has prepared dishes for several 2- and 3-Michelin star restaurants worldwide, and most recently was chef de cuisine at Hilton Kuala Lumpur in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Johanna Philipps became director of sales and marketing at Rosewood Sand Hill in Menlo Park, California. Philipps had been director of sales at Rosewood Sand Hill, where she helped grow the property’s sales and media presence.
The Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Coast, California, welcomed Lisa Ray as director, financial and insurance sales. In her previous position as global account director for Trump Hotels, Ray led incentive, financial and insurance sales vertically in the West Coast and Canada markets.
Based in Louisville, Kentucky, 21c Museum Hotels appointed Sarah Robbins chief operating officer. A founding partner of 21c Museum Hotels, Robbins has been with the company since 2005, previously serving as chief hospitality officer.
Outrigger Resorts named Delia Romano executive sous chef for Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort in Honolulu, and Jason Kayatani general manager of The Reef Bar & Market Grill at Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort. Sous chef since joining Outrigger, Romano has been a featured chef at the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival. Before joining the company, Kayatani was Mai Tai Bar manager, Surf Lanai restaurant in-room dining multiple manager at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, a Luxury Collection Resort in Honolulu.
The Holiday Inn Charlotte-Center City in Charlotte, North Carolina, appointed Adrienne Schermer regional director of business travel sales. Schermer has 12 years of hotel sales leadership experience, primarily with Marriott International and Starwood Hotels & Resorts.
Embassy Suites by Hilton Kansas City Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri, welcomed Levi Seidensticker as general manager. Seidensticker recently was assistant general manager at Embassy Suites by Hilton Kansas City Overland Park in Overland Park, Kansas.
The Anam in Cam Ranh, Vietnam, named Ye Chang Sheng executive chef, Vu Thi Huong Giang food and beverage director, and Wayne Cameron executive sous chef. Sheng was executive chef at Mia Resort Nha Trang in Nha Trang, Vietnam, while Giang started her career in 2004 as a waitress at Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, also in Nha Trang, where she climbed the ladder over a decade to become a food and beverage manager. Cameron was executive sous chef at the Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort and Spa in Glacis, Seychelles.
Sycuan Casino in El Cajon, California, welcomed Kimberly Stromberg as director of rooms. Prior to joining Sycuan, she was director of hotel operations at the Luxor Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Brian Sundeen became executive chef at JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa in San Antonio. Sundeen started his new role on August 13 after transferring from The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel in Dana Point, California, where he was executive chef.
Kevin Thorstenson became managing director of Hilton Norfolk The Main in Norfolk, Virginia. Thorstenson had been general manager at The St. Anthony, a Luxury Collection Hotel by Starwood Hotels in San Antonio.
Travelle Kitchen + Bar in The Langham, Chicago, appointed Jeff Vucko chef de cuisine. Vucko, who was promoted from senior sous chef, has been a part of the restaurant’s team since the hotel opened in June 2013.
Château Élan Winery & Resort in Braselton, Georgia, named Ed Walls general manager. Walls, who has 39 years of hospitality experience, most recently was general manager for the Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, Florida.
Benchmark named Tyler Wilson director of finance for Stonewall Resort, a Benchmark Resorts & Hotels property in Roanoke, West Virginia. He had been CPA for Arnett Carbis Toothman of Charleston, West Virginia.
Geraldine Zaragoza became hotel manager of Casa Velas in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Zaragoza has been a member of the Velas Resorts’ team since 2010, most recently serving as director of groups and conventions at Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico.