The big news from the past week has Marilyn Spiegel returning to Wynn Resorts as president. Spiegel previously served in the same role from 2010 to 2013. Several properties announced multiple moves, including the Shangri-La At The Shard, London, bringing in a new senior culinary team and the upcoming Dream in Nashville naming its leadership team.
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Carson in California has appointed Edward Apodaca as general manager. He was previously director of operations at The Westin Los Angeles Airport.
Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach has appointed Kevin Baker restaurant chef at its Caribbean-American fusion concept, Steelpan. Most recently he served as the executive sous chef for The Foundry in Pompano Beach, Florida.
Deutsche Hospitality announced that on April 1, 2019, Ulrich Bensel will take over the position of vice president Group Human Resources. Bensel’s most recent post was as head of Human Resources at Hugo Boss, where he directed the company’s global departments from his base at headquarters.
Heidi Bergos returns to The Charles Hotel in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as director, sales and marketing. Having first joined the hotel in 2010 for nearly five years, she has since worked in Southern California; Whistler, British Columbia; and in a regional capacity in for a collection of hotels in New York City.
Edgewood Tahoe, set along the shoreline of South Lake Tahoe in Nevada, has named John Bradway II as its director of marketing and sales. Bradway spent 13 years at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida, ascending to director of innovation.
Shangri-La Hotel, At The Shard, London appointed a new senior culinary team, including Jeremy Brown as executive chef and Aurelien Mouren as the food and beverage director. Additionally, David Darnbrough has been named executive sous chef; Scot Paterson, chef de cuisine; Benoit Defait, head pastry chef; and Aggar Aung, sushi chef. Mouren joins from roles at The Ned and Soho Farmhouse. Brown came from executive chef roles at Rhubarb’s Sky Garden, Hotel Café Royal and the private members club Home House.
Dream Hotel Group has appointed six veteran hospitality executives to lead Dream Nashville, its first location in Tennessee opening in February, including: Randy Diamond as general manager; Ella Kopfman as director of food & beverage; Tyler Newell as senior director of marketing; Rachael Stroop-Elias as director of sales; Brooke Blakely as director of revenue management; and Brandon Jourdan as controller. Diamond most recently served as director of rooms at Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica, California; Kopfman served as GM at Northstar Café in Ohio; Blakely served as the corporate director of revenue management for Journal Hotels; and Jourdan was with Omni Bedford Springs Resort & Spa.
Almanac Barcelona has appointed Alexandre de Noronha Dzelme as director of sales & marketing for the 91-room hotel located at Gran Via de los Corte Catalunes. Prior to joining Almanac Barcelona, he served as director of sales for Hotel Casa Fuster, Barcelona.
Dave Elcon has been promoted to resort manager of the newly opened Vista Collina Resort and its sister property, Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa, California. Prior to joining Vista Collina Resort, Elcon served as director of operations at Bacara Resort & Spa in Santa Barbara, California.
The Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa has hired Kevin Ellis as general manager. Ellis joined the hotel as director of operations in July 2015, then promoted to hotel manager in November 2017, before being named general manager.
Ensemble Hotel Partners has appointed Greg Guthrie as general manager for Hotel Maya – a DoubleTree by Hilton in Long Beach, California. From 2015 to 2018, Guthrie was general manager at the DoubleTree by Hilton Carson in Caifornia.
NorthPointe Hospitality Management has appointed Shakir Hussain as the general manager of Hotel Indigo Mount Pleasant, located minutes from Charleston, South Carolina. Most recently, Hussain was the area director of operations for SMS Lodging in Miami, Florida.
Dallas-based real estate developer Hall Group has appointed Darryl Jett as general manager of the under-construction Hall Arts Hotel, successively naming Jennifer Wasserman as director of marketing. The hotel is set to debut in the fall of 2019. Jett recently served as the general manager of the W Dallas Victory Hotel and Residences. Wasserman most recently served as opening director of sales and marketing at The Statler Dallas and The Highland Dallas, the inaugural property for Hilton’s Curio Collection.
Lore Group has appointed Donte Johnson as GM for the Riggs Washington DC hotel, a new property opening in late 2019 in DC’s Penn Quarter. Johnson nost recently served as general manager during the launch of Kimpton’s Mason & Rook Hotel in DC.
Vince Johnson has been appointed food and beverage manager for the new Crowne Plaza North Augusta in North Augusta, South Carolina. Most recently, he was the director of food and beverage for West Lake Country Club in Augusta. Johnson also spent more than 11 years as the restaurant supervisor and bar manager at The Partridge Inn in Augusta.
Harper Kuta – Bali has appointed Sonny Juliono as general manager. He previously served as GM in a number of properties.
Embassy Suites Seattle Downtown-Pioneer Square announced four strategic hires, including Nicholas Kuhns, general manager; Riccardo Marossa, director of sales and marketing; Nickie Andrews, director of catering and events; and Amy Sant, senior catering sales manager. Kuhns previously served as assistant general manager at Hilton Salt Lake City Center in Salt Lake City; Marossa served as director of sales and marketing at various properties, including Embassy Suites by Hilton Seattle Bellevue; Andrews previously served as director of catering at InterContinental New York Barclay in New York; and Sant worked as senior catering sales manager at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort in California.
Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort in Florida has appointed Mary O’Donnell to managing director. O’Donnell moves into the new role after four years as the hotel’s general manager.
Viceroy Hotels & Resorts announced Nienke Oosting as general manager of their Viceroy Chicago. Nienke served as hotel manager at Viceroy Chicago since its debut in September 2017.
The Allison Inn & Spa, Willamette Valley, Oregon, has named Christopher Smith as executive chef. He has 15 years of industry experience, including mastering his craft under chef Bobby Moore at the Barking Frog at Willows Lodge for six years.
The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort has promoted Luciano Sperduto to director of food and beverage from his previous role as assistant director. He has served in key roles in the opening of Todd English’s bluezoo, Phins lounge and grab-and-go concept, fuel.
Marilyn Spiegel is returning to the Wynn Las Vegas as president. Spiegel previously served as president of the Las Vegas resort from 2010 to 2013. She will replace Maurice Wooden, who has elected to step down as the resort’s president at year-end. Before joining Wynn Las Vegas for the first time in 2010, Spiegel served as president of five different Caesars Entertainment-owned resort brands in Las Vegas.
Franck Steigerwald has been appointed executive chef at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes. Steigerwald joins the resort with over 20 years of experience in the restaurant and hospitality industry and most recently served as executive chef of St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort in Miami Beach.
The Hotel Figueroa, Los Angeles, has appointed Adam Sydenham as general manager and Greg Velasquez as chief marketing officer. Sydenham was previously the regional general manager at Luxe Rodeo Drive Hotel and Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel. Velasquez was the director of sales and marketing at Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills. Additionally, Nicholas Biglari is the property’s new senior vice president of food and beverage after serving as vice president and director of operations for owning comapny DTLA’s Bottega Louie Restaurant.
Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa has appointed Aaron Weegar as the director of sales & marketing. He most recently was director of sales at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.