Starwood Hotels, the hotel brand management company that operates 1 Hotels, Baccarat Hotels and Treehouse Hotels, has promoted three leaders across its operations and property teams. Shadi Omeish has been promoted to SVP of operations, Americas; Ashley Gochnauer has been named area managing director, overseeing 1 Hotel San Francisco, 1 Hotel Seattle and Treehouse Hotel Silicon Valley; and Onal Kucuk has been appointed area general manager of 1 Hotel Nashville and 1 Hotel Austin.
“We’re proud to recognize Shadi’s continued leadership as our portfolio keeps growing across the Americas and beyond,” said Raul Leal, CEO of Starwood Hotels. “He’s had a huge hand in strengthening operations across our hotels and supporting the teams who make it all happen every day. This promotion reflects the impact Shadi has already made and the confidence we have in the leadership he’ll continue to bring as we keep building what’s next.”
As SVP of operations, Omeish will continue to lead operational performance across Starwood Hotels’ growing portfolio throughout the Americas. Having held senior leadership positions with global brands including Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, MGM Resorts International and Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Omeish brings deep operational expertise to the role. He will work closely with general managers and regional leadership teams to strengthen day-to-day operations, enhance overall hotel performance and support the continued growth of the company’s brands across its 17 operating properties.
Omeish will also play a key role in supporting upcoming openings across the Americas, including 1 Hotel Austin, 1 Hotel & Homes San Miguel de Allende, 1 Hotel Cabo, 1 Hotel Hudson Valley, Baccarat Residences Brickell Miami, Treehouse Hotel Brickell and Treehouse Hotel Miami Beach. Since joining the company in 2016, Omeish has held several leadership roles across the portfolio, including general manager of 1 Hotel South Beach and 1 Hotel West Hollywood, area managing director, West Coast, regional vice president, West Coast, and most recently, VP of Operations, Americas.
Ashley Gochnauer has been promoted to area managing director, overseeing 1 Hotel San Francisco, 1 Hotel Seattle and Treehouse Hotel Silicon Valley. Most recently, serving as area general manager of 1 Hotel San Francisco and Treehouse Hotel Silicon Valley, Gochnauer now assumes broader oversight across the three properties. She played a key role in the opening of Treehouse Hotel Silicon Valley and previously led the debut of 1 Hotel San Francisco as general manager, bringing extensive experience in launching and scaling new properties.
Gochnauer brings more than 20 years of hospitality experience to the role, having held leadership positions with brands including Viceroy Hotels, The London, Kimpton Hotels and Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Throughout her career, she has been closely involved in hotel openings and transitions, building strong teams and maintaining high operational standards.
Onal Kucuk has been promoted to area general manager overseeing 1 Hotel Nashville and the upcoming 1 Hotel Austin. Most recently serving as general manager of 1 Hotel Nashville, Kucuk will now expand his leadership to include the debut of 1 Hotel Austin, set to open in late summer 2026, where he will play a key role in guiding the property through its pre-opening and launch. Since joining the brand, he has led operations at 1 Hotel Nashville, overseeing the hotel’s guestrooms and suites as well as its food and beverage and wellness offerings.
Kucuk brings extensive experience in luxury and lifestyle hospitality, having previously served as general manager of The Guild Hotel in San Diego and held leadership roles with Hyatt at properties including Ventana Big Sur and Thompson Chicago. Earlier in his career, he spent more than a decade with Starwood Hotels & Resorts in a range of operational leadership roles, including Black Belt–Area Director of Six Sigma for the Midwest.