Read the latest roundup of U.S.-based hires and promotions in the hotel industry.
Executives
Riana Stadlen
Vice president
Hunter Hotel Advisors
March 11, 2025
New hire
Experience: Prior to joining Hunter, Stadlen worked at Three Wall Capital, a New York-based hotel investment firm where she focused on acquisitions and asset management. During her tenure, Three Wall Capital completed over 70 extended-stay hotel acquisitions across leading brands.
David Hale
Vice president of business development
6PM Hospitality Partners
March 6, 2025
New hire
Experience: Prior to joining 6PM Hospitality, he held similar leadership roles at PM Hotel Group, Paramount Hotel Group and Spire Hospitality. His extensive background includes serving as vice president of sales for a portfolio of 30-plus hotels with Interstate Hotels & Resorts.
Wendy Hoekwater
Acting chief marketing officer
Lodging Dynamics Hospitality Group
March 6, 2025
New hire
Experience: Hoekwater most recently served as vice president of marketing and reservation sales at Surf or Sound Realty in Outer Banks, North Carolina.
Mary Rogers
Executive vice president of hospitality operations
Turnberry
Feb. 27, 2025
New hire
Experience: Prior to this appointment, Rogers was the managing director and area general manager of Montage Laguna Beach, Montage Healdsburg, Pendry West Hollywood and Pendry San Diego.
General managers
Cristen Korman
General manager
The Inn & Club at Harbour Town
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
March 11, 2025
New hire
Experience: Korman joins the property from Boar’s Head Resort in Charlottesville, Virginia, where she was director of hotel operations. Previously, she served as director of rooms at the Marriott Hutchinson Golf & Marina in Stuart, Florida.
Kimberly Rossi
General manager
Miraval Austin Resort & Spa
Austin, Texas
March 7, 2025
New hire
Experience: Most recently, Rossi served as the director of wellness and business development and hotel manager for North Carolina’s Art of Living Retreat Center, overseeing all hotel and retreat center operations, driving revenue growth and positioning the spiritual center as a premier Ayurvedic destination.
Jessica Higginbotham
General manager
Hyatt Centric Congress Avenue Austin
Austin, Texas
March 6, 2025
New hire
Experience: Higginbotham most recently served as general manager at The Elms Resort & Spa in Excelsior Springs, Missouri, where she successfully implemented strategic initiatives to enhance guest satisfaction and drive repeat business.
Sales and marketing
Justin Chesney
Director of sales
Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa, Vail Valley
Avon, Colorado
March 10, 2025
New hire
Experience: Chesney previously served as the director of meetings and special events planning at The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch. He also held senior sales and events positions at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain and The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas.
Alexia Zambrano
Marketing manager
The Ritz-Carlton, Denver
Denver
March 6, 2025
New hire
Experience: During her tenure at Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center, Zambrano rapidly advanced, holding the positions of marketing coordinator and marketing manager. She then stepped into the group marketing manager role on the Gaylord Hotels brand marketing and creative team, where she honed her skills in strategic marketing and team leadership.
Jenny Onega
Director of group and catering sales
The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota
Sarasota, Florida
Feb. 25, 2025
New hire
Experience: Onega most recently served as an area sales leader for Marriott International’s Miami Beach market, overseeing six hotels and driving significant growth in group and corporate sales.
Food and beverage
Brandon Herkes
Food and beverage director
Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows
Santa Monica, California
March 11, 2025
New hire
Experience: Previous leadership includes heading the food and beverage operations at Amangani, a two-Michelin Key ski resort by Aman Resorts and his instrumental role in the successful opening of the Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans.
Jagjit Singh
Executive chef
Table 45 at the InterContinental Cleveland
Cleveland
March 11, 2025
New hire
Experience: Most recently, Singh served as executive sous chef at Five Hotels and Resorts in Zurich, Switzerland, where he managed six distinct culinary outlets offering a variety of cuisines, including Asian, Indian, Arabic, Japanese, European and American.
Ali Dey Daly
Director of culinary
Park Lane New York
New York City
March 10, 2025
New hire
Experience: Previously, Dey Daly held the position of executive chef at the Baccarat Hotel New York, a 5-star, 5-diamond property, where he oversaw the development of several new menus, and his leadership resulted in a significantly increased food-and-beverage revenue and improved the hotel’s ranking across numerous platforms.
Joe D'Agostino
Executive chef
Hyatt Regency Greenwich
Old Greenwich, Connecticut
March 6, 2025
New hire
Experience: Most recently, D'Agostino served as executive chef for Market Hospitality Group in Danbury, Connecticut, running all day-to-day operations for corporate dining, breakfast and lunch, as well as the planning and execution of all weddings, social luncheons and dinners.
Alejandro Ayala
Executive sous chef
Hotel 1000, LXR Hotels & Resorts
Seattle
Feb. 26, 2025
New hire
Experience: Ayala most recently served as chef de cuisine at The Tampa Edition on Florida's Gulf Coast, where he led the rooftop food and beverage concept by Michelin-starred chef John Fraser.
Juan Carlos Cabezas
Executive chef
Hotel 1000, LXR Hotels & Resorts
Seattle
Feb. 26, 2025
New hire
Experience: Cabezas’ professional journey has taken him to the vibrant culinary destinations of Barcelona, Miami, Dubai and Colorado before arriving in Seattle from his most recent position as executive sous chef at the renowned Parker Palm Springs.
Dannie Lirette-Wallace
Area director of catering
The Westin Dallas Stonebriar Golf Resort & Spa and The Sheraton Stonebriar Hotel
Feb. 26, 2025
New hire
Experience: With an extensive background in event management and operations, Lirette-Wallace joins the properties from Pinnacle Entertainment where he served as the convention services manager.
Jamel Taggart
Area director of food and beverage
The Westin Dallas Stonebriar Golf Resort & Spa and The Sheraton Stonebriar Hotel
Frisco, Texas
Feb. 26, 2025
New hire
Experience: Most recently, Taggart served as the executive director of beverage at Choctaw Casino & Resort, where his department oversaw 16 restaurants, 20 bars and lounges and more.
Tharon Weighill
Executive chef
The Art Hotel Denver, Curio Collection by Hilton
Denver
Feb. 26, 2025
New hire
Experience: Weighill held roles at several Denver establishments including head chef at STE. Ellie, a gastropub located under the award-winning Colt and Grey, executive sous chef and chef de cuisine at Denver Country Club, and executive chef at Marriott Boulder.
Miscellaneous
Josh Franklin
Director of wellness and recreation
Hilton Anatole
Dallas
March 4, 2025
New hire
Experience: Franklin joins the Hilton Anatole following leadership roles at Reynolds Outfitters at The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee and Hotel del Coronado, where he successfully launched guest-centric programs, expanded membership offerings and drove significant growth to create consistent guest engagement and profitability.
To be included in an upcoming Hotel News Now U.S. Hires and Promotions List, email Associate Editor Trevor Simpson here.