Read the latest roundup of U.S.-based new hires and promotions in the hotel industry.
Executives
Jess Berkin
Head of brand
Mint House
June 3, 2021
New hire
Experience: Most recently, as chief marketing officer for travel e-commerce startup, Porter & Sail, Berkin led brand, marketing and communications.
Paul Sacco
Chief development officer
Mint House
June 3, 2021
New hire
Experience: Sacco has held prior industry leadership roles Driftwood Capital, RLH Corporation, TPG Hotels & Resorts and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.
Jim Mrha
Chief financial officer
Mint House
June 3, 2021
New hire
Experience: Most recently Mrha worked as interim CEO and chief financial officer at Domio, and before that he led Americas operations finance at Hilton.
Dant Hirsch
President and managing director
Ocean House Collection
June 2, 2021
New hire
Experience: Hirsch comes to Ocean House Collection from Six Senses Hotels Resorts and Spas, where he was a general manager.
General Managers
Dexter Hazel
General manager
Aloft Asheville Downtown
Asheville, North Carolina
June 11, 2021
Returning hire
Experience: Hazel rejoins the Aloft Asheville team from his most recent post as assistant general manager of Kimpton Hotel Arras.
Brandon Miller
General manager
AC Hotel Asheville Downtown
Asheville, North Carolina
June 11, 2021
New hire
Experience: Miller's most recent role was as general manager of Aloft Asheville Downtown. Before his time in Asheville, Miller served as general manager of McKibbon’s Aloft Tallahassee Downtown.
Sarah Cockman
Assistant general manager
Kimpton Hotel Arras
Asheville, North Carolina
June 11, 2021
Promotion
Experience hire: Cockman was promoted from her recent position as guest services manager of the 128-room boutique property. She has overseen the front-office team and bell staff since 2019.
Damien Hirsch
General manager
W Los Angeles — West Beverly Hills
Los Angeles, California
June 9, 2021
New hire
Experience: Most recently, Hirsch served as the general manager of Le Merigot JW Marriott Hotel & Spa in Santa Monica, California.
Lizzie Raudenbush
General manager
The Curtis, DoubleTree by Hilton
Denver, Colorado
June 7, 2021
New hire
Experience: Prior to joining The Curtis, Raudenbush served as director of sales and marketing for The Kimpton Shorebreak Resort in Huntington Beach, California.
John Chan
Hotel manager
Hotel Lulu, BW Premier Collection
June 7, 2021
New hire
Experience: Chan has held various revenue and operations management roles at Los Angeles-area hotels including Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites, DoubleTree by Hilton Los Angeles Downtown; Embassy Suites by Hilton Los Angeles, Glendale; and The Westin South Coast Plaza.
David Lockard
General manager
Resort at Squaw Creek
Olympic Valley, California
June 3, 2021
New hire
Experience: Lockard joins the property from Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine in San Diego, where he was also general manager.
Sales and Marketing
Megan Pierce
Director of sales and marketing
The Curtis, DoubleTree by Hilton
Denver, Colorado
June 7, 2021
New hire
Experience: Pierce served as associate director of sales for Embassy Suites by Hilton in Denver.
Bill Hanley
Area director of sales and marketing
Kimpton George Hotel and Hotel Monaco DC
Washington, D.C.
June 2, 2021
New hire
Experience: Hanley most recently served as director of sales and marketing at Sofitel Hotel in Los Angeles.
Food and Beverage
Jeff DeBoissiere
Director of food and beverage
The Mansion on Forsyth Park
Savannah, Georgia
June 8, 2021
New hire
Experience: DeBoissiere previously served as the director of restaurants and bars at The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa.
Thiphakhoun Vyrasith
Director of food and beverage
Hotel del Coronado
San Diego, California
June 2, 2021
New hire
Experience: She has held positions within a selection of prestigious hospitality brands including The Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott, MGM Grand and more, most recently at The Ritz-Carlton JW Marriott at LA Live in Los Angeles.
Josh Jennings
Culinary general manager
Hotel del Coronado
San Diego, California
June 2, 2021
New hire
Experience: Most recently, Jennings led all culinary outlets at Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront.
Jordan Swiler
Executive chef
Salmon Falls Resort
Ketchikan, Alaska
June 1, 2021
New hire
Experience: Swiler served as the executive chef at Café and Bar Lurcat in Minneapolis since 2016.
Hamodi Siam
Executive chef
Edgewater Inn Restaurant & Marina
Ketchikan, Alaska
June 1, 2021
New hire
Experience: Most recently, he served as the dining room manager at Fellowship Square in Tucson, Arizona.
Miscellaneous
Fran Brasseux
Executive director
International Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education
June 10, 2021
New hire
Experience: Brasseux was employed by HSMAI, where she served as the executive vice president and then the president of the HSMAI Foundation.
Sean Liu
Manager of investments and underwriting
Everwood Hospitality Partners
June 3, 2021
New hire
Experience: Liu was senior financial analyst with Urban Commons, where he oversaw the development and implementation of the budgets for the asset management company’s 18-hotel portfolio.
James Eason
Area director of revenue management
Kimpton George Hotel and Hotel Monaco DC
Washington, D.C.
June 2, 2021
New hire
Experience: Eason most recently spent six years serving as regional director of revenue management North America for Langham Hospitality Group.
Patrick Cheah
Director of experience planning and reservations
Hotel del Coronado
San Diego, California
June 2, 2021
New hire
Experience: His 30-plus years of hotel industry experience include 23 years with Hilton.
Brad McPherson
Director of human resources
Hotel del Coronado
San Diego, California
June 2, 2021
New hire
Experience: McPherson's career includes past positions at Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits of Nevada, MGM Resorts International and Hilton.
To be included in the next roundup, email HNN’s Dan Kubacki.