A Roundup of US Hires, Promotions

Hotel News Now twice a month features a roundup of new hires and promotions for the U.S. hotel industry. To be included in the next roundup, email HNN’s Dan Kubacki.

In the Spotlight
-	Jonathan Witter, chief customer officer, Hilton 24 March 2017 New hire Witter will oversee global brands, marketing, loyalty and partnerships, IT and strategy in the newly created position. Previously, he was president of retail and direct banking at Capital One.

Executives
-	Jale Hashimi, VP and GM, luxury division, Remington 10 April 2017 Promotion Hashimi will oversee operations of four Remington properties in the U.S. She joined one of those properties—Melrose Georgetown Hotel—in 2013.
-	Kevin Coleman, global director of revenue management, Canyon Ranch 4 April 2017 New hire Coleman’s most recent position was partner at Intelligent Hospitality in Atlanta.
-	Denise Bruzzone, global director of sales, Canyon Ranch 4 April 2017 New hire Bruzzone spent the previous 17 years in various sales positions with Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, including her most recent position as director of travel industry sales for the Americas.
-	Greg Hartmann, SVP of luxury, lifestyle, resort and corporate development, Hilton 4 April 2017 New hire Hartmann previously served as a managing director for Jones Lang LaSalle’s Hotels & Hospitality Group.
-	Jonathan Stanner, EVP and chief investment officer, Summit Hotel Properties 4 April 2017 New hire Stanner previously was CEO of Strategic Hotels & Resorts.
-	Rae Salling, SVP of asset management, Waramaug Hospitality 4 April 2017 New hire Salling previously served as VP of operations at Interstate Hotels & Resorts and has held positions with Alliance Hospitality and Winston Hospitality.

GMs
-	Vern Heitzenrader, GM, Aloft Seattle Redmond and Element Seattle Redmond; Seattle 4 April 2017 New hire Heitzenrader previously was GM of Riverhouse on the Deschutes.
-	Matina Lapanaitis, GM, The Mayfair Hotel; Los Angeles 3 April 2017 New hire Lapanaitis previously served as managing director for Mosaic Hotel and Maison 140 in Beverly Hills, California.
-	Matt Schalk, hotel manager, Hyatt Regency Chicago; Chicago 30 March 2017 Schalk will lead operations at the property after previously serving as regional VP of sales and marketing for Hyatt’s west region. He’s also held past revenue management positions at Hyatt.
-	Ryan Blanchard, assistant GM, DoubleTree by Hilton Colorado Springs; Colorado Springs, Colorado 30 March 2017 New hire Blanchard previously was GM at The Antlers, a Wyndham Hotel in Colorado Springs.
	Kirsten Guill, GM, Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park; Chicago 29 March 2017 New hire Guill has past GM experience leading the W Chicago City Center Hotel and W Lakeshore in Chicago and the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco.

Sales and Marketing
-	Julie Stovroff, VP of sales, insurance and financial services, Teneo Hospitality Group 4 April 2017 New hire Stovroff’s prior position was VP of group sales insurance and financial services at Preferred Hotels & Resorts.
-	Brian Murray, associate director of sales, Kimpton Goodland; Goleta, California 28 March 2017 New hire Murray’s most recent position was senior group sales manager at Vail Resorts.
-	Kristina Turner, director of marketing, Villas of Grand Cypress and The Grove Resort & Spa Orlando; Orlando, Florida 24 March 2017 New hire Turner previously worked for Hilton as director of e-commerce.

F&B
-	Alex Pelayo, food-and-beverage director, Hotel Granduca Austin; Austin, Texas 6 April 2017 New hire Pelayo’s most recent position was food-and-beverage director for Hilton Garden Inn San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge.
-	Ricky Ocampo, food-and-beverage director, Canyon Ranch Tuscon; Tuscon, Arizona 4 April 2017 New hire Ocampo previously managed food-and-beverage operations at The Meritage Resort in Napa, California.
-	Jakub Skyvara, director of restaurants and banquets, Viceroy Santa Monica; Santa Monica, California 30 March 2017 New hire Before joining the Viceroy Santa Monica, Skyvara led the F&B operations of the Four Seasons Hotel Rancho Encantado.
-	Jose Martinez, executive chef, The Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel; New Orleans 28 March 2017 New hire Martinez’s experience in hotel F&B includes positions at the Arizona Biltmore and The Broadmoor.

Human Resources
-	Jeffrey Endersen, regional human resources director, Luxe Hotels 22 March 2017 New hire Enderson’s most recent position was human resources business partner and consultant for Idomeneo Enterprises. His HR experience also includes positions at The California Club and Sunset Marquis Hotel & Villas.
Miscellaneous
-	Michael Farbman, hotel development analyst, High Hotels; Lancaster, Pennsylvania 7 April 2017 New hire Farbman previously served as an acquisitions analyst for Urban American Management.
-	Tom Chagnon, director of finance, Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa; Austin, Texas 5 April 2017 New hire Chagnon has worked in hotel finance for several former Starwood properties, including most recently as director of finance at the Westin Hilton Head in South Carolina.
-	Riaan Nel, director of operations, Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa; Austin, Texas 5 April 2017 New hire Nel will lead the operation of Barton Creek Country Club at the resort. He returns to the resort, where he served from 2014 to 2015 as director of food and beverage, after his time as GM at the Auburn Hills Marriott in Pontiac, Michigan.
-	Ria Pasco, front-office manager, Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront; Jacksonville, Florida 5 April 2017 New hire Pasco previously worked in management at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco.
-	Gaye Vancans, director of destination services and resort activities, Terranea Resort; Rancho Palos Verdes, California 3 April 2017 Promotion Vancans was promoted from community relations manager at the resort.
-	Nijad Fares, hotel manager, Viceroy Santa Monica; Santa Monica, California 30 March 2017 New hire Fares previously worked as director of food-and-beverage at the Clift Hotel in San Francisco.
-	Lance Robinson, hotel concierge, Viceroy Santa Monica; Santa Monica, California 30 March 2017 New hire Robinson has held past positions with InterContinental Los Angeles Century City, W Hollywood and Loews Hollywood.
-	Mike Block, director of golf, Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort; Amelia Island, Florida 27 March 2017 New hire Block will oversee the resort’s two golf courses, bringing 13 years of golf experience to the role.
-	Charles Stuart, executive director, Ambedo Hospitality 7 March 2017 New hire Stuart most recently served as a director of brand performance support for Hilton Garden Inn and spent more than 10 years at Hilton in various roles.

-Compiled by Dan Kubacki.

A Roundup of US Hires, Promotions

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A Roundup of US Hires, Promotions

RELATED ARTICLES

Get In Touch888-226-7404

Get In Touch
888-226-7404