Read the latest roundup of U.S.-based hires and promotions in the hotel industry.
Executives
Jenni Gaherty
Vice president of sales and marketing
CoralTree Hospitality
Jan. 28, 2025
New hire
Experience: Prior to joining CoralTree, Gaherty was a regional director of sales and marketing for Hersha Hospitality Management where she oversaw a portfolio of 15 hotels including independent and branded properties.
Dean Stambules
Chief investment officer
Sage Hospitality Group
Jan. 27, 2025
Promotion
Experience: Stambules' journey at Sage spans a decade, beginning in 2014 as an analyst with the real estate group. Throughout his tenure, he has expanded partnerships and strengthened ties on behalf of Sage with key partners including Sunstone Hotel Investors, Host Hotels & Resorts, Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, RLJ Lodging Trust and DiamondRock Hospitality.
Scott Roby
President
Pacifica Hotels
Jan. 21, 2025
New hire
Experience: A Southern California native, Roby was most recently the founder and principal at Storyteller Hospitality where his mission was to provide consulting and advisory services to hospitality companies to clearly frame and execute the next chapter of their story.
Phil Wade
Chief investment officer
The Kessler Collection
Jan. 21, 2025
New hire
Experience: With 25 years of experience evaluating and investing in hospitality and related assets throughout North America, Wade has completed over $15 billion in real estate transactions to date across a full spectrum of hospitality from massive luxury resort complexes to small historic Victorian bed and breakfasts.
Conner White
Vice chair and chief investment officer
White Lodging
Jan. 21, 2025
Promotion
Experience: White has worked for White Lodging for more than 15 years in a variety of leadership roles across operations, real estate and new property development. Outside of White Lodging, Conner built his career with roles supporting the expansion of Lettuce Entertain You Restaurant Group in Chicago and Dunkin Donuts in China.
General managers
Ersela Muka-Ylli
General manager
The Dagny Boston
Boston
Jan. 28, 2025
Promotion
Experience: Following the hotel’s reflagging and debut as The Dagny Boston in summer 2023, Muka-Ylli shifted focus to become director of human resources before returning to her previous position as assistant general manager and then being promoted to general manager.
Veronica Moretti
General manager
The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa Avon, Vail Valley
Avon, Colorado
Jan. 23, 2025
New hire
Experience: Moretti most recently served as the general manager of Solaris Residences and the director of operations of the Vail Division for East West Hospitality, where she oversaw operations at The Lodge at Lionshead and successfully managed a total of four boards representing more than 100 unit owners.
Sales and marketing
Abel Barrera
Director of sales and marketing
La Bahia Hotel & Spa
Santa Cruz, California
Jan. 28, 2025
New hire
Experience: Barrera comes to La Bahia Hotel & Spa from Luma Hotel San Francisco, where he played a key role in the property’s pre-opening team as the director of sales and marketing curation.
Josh Hoce
Director of group sales
Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront
Jacksonville, Florida
Jan. 27, 2025
Promotion
Experience: In 2018, Hoce joined Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront as associate director of sales, where he saw great success ensuring group business at the property, even finding unique ways to host groups in a “bubble” style setting during the COVID-19 pandemic, which allowed the hotel to remain open and fully operational.
Pilar Florez
Director of sales and marketing
Bernardus Lodge & Spa
Carmel Valley, California
Jan. 22, 2025
New hire
Experience: Most recently, Florez served as the director of sales at San Diego Mission Bay Resort. She has held leadership roles including director of tourism with Visit Houston; director of luxury travel at The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston; and director of sales and marketing with Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants at two California properties.
Felice Kreitman
Director of sales and marketing
Thesis Hotel Miami, Curio Collection by Hilton
Coral Gables, Florida
Jan. 22, 2025
New hire
Experience: Kreitman most recently served as senior director of field marketing for Sonesta Hotels & Resorts, leading a team responsible for the marketing performance of more than 220 properties.
Food and beverage
Joe Bennett
Specialty chef
The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota
Sarasota, Florida
Jan. 28, 2025
New hire
Experience: While discovering his passion for hospitality at Coral Creek Club in Placida, Bennett was fortunate to be mentored by a renowned French chef who passed down expertise and techniques from the best culinary schools in Europe. Bennett then went on to gain valuable experience at notable Sarasota establishments, including The Capital Grille and Connors Steak & Seafood, where he honed his craft in upscale American cuisine.
Michael Scott
Hotel manager of food and beverage operations
Grand Hyatt Vail
Vail, Colorado
Jan. 23, 2025
New hire
Experience: Scott previously led food and beverage operations at Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay as director of operations and at Hyatt Regency Frisco, where he enhanced the guest experience by introducing innovations like craft cocktails and a farm-to-table menu.
Frederic Calvez
Food and beverage director
Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa
Huntington Beach, California
Jan. 22, 2025
New hire
Experience: Most recently, Calvez comes to Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach from KPMG Lakehouse Learning, Development & Innovation Center in Orlando, where he held the position of director of food and beverage operations since 2019.
Tom Legg
Executive chef
SkyBeach Hotel & Marina
St. Petersburg, Florida
Jan. 22, 2025
New hire
Experience: Legg joins SkyBeach Hotel & Marina after working as executive chef of Cabot Citrus Farms, a high-end golf club community in Brooksville, Florida.
Robin Stotter
Director of food and beverage
C Lazy U Ranch
Granby, Colorado
Jan. 16, 2025
New hire
Experience: Most recently, Stotter served as regional chef for central and south regions at Legends Hospitality, where he managed culinary operations across multiple large-volume stadiums, corporate headquarters, food halls and restaurants.
Matt Zubrod
Culinary director
Viceroy Snowmass
Snowmass Village, Colorado
Jan. 16, 2025
New hire
Experience: Most recently, Zubrod served as executive chef at The Little Nell in Aspen, Colorado, where he guided the acclaimed hotel's food-and-beverage efforts.
Jae Moon
Executive chef
Carmel Mission Inn
Carmel, California
Jan. 15, 2025
New hire
Experience: Most recently, Moon served as executive sous chef at the five-star Bernardus Lodge & Spa in Carmel Valley, where he played a key role in elevating the award-winning Lucia Restaurant and Bar. During his tenure, Lucia earned numerous accolades, including a Forbes Four-Star rating, “Best Restaurant” honors and recognition in the prestigious Michelin Guide.
Miscellaneous
Fernando Santana
Managing director
Grand Hyatt Vail
Vail, Colorado
Jan. 23, 2025
New hire
Experience: Santana has held several managerial positions at other Hyatt properties. At Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, Hyatt Centric Key West in Florida, and Hyatt Regency Frisco in Texas, he served as general manager, leading resort operations and revenue management.
Patti Cameron
Senior director of talent acquisition
Concord Hospitality
Jan. 21, 2025
Promotion
Experience: Cameron joined Concord in 2019, bringing with her a wealth of expertise from her previous roles in staffing and workforce planning across industries including pharmaceutical manufacturing, consumer products and healthcare.
To be included in an upcoming Hotel News Now U.S. Hires and Promotions List, email Associate Editor Trevor Simpson here.