Michael Volkert, previously senior vice president of slot operations for Seminole Gaming, has been promoted to president of Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood. In his new position, Volkert will be responsible for overseeing operations and leading a team of nearly 3,000 employees at South Florida’s largest casino and entertainment destination that includes the 500-room Seminole Hard Rock Hotel. Volkert is a seasoned casino executive who brings 16 years of slot marketing, strategic planning and...

Tom Xavier was appointed general manager of the newly redesigned Luxe City Center Hotel in April 2013. In this role, Xavier will oversee all operations of the boutique hotel in the trend-forward district of downtown Los Angeles, including the introduction of a new signature restaurant. Xavier most recently held the position of task force general manager with Dolce Hotels and Resorts and prior to that, general manager of the AAA-Four Diamond Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel, where he successfully drove r...

FelCor Lodging Trust Incorporated has announced the appointment of Michael C. Hughes as senior vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer, effective July 1, 2013. Hughes succeeds Andrew J. Welch, who is leaving the company after 15 years of service. Welch will remain with FelCor through Dec. 31, 2013 to facilitate the transition. Before undertaking his new role, Hughes served as FelCor’s senior vice president, finance and treasurer. He joined the company in 2006 as vice president, finance and...

Lowe Enterprises announced that 20-year veteran Charles S. Peck has left the firm to pursue personal business interests. Peck stepped down as president and COO of Destination Hotels and Resorts, Lowe’s hospitality management company, in April 2012 after 15 years in the position. Over the past year he has assisted with the transition to new leadership and worked on other strategic projects for the firm. Peck joined Lowe in 1993 as the managing director of the Sunriver Resort Limited Partnership, where he...

Wyndham Hotel Group has appointed industry veteran Kathy Maher to the role of senior vice president, revenue management. With nearly three decades of experience in hospitality, Maher is responsible for the strategic development of Wyndham Hotel Group’s revenue management function globally. She is based in the company’s Parsippany, N.J., offices and reports directly to Ross Hosking, executive vice president, global sales and revenue management. “We are very happy to welcome Kathy to our Wyndham Hotel Gro...

White Lodging is pleased to announce Dave Montrose and Michelle Steffens have been promoted to senior regional vice presidents of select-service. Previously, Montrose and Steffens were regional vice presidents for the company. In 2008 Montrose's first region as a regional vice president was Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana, then in 2009 he took on the properties on the east coast along with the Chicagoland select service hotels and won the first White Lodging Region of the Year Award. In March of ...

The Kessler Collection, a portfolio of 10 boutique hotels and restaurants, is appointed Jeannie DiGrappa as the new regional sales manager for its western properties: Beaver Creek Lodge, El Monte Sagrado Living Resort and Spa, and Kessler Canyon. DiGrappa’s role includes implementing sales strategies to achieve goals and maximize profits, as well as maintaining high customer satisfaction, developing new accounts and successfully managing sales efforts. Previously serving as area director of sales f...

The Courtyard by Marriott Isla Verde Beach Resort, the beach-front hotel destination in the Isla Verde section of San Juan, has announced the appointment of Natalia Luna as director of sales and marketing. In her role, Luna will lead the planning and execution of group sales and marketing initiatives, and will be responsible for developing sales strategies and plans, marketing campaigns, and will oversee the hotel’s sales team. Luna joins the Isla Verde Beach Resort during a strategic growth phase,...

The newly-renovated Westin Hilton Head Island Resort and Spa announced the appointment of Tim Freisen as general manager. Freisen is a 14-year Starwood veteran who has held a variety of leadership roles throughout his career, including general manager for The Westin Chicago River North, The Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers and The Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport Hotel. Most recently, Freisen served as the general manager for The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit. Prior to joining the Starwood netwo...

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has named Carmen Lam as vice president, hotel sales, and marketing, Asia Pacific. Lam, who will be based in Shanghai, joins Fairmont in this newly created role to provide sales and marketing direction to Fairmont’s hotels in Asia Pacific and support to the luxury operator’s burgeoning pipeline of regional development. With six hotels open and operating in Asia, including three in China, Lam will concentrate on maximizing results and driving performance for this dynamic...

Mainsail Suites Hotel and Conference Center recently announced the promotion of Neisja Jones to general manager. As general manager, Jones will lead a staff of 100 and oversee day-to-day operations of the 120-room Mainsail Suites and the newly opened 240-unit Mainsail Apartment Homes, located on the same property in Tampa, Fla. Jones spent 11 years as director of sales at the Mainsail Suites Hotel and Conference Center, where she developed group and transient market strategies, directed the team of sale...

Michael Snapkoski, director of sales and marketing, Lansdowne Resort, has named Joanne Salazar to the position of director of group sales at the Loudoun County property. Salazar joins the property with over 13 years of experience in the Washington, D.C. area—most recently from the Hilton Washington Dulles hotel. As the assistant director of sales, she was responsible for the management of the sales and conference services teams, leading them to not only meet, but exceed revenue goals in 2011. Long ...

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide announced that Roeland Vos, long-time president of Starwood's Europe, Africa, & Middle East ("EAME") region, will step down and be succeeded by Michael Wale, a 35-year Starwood veteran who most recently served as senior vice president and director of operations for Western Europe. Vos will transition into a consulting role with the company, effective June 1. Frits van Paasschen, president and chief executive officer of Starwood, stated, "We are grateful to Roe...

Douglas Chang has been appointed general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis. He is in charge of overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Clayton luxury hotel. A native of Hawaii and a veteran hotelier with more than 30 years of experience, Chang comes to The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis after serving the past four years as general manager for The Ritz-Carlton Club and Residences, Kapalua Bay on the island of Maui. Prior to opening that resort, Chang was the general manager of the Hotel Hana-Maui ...

Interstate Hotels & Resorts announces Deepak Sarin as chief operating officer of JHM Interstate India Hotels and Resorts. Sarin will be responsible for the company’s operations in India, including maintaining a dynamic team of hospitality experts, integrating and supporting the company’s intelligent systems within the portfolio, maintaining the current portfolio and owner relationships and executing on the company’s overall growth strategy. JHM Interstate India is a joint venture between Interstate ...

The Arizona Biltmore, A Waldorf Astoria Resort has appointed Steven Horowitz the director of sales. Over his 25-year career, Horowitz has directed sales and marketing for both luxury resorts and city hotels. He comes to the Arizona Biltmore from Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, where as director of sales and resort marketing, he assembled, developed, and oversaw the sales and marketing team of the newly opened resort and casino. Previously, he was with Marriott International for 19 years in...

Choice Hotels International announced the promotion of Chief Technology Officer Todd Davis to chief information officer. Davis will assume his new role effective immediately at the Choice Hotels International offices in Phoenix, Ariz., where he is already based. Davis' new role as CIO reflects his increased scope of responsibility and the exceptional technology leadership he provides the company. During the past 18 months, he has assumed direct ownership over corporate IT and vital back-office syst...

Sheraton Framingham Hotel & Conference Center announced Nicole Smith as group sales manager. Smith holds a Certified Meeting Professional credential and degree in Hospitality Management with a concentration in Sales, Meeting & Event Management from Johnson & Wales University. She was a catering sales manager as well as event services manager at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston-Westborough in Westborough Mass. Smith will oversee all of the property’s sports, military, education, religio...

Sheraton Framingham Hotel & Conference Center announced Winnie senior sales manager. Boussicaut was a group sales manager at the former Sheraton Braintree Hotel in Braintree, Mass. and later served as the director of group sales at Hilton Boston/Dedham in Dedham, Mass. prior to teaming up with Sheraton Framingham Hotel & Conference Center. As a senior sales manager, Boussicaut is responsible for managing corporate communications and accommodations for large-group guests set forth by the sal...

Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG), a privately owned hotel ownership and management firm based in Atlanta,  announced that it has named Richard Jones s enior v ice p resident and c hief o perating o fficer. As SVP and COO, Jones will oversee HVMG’s operations, capital projects, sales and m arketing, and r evenue m anagement areas. He will report directly to HVMG President and CEO Robert Cole. Jones brings nearly 20 years of leadership experience in hotel operations, property management, ...

Vantage Hospitality Group announced that Patrick Mullinix has been promoted to executive vice president of membership development, and that everyone on the development team will now be cross-selling all brands under the Vantage umbrella. Mullinix joined Vantage Hospitality in 2002 and has been directing development for the Americas Best Value Inn brand. During his tenure, ABVI has set industry records for growth and currently ranks as the 10th largest hotel chain worldwide with over 1,000 propertie...

Veteran Hawaii hospitality executive Marcus Y. Ito has been promoted by Trump Hotel Collection to global sales director, Asia-Pacific. Adding to his leisure sales responsibilities at Trump International Hotel Waikiki Beach Walk, Ito will be taking on a broader role, representing the entire Trump Hotel Collection brand to the Asia-Pacific markets. For three years prior, Ito served as director of international marketing for Wyndham Vacation Resorts in Honolulu, playing an integral role in establishin...

Omni Hotels & Resorts announced the appointment of Andrew Labetti as the general manager of the Omni Berkshire Place in New York City. In this role, Labetti will manage all operational aspects at the luxurious Midtown Manhattan property, including sales, marketing, food and beverage and future growth efforts. Labetti was formerly general manager at The Benjamin Hotel in New York for five years. While there, he oversaw a multi-million dollar renovation that included the opening of the National B...

Hilton Worldwide today announced the appointment of Marcel Berube as complex general manager of the Calgary Airport Hotels & Conference Centre, the company’s first three-flag hotel development in Canada. Berube will oversee the operations of the 135-room Hampton Inn and 122-room Homewood Suites which are scheduled to open in late 2013. He will report directly to Hilton Worldwide Area Vice President, Thomas Loughlin. Berube joins the Hilton family with 21 years of Canadian hospitality experience...

Jumeirah Group, the global luxury hospitality company and a member of Dubai Holding, has appointed Graham Kiy as general manager for the five-star Jumeirah Vittaveli resort in the Maldives. Graham Kiy joined Jumeirah in August 2010 as the pre-opening hotel manager for Jumeirah Zabeel Saray in Dubai (UAE). Prior to this he worked with the pre-opening development team of Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel, Shanghai. A British national and fluent in six languages, Graham Kiy has had extensive senior management ...

Pegah Ghoushbeigui, a hospitality industry executive with extensive experience in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, has been named director of sales and marketing for the Capella Washington D.C., Georgetown, the first Capella-branded property in the United States. The new build hotel is scheduled to open in early 2013. Prior to joining Capella, Ghoushbeigui was director of sales and marketing for the 133-room Latham Hotel in Washington where she achieved exceptional results, consistently excee...

Jay Canning, president of Westport Hospitality LLC based in Burlington, announced the appointment of Hans van Wees as general manager of the new Hotel Vermont. When the LEED-certified hotel begins welcoming guests in Spring 2013, van Wees will be responsible for managing the hotel including all operations, sales and marketing, and overseeing food and beverage. A seasoned hospitality professional with extensive Vermont hotel experience, van Wees arrives at Hotel Vermont following senior leadership roles ...

Hilton Worldwide today announced the appointment of Kathryn Beiser as executive vice president of corporate communications. In her new role, she will oversee external and internal communications and corporate responsibility globally. She will report to Hilton Worldwide's president and chief executive officer, Christopher J. Nassetta, and join the company's executive committee. Beiser joins Hilton Worldwide from Discover Financial Services, a direct banking and payment services company with one of the mo...

Virginia Beach-based Gold Key|PHR Hotels and Resorts has named Bryan D. Cuffee vice president of development. Cuffee was formerly director of development. Cuffee joined Gold Key|PHR Hotels and Resorts in 1995. In his 17 years with the company he has participated in the development of more than $200 million in real estate assets. He is currently managing the development of $150 million in new projects, including Summer House Apartments, the Sidney Kellam Office Building and The Shops at 31 Ocean, all par...

The Expedia Inc. group announced the appointment of Christopher Michau as vice president of its Global Partner Group, a division within Expedia Lodging Partner Services responsible for managing the group’s relationships with some of the world’s leading hotel companies. In this new role, Michau will lead an experienced team of account managers responsible for working with global hotel chains and key accounts to maximize their exposure on the more than 140 travel sites available under the Expedia, Inc. gr...

The Hilton Garden Inn Denver Cherry Creek hotel announced that they have chosen Aimee Palifroni as the first catering sales manager. Aimee’s career started off as a wedding planner for the Arrowhead Golf Club in Littleton, Colorado. Aimee furthered her career by assuming the position of catering sales manager for the Hilton Garden Inn Denver Tech Center where she doubled the hotel’s wedding bookings in a short amount of time. In 2010 Aimee became the private dining manager at Sullivan's Steakhouse where...

The Heathman Hotel has selected Troy Longwith as general manager. He will have full responsibility for the operation of the Heathman Hotel and Trellis Restaurant while maintaining the high visibility and community goodwill within the vibrant city of Kirkland. Longwith comes to The Heathman from Tulalip Resort Casino, where he was acting executive vice president for hotel operations. He also served as director of sales & hotel marketing, and as general manager at Tulalip Resort Casino. Prior pos...

Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa announced the appointment of Wendy Valdez as executive meetings manager. In her new role, Valdez will specifically handle all groups that require 25 rooms or less, including board retreats and executive meetings. She will also oversee groups that need meeting space or rooms exclusively. An award-winning sales manager with 25 years' in the industry, Valdez has most recently worked as the SMERF sales manager and senior sales manager at Embassy Suites in Destin,...

The International Palms Resort and Conference Center Cocoa Beach has announced the addition of Tim Michaud, general manager to the resort’s executive team. In his new role, Michaud will be responsible for the oversight and management of staff, all food and beverage outlets and sales and marketing initiatives at the 500-room oceanfront resort. Michaud brings more than 20 years of hospitality experience to the International Palms Resort, with the majority of his career in the local area at both brand...

John L. Parkinson has been appointed general manager of DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Orlando - Lake Buena Vista, the only all-suite Downtown Disney hotel located inside Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. Parkinson most recently held the position of general manager for Embassy Suites Orlando, International Drive South Convention Center. In his new capacity, Parkinson will oversee operations for the seven-story, full-service hotel featuring 229 deluxe, one and two-bedroom suites. Park...

Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. announced the appointment of Mark Kerwin as director of leisure sales, El Encanto. In this role, Kerwin will oversee transient and leisure market sales for this iconic early 20th-century hotel located in Santa Barbara’s American Riviera and scheduled to re-open in March 2013. Prior to joining El Encanto, Kerwin served five years as Director of Sales and Marketing for Las Ventanas al Paraiso, A Rosewood Resort in Los Cabos, Mexico, driving sales and marketing initiatives at the...

Don Crandall joins B Ocean as the general manager of the award-winning SAIA Sushi and Asian Grill. Crandall brings a wealth of hospitality experience to the oceanfront hotel’s signature restaurant. A strong leader in the food and beverage sector, Crandall’s impressive background includes experience overseeing the complete food and beverage operations at the Embassy Suites Resort & Spa in Deerfield Beach, Gallery One Doubletree Suites in Fort Lauderdale, Hilton Resort & Marina Key West and the Co...

Hilton Worldwide announced the appointment of Pablo Torres as the general manager of the Hilton Short Hills. In his new role, Torres will oversee the day-to-day operations and management of this 304-room property. Most recently, Torres held the position of general manager at the 288-room British Colonial Hilton Nassau in The Bahamas. Under his leadership, he helped the property regain Four Diamond status while the hotel was awarded with the 2009 and 2011 “Most Improved Revpar” index for the Am...

Capella Hotels and Resorts named its Capella Corporate vice president of room operations, John Volponi, as Capella Pedregal’s new general manager. John Volponi will be officially assuming General Manager responsibilities on September 1. Volponi brings twenty-four years of experience in hotel management to the position, as well as four years of managerial experience at Capella Hotels and Resorts. As vice president of room operations, Volponi supported the operations of Capella hotels worldwide strengthen...

White Lodging announced that Andrew Zinni has been promoted to General Manager of the Marriott Austin South in Austin, Texas. Previously, Zinni served as the director of food and beverage at Louisville Marriott Downtown in Louisville, Ky. Prior to joining White Lodging in 2011, Zinni was the general manager of the Pelican Yacht Club in Fort Pierce, Florida, a 346-member private equity club. He has also held positions with Marriott International, Adam's Mark Hotels and Resorts, and Benchmark Ho...

Westin Casuarina Resort & Spa on Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands has announced the appointment of Anne Renken, CMM as sales manager. Renken is responsible for group sales northeast - including Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. She is based in Connecticut. Renken joins Westin Casuarina Resort & Spa following a brief run as a sales consultant, providing expertise and support to U.S. companies on meeting management and strategic account planning for interna...

Accomplished hotel industry professional Michael J. Mustafa has recently joined the Hilton Anaheim as the director of sales & marketing for the property. Mustafa most recently served as the director of sales & marketing at the Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa, which is managed by Remington Hotels. Over his more than 25-year career, he honed his skills as the sales & marketing director for the Mobil Five-Star, AAA Five-Diamond St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort, The Westin South Coast Plaza, ...

After nine years, veteran hospitality executive Ed Gannon is returning to Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts as hotel manager at Four Seasons Hotel Austin. Gannon's history with Four Seasons started in 1997 when he joined the company as executive chef at Four Seasons Hotel Boston. During his six years at the downtown property, he was highly regarded for his culinary skills and innovation as well as his leadership throughout the hotel. He then worked as the executive chef and resort manager at the Winn...

Chicago native Rik Blyth has recently been appointed as General Manager of the Renaissance Chicago North Shore Hotel. In this position, he is responsible for the day to day operations of the property, assuring quality guest service, overall financial success and setting of long range goals and business plans. Blyth has had an extensive career in the hotel and tourism industry. He spent 12 years managing various resort properties in the US Virgin Islands before coming back to the North Shore. P...

Holly Waterbor-Breuche has been named the General Manager of the Quin, a new luxury boutique hotel set to open this winter in Manhattan. The Quin is a joint venture between Three Wall Capital and Caro Enterprises. Waterbor-Breuche has 25 years of experience as a general manager and director of marketing for several New York City Hotels, starting her career at the prestigious Plaza Hotel and The Waldorf-Astoria. From there she took the role of associate director of sales at the national sales office...

Hilton Worldwide announced today that Tracy Walker has been named general manager of its flagship resort in Hawaii, Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort. Walker is a 24-year industry veteran and has been affiliated with Hilton Worldwide since 2002, most recently serving as general manager of the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek. Before that, she served as general manager for Hilton Newark Airport and previously worked for the Fontainebleau on Miami Beach and Hilton Chicago. Prior to joining Hilto...

Antonia Korosec has been named general manager and innkeeper of the Weekapaug Inn, the 31-room historic inn that is set to reopen in October 2012 after a $20 million transformation. The announcement was made by Langdon Wheeler, the Managing Member of Weekapaug Inn & Cottages LLC. Korosec brings more than 10 years of international experience in the luxury hotel and private club industry. Most recently, Korosec was the assistant managing director and director of rooms at the Weekapaug Inn’s sister pro...

Donohoe Hospitality Services LLC announced Tamara Williams as the General Manager of the 216-room Hilton Garden Inn Bethesda, Maryland. With more than 24 years experience in the hospitality industry under IHG and Marriott flags, Williams' most recently served as General Manager of the Residence Inn Arlington Courthouse in Arlington, Va.

Pyramid Kona Management LLC has appointed veteran hotelier and certified hotel administrator Steven Lindburg as area managing director and general manager of Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa, a 22-acre oceanfront resort on Hawaii, the Big Island. With more than 25 years of experience in the hotel and resort industry, Lindburg will oversee all aspects of operations at Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa, including the resort’s upcoming multi-million dollar guestroom and public areas reinvigoration....

Bret Jones, who has 12 years of hospitality industry experience, has joined White Lodging as the general manager of the Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott in Tampa. Jones first entered the industry as an intern at the Sheraton Tamarron Resort in Durango, Colo. He then moved to Florida where, for the next six years, he worked in various positions at the Marriott Suites on Sand Key in Clearwater. From this position, he took on the assistant general manager and director of food and beverage duties at the...