Christopher Norton, formerly president of global product and chief operating officer of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, has been named CEO of Equinox’s hotel business. Norton will oversee all facets of Equinox’s luxury hospitality business and execute future growth strategy. He brings more than 28 years of industry experience with Four Seasons, overseeing global hotel operations and defining the brand’s future product vision, through design and construction.
Here’s a look at other notable comings and goings that took place in hospitality this week:
Topnotch Resort & Spa in Stowe, Vt., has named Devin Gleason as its new director of sales and marketing. Gleason will work closely with the general manager to determine sales and marketing strategies and will lead all marketing and sales team efforts. Gleason joins the team from The Stoweflake Mountain Resort and Spa in Stowe, where he was the director of sales.
3800 Ocean, the signature restaurant of the Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Resort & Spa in Florida, has named Gustavo Calderon as executive chef. Calderon, who most recently served as executive sous chef at The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain, will direct the execution of the resort’s culinary needs.
La Quinta Resort & Club, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, has appointed Andrew Cooper to the role of executive chef. Cooper joins the Coachella Valley resort after a career with Four Seasons, including Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe and Four Seasons Hotel Hualalai.
McKibbon Hospitality has hired Michael Hickerson as general manager for its AC Hotel Asheville Downtown and Marie Dalis as market director of sales for McKibbon’s downtown Asheville properties. Hickerson has worked for McKibbon since 2001, holding general manager positions at properties in Sarasota and Little Rock. Dalis joins McKibbon Hospitality from Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, where she was previously the director of sales and marketing for the Brice Hotel in Savannah.
Outrigger Enterprises Group has appointed Marc Landgraf as the general manager of the Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resort in Thailand. Landgraf has more than 30 years’ hotel industry experience. Before the move, he was general manager at the Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort and Villas for three years and general manager at the former Outrigger Phi Phi Island Resort and Spa.
Michael Watson has been appointed by True North as general manager of the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Leavenworth, Kan. The 90-room hotel, managed by True North and developed by Ferguson Properties, is located near the main gate of historic Fort Leavenworth, the oldest active U.S. Army post west of Washington, D.C.
Vision Hospitality Group has promoted Kaylon Tuttle as general manager of the Hampton Inn Chattanooga West/Lookout Mountain. Tuttle has been with Vision since 2012, and most recently held the title of assistant general manager of the DoubleTree by Hilton Chattanooga Downtown. In addition, Vision has named Karen Pierce corporate controller. Pierce brings over 20 years of financial management experience to the Chattanooga-based company, and will assist the vice president of accounting in all financial operations.
The Westin Nashville, opening next month, has appointed Don Holowiecki as director of finance, Adam Smith as executive meetings manager of sales, Leisa Recabo as social catering manager, and Michael Pisano as conference service manager. Holowiecki will lead the hotel’s efforts in maintaining the financial stability of the hotel. Smith will bolster the sales team, while Recabo’s efforts will focus on the catering sales of The Westin Nashville’s catering services. Pisano will round out the new group of managers by servicing all groups that use The Westin Nashville’s meeting spaces.
Selma Santoyo has been named wedding sales specialist at the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco, Calif. Santoyo brings extensive experience in event planning, catering and hospitality to her new position. Most recently, she served as the hospitality manager at Gracianna Winery in Healdsburg, Calif., and previously was the catering sales manager at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay in San Diego, Calif.
