Read the latest roundup of U.S.-based hires and promotions in the hotel industry.
Executives
Paul Isaacson
Chief financial officer
Hospitality America
May 7, 2025
New hire
Experience: Prior to joining Hospitality America, Isaacson served as senior vice president for CBRE Hotels Advisory in Atlanta. There he leveraged his network and relationships to provide consulting, valuation and advisory services to a diverse list of clients to meet their business, strategic and real estate investment needs.
Kristie Byrd
Vice president of sales
Lodging Dynamics Hospitality Group
April 23, 2025
New hire
Experience: Byrd brings more than 29 years of hospitality experience to the position, with an extensive background in sales strategy and leadership across independent, lifestyle, full-service, extended stay and select-service properties. Her experience spans work with major hospitality brands including Marriott, Hilton, Choice, Hyatt and IHG.
Mohamed Elbanna
Executive vice president, global operations
Auberge Resorts Collection
April 22, 2025
New hire
Experience: Elbanna joins Auberge Resorts Collection from Fort Partners US, where he served as chief operating officer for the brand’s hospitality arm. Prior to that, he held the role of global head of operations at Citadel, where he led a complex global operational strategy.
General managers
Marshneil Bharadwaj
General manager
Andaz 5th Avenue
New York City
May 6, 2025
New hire
Experience: Bharadwaj's journey brought her stateside in 2022 when she moved to New York City to join the lifestyle portfolio as hotel manager at Gild Hall, a Thompson Hotel. Her leadership and strategic focus quickly earned her a promotion to general manager in August 2023, where she led the hotel to notable success and operational excellence.
Craig Curtiss
General manager
Loews Chicago Hotel
Chicago
May 5, 2025
Returning hire
Experience: Most recently serving as general manager at Loews Chicago O’Hare Hotel, Curtiss has held key leadership positions across multiple properties in the Midwest, including Loews Minneapolis Hotel and Loews Chicago Hotel, where he now returns to lead the iconic downtown property.
Nicholas Wymore
General manager
Renaissance Des Moines Savery Hotel
Des Moines, Iowa
May 5, 2025
New hire
Experience: Wymore has since held leadership roles at distinguished properties including the Autograph Collection Luminary Hotel (Fort Myers, Florida), Kimpton Harper Hotel (Fort Worth, Texas), and DoubleTree by Hilton Cedar Rapids Convention Complex. Most recently, he served as general manager of the Autograph Collection Ambassador Hotel in Wichita, Kansas.
Rafael Ortiz-Martinez
General manager
The Inn at Celebration
Celebration, Florida
April 29, 2025
New hire
Experience: Before joining Vision Hospitality Group's The Inn at Celebration, he spent the past decade with Aimbridge Hospitality, managing various hotels throughout the Southeast, including Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.
Sales and marketing
Brandon Hendricks
Vice president of sales and marketing
Black Desert Resort
Ivins, Utah
April 24, 2025
New hire
Experience: Most recently, Hendricks served as vice president of commercial strategy for Kohler Hospitality. Prior to that, he held ranks as director of sales and marketing at Mauna Lani (Auberge Resorts Collection), The St. Regis Deer Valley and The St. Regis Houston.
Food and beverage
Marissa Wallendorf-Drazba
Director of restaurants
Hotel West & Main Conshohocken Philadelphia, Tapestry by Hilton
Conshohocken, Pennsylvania
May 5, 2025
New hire
Experience: Wallendorf-Drazba joins Hotel West & Main from The Rittenhouse Hotel in Philadelphia, where she was previously the food and beverage operations manager. With more than 10 years of experience working in the hospitality industry, she has worked at properties ranging from business hotels and corporate centers, to resorts, boutique hotels, luxury properties and more.
Daniel Young
Executive chef
Fidelity Hotel
Cleveland
May 5, 2025
New hire
Experience: In 2021, Young moved to Denver and became the executive chef of Halcyon, a 154-room boutique hotel in Cherry Creek. During his time at the property, he oversaw all culinary operations and, most notably, relaunched the lively neighborhood all-American bistro and bar, Local Jones, and rooftop concept, Rare Bird.
Kunal Sharma
Executive chef
JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa
Scottsdale, Arizona
May 2, 2025
Promotion
Experience: In 2022, Sharma took on the role of executive sous chef at JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa. His innovative culinary skills and collaborative spirit elevated the guest experience at the property’s various restaurants.
Kyle Perkins
Executive chef
The Tides Inn
Irvington, Virginia
April 30, 2025
Promotion
Experience: Perkins brings a passion for regional sourcing and sustainable practices, built through strong relationships with local partners and purveyors such as Steamboat Wharf Oyster Co., Miss Mary Seafood, Anson Mills, Sam Rust Seafood, Little Bay Seafood, Young Overholt Beef, Chapel Hill Beef, Lakeview Apiary and Dixie Knoll Farm, among others.
Tim Sanchez
Director of food and beverage
The Bower Coronado
Coronado Island, California
April 29, 2025
New hire
Experience: Most recently, he served as general manager of Books & Records with CS Hospitality. Prior to that, he held key leadership positions with San Diego-based hospitality group, CH Projects, where he played a key role in shaping standout dining experiences.
Quinn Bullard
Executive chef
The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta
Atlanta
April 24, 2025
New hire
Experience: Bullard has a distinguished career spanning luxury hotels including The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe and St. Regis San Francisco.
Ryker Brown
Director of food and beverage
Black Desert Resort
Ivins, Utah
April 24, 2025
New hire
Experience: Brown attended the world-renowned Le Cordon Bleu, California School of Culinary Arts and has held multiple positions in almost every type of venue during the span of his career including luxury resorts such as Omni Hotels and Resorts and Waldorf Astoria Park City.
Matthew Krueger
Resort executive chef
Black Desert Resort
Ivins, Utah
April 24, 2025
New hire
Experience: Prior to joining the team, Krueger led the culinary sector at World Equestrian Center in Florida as executive chef and also held positions throughout his tenures at some of hospitality’s biggest names including Sea Island Resort in Georgia, Hotel Effie in Miramar Beach and The St. Regis Deer Valley in Park City.
Michelle Taylor
Executive pastry chef
Black Desert Resort
Ivins, Utah
April 24, 2025
New hire
Experience: Taylor previously managed the pastry and baking department for Pinehurst Resort, which includes two hotels, a members country club and nine golf courses.
Miscellaneous
Danae Johnsen
Wedding and event planner
Hyatt Regency Lake Washington
Seattle
April 30, 2025
New hire
Experience: Johnsen's career continued to grow as she joined the team at Perfectly Posh Events as a studio manager, later being promoted to senior associate event planner. Since then, she has spent countless hours planning and executing unforgettable weddings and high-end events.
Nicholas Gold
Managing director
Black Desert Resort
Ivins, Utah
April 24, 2025
New hire
Experience: Prior to joining Black Desert Resort, Gold was vice president at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay in Hawaii. He has held key leadership positions for several renowned players in the luxury hospitality industry including The Club at Kukui’ula in Kauai; Thompson Hotels in Playa del Carmen; Amangiri Resort in Canyon Point, Utah; and more.
To be included in an upcoming Hotel News Now U.S. Hires and Promotions List, email Associate Editor Trevor Simpson here.