News | A Roundup of US Hires, Promotions

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

In the Spotlight
-	Amy Martin Ziegenfuss, VP of marketing for focused-service brands, Hilton 17 July 2017 Martin Ziegenfuss previously worked at Choice Hotels International and led advertising and creative and social media strategy efforts.
-	Shruti Gandhi Buckley, VP of strategic initiatives focused-service brands, Hilton 17 July 2017 New hire Gandhi Buckley joins Hilton from Marriott International, where she was global brand leader for Fairfield and Protea Hotels brands.

Executives
-	Maria Uy, VP and treasurer, Choice Hotels International 18 July 2017 New hire Uy joins Choice from Under Armour, where she worked as senior director, global treasury. She also has prior career experience with Marriott International.
-	Sherri Gilligan, chief marketing officer, Two Roads Hospitality 10 July 2017 New hire Gilligan recently worked as SVP of marketing for Capital One. Prior to that position, she was a key executive with MGM Resorts International’s marketing team.
-	Dawn McGowan, VP of channel sales and market sales, WoodSpring Hotels 6 June 2017 Promotion McGowan was promoted from WoodSpring’s director of channel sales position.

GMs
-	Obed Morales, GM of Embassy Suites by Hilton Dallas Fort Worth North; Dallas 17 July 2017 New hire Morales previously worked as GM of the Embassy Suites by Hilton Albuquerque Hotel & Spa.
-	David Vialli, GM of Dossier; Portland, Oregon 17 July 2017 New hire Vialli’s most recent position was West Coast managing director for The Standard. He also previously worked as area GM of The Standard Downtown LA and The Standard Hollywood.
-	Edward Dennis Pearse, GM of The Roosevelt New Orleans, a Waldorf Astoria Hotel; New Orleans 17 July 2017 New hire Pearse previously worked as GM of the Omni Royal Orleans in New Orleans.
-	Arthur Holman, GM of the Residence Inn by Marriott Miami Beach/Surfside; Miami 14 July 2017 New hire Holman’s most recent position was VP of operations at Lodging Dynamics Hospitality Group.
-	Erin Adams, GM of the AC Hotel National Harbor Washington, D.C. Area; National Harbor, Maryland 13 July 2017 New hire Adams previously worked as director of hotel operations at the Marriott Bethesda Suites.
-	Nicholas Cooper, GM of Holiday Inn New Orleans Airport North; New Orleans 12 July 2017 New hire Cooper recently worked as GM and acting GM of four hotel brands while working for Kana Hotel Group.
-	Nancy White, GM of Cliff House Maine; Cape Neddick, Maine 11 July 2017 Promotion White previously worked as the interim GM and director of sales and marketing at the resort.
-	John Power, GM of Loews Hotel 1000; Seattle 6 July 2017 New hire Power previously worked as managing director of the Loews Minneapolis Hotel. He joined Loews Hotels in 2010 and also has worked at the company’s properties in Atlanta and Orlando.
-	Richard Verruni, GM of Allegretto Vineyard Resort; Paso Robles, California 29 June 2017 New hire Verruni’s most recent position was managing director of Bishop’s Lodge Ranch Resort & Spa in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
-	Robert Hannigan, GM of the Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel; Charlotte, North Carolina 13 June 2017 New hire Hannigan joined Kimpton in 2007 and most recently worked as GM of the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Portland.

Sales and Marketing
-	Bruce Gudenberg, executive director of industry relations, Hilton 18 July 2017 New hire Gudenberg recently worked as executive director and VP of marketing for Visit National Harbor. He also has prior experience with Destination D.C. and Choice Hotels International.
-	Michelle Navarro, director of sales, Dossier; Portland, Oregon 17 July 2017 New hire Navarro’s most recent position was director of business travel for Provenance Hotels’ Hotel Lucia, Hotel deLuxe, Sentinel and Hotel Murano.
-	Kimberly Britton, director of sales, Kalahari Resorts and Conventions; Round Rock, Texas 17 July 2017 New hire Britton recently worked as director of sales and marketing at Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa in Austin, Texas.
-	Jared Mintz, director of group sales, Rosewood Miramar Beach Montecito; Montecito, California 13 July 2017 New hire Mintz spent nearly six years at the Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas as associate director of sales and senior sales manager for group, entertainment and corporate bookings.
-	Joe Serna, director of sales and marketing, Grande Lakes Orlando; Orlando, Florida 29 June 2017 Returning hire Serna recently worked as director of sales and marketing at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa. Early in his career, Serna spent five years at Grande Lakes.

F&B
-	Xavier Camacho, executive sous chef, The Westin St. Francis; San Francisco 12 July 2017 New hire Camacho previously worked as executive chef at the Hyatt Place San Jose-Downtown.
-	Brooke Kravetz, chef de cuisine, LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort; Naples, Florida 6 July 2017 New hire Kravetz has held culinary positions in Naples and Boston. At LaPlaya, she’ll work in the resort’s Baleen Restaurant.
-	Joseph Bidwell, executive chef, Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch; St. Louis 29 June 2017 New hire Bidwell has worked at several Hyatt properties, including Hyatt Regency Coral Gables, Hyatt Regency Boston and Hyatt Regency Atlanta.

Miscellaneous
-	Karlee Ferris, business development manager, Kimpton Goodland; Goleta, California 18 July 2017 New hire Ferris’ most recent position was group lead coordinator at the Kimpton Hotel Palomar San Diego.
-	Anna Richardson, rooms director, Hotel Saranac, Curio Collection by Hilton; Wilton, New Hampshire 18 July 2017 New hire Richardson previously worked as assistant GM of the Hampton Inn and Suites-Hilton Worldwide in Lake Placid, New York.
-	Shakir Najib, director of VIP experiences, Dossier; Portland, Oregon 17 July 2017 New hire Najib’s most recent position was producer and brand ambassador for Converse in Los Angeles.
-	Zach Miller, hotel manager, Dossier; Portland, Oregon 17 July 2017 New hire Miller previously worked as GM of The Society Hotel in Portland.
-	Jim Struna, regional director of revenue management, Eastern U.S. and Caribbean, Rosewood Hotel Group 17 July 2017 New hire Struna previously worked as corporate director of revenue management at Auberge Resorts Collection.
-	Kevin Corprew, regional director of operations, GF Management 12 July 2017 New hire Corprew’s most recent position as regional director of operations at Gateway Hospitality Group.
-	Brett Neller, director of finance, W San Francisco; San Francisco 11 July 2017 New hire Neller’s most recent position was director of finance at The Ritz-Carlton New York, Westchester.
-	Kurt Hanson, hotel manager, The Westin St. Francis; San Francisco 28 June 2017 New hire Hanson previously worked as director of operations at The Westin Los Angeles Airport.

-Compiled by Dan Kubacki.

A Roundup of US Hires, Promotions

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