A Roundup of US Hires, Promotions

In the Spotlight

Robb Walker, VP of operations-Meritage Collection, Pacific Hospitality Group
11 July 2016
New hire
Walker previously worked as SVP of operations at SilverBirch Hotels and Resorts. In his new position, he’ll oversee six properties in Hawaii and California.

Doug Hope, VP of hotel operations, Kolter Hospitality
8 July 2016
New hire
As part of his new position, Hope also will be the opening GM of Kolter’s Westin Sarasota Hotel, which will open in February 2017. Hope worked for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide in various positions for the past 15 years.

Mitch Mehr, VP of food and beverage operations and strategic planning, Terranea Resort, A Destination Hotel; Rancho Palos Verdes, California
29 June 2016
Promotion
Mehr was promoted to his new position from director of purchasing and food-and-beverage projects at the resort.

Roye Mbarah, senior director of facilities and strategic long term capital planning, Terranea Resort, A Destination Hotel; Rancho Palos Verdes, California
29 June 2016
Promotion
Mbarah has held a number of engineering and technical services roles prior to his latest appointment.

Morgan Bailey, GM of The Talbott Hotel; Chicago
12 July 2016
New hire
Bailey has worked with The Talbott Hotel’s parent company Commune Hotels & Resorts for more than 10 years.

Andrew Chippindall, VP and GM of Mountain Shadows; Paradise Valley, Arizona
12 July 2016
New hire
Chippindall has worked at hotels and resorts in London and Indonesia, and even managed the media village for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.

Vikash Maharaj, GM of The Washington Park Hotel; Miami Beach, Florida
12 July 2016
New hire
Maharaj has held previous leadership positions with Hilton and Starwood’s Sheraton brand as GM, hotel manager and director of rooms.

Matt Walsh, GM of Sonesta ES Suites South Brunswick; Monmouth Junction, New Jersey
11 July 2016
New hire
Walsh previously held a GM position at the Sonesta ES Suites in Somerset, New Jersey.

John Santaniello, managing director, Omni Mount Washington Resort; Bretton Woods, New Hampshire
6 July 2016
New hire
Santaniello previously held GM positions at Ritz-Carlton properties in Bachelor Gulch, Colorado and Vail, Colorado.

David Hoffman, GM of Sagamore Pendry Baltimore; Baltimore
5 July 2016
New hire
Hoffman’s previous position was resort manager at Montage Kapalua Bay in Lahaina, Hawaii.

Elie Kik, director of sales and marketing, The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel; New York City
12 July 2016
New hire
Kik’s most-recent position was director of sales at The St. Regis New York.

Ken Tutt, director of sales and marketing, The Washington Park Hotel; Miami Beach, Florida
12 July 2016
New hire
Tutt has held previous sales-and-marketing positions with Hyatt, Noble House Resorts, Morgans Hotel Group and Sagamore Partners.

Amy Greenwood, regional revenue manager, Hotel Equities
12 July 2016
New hire
Greenwood previously served as director of e-commerce and revenue management at Sun Companies.

Nicole Casaletto, director of sales and marketing, Marriott AC Hotel Chicago Downtown; Chicago
8 July 2016
New hire
Casaletto’s most-recent position was group sales manager and business travel sales manager for The Godfrey Hotel Chicago.

Michelle Young, spa director, The Westin Nashville; Nashville, Tennessee
11 July 2016
New hire
Young will lead the hotel’s Rhapsody Spa once the property opens in fall 2016. She previously worked as spa director at Spa Ballantyne in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Chris Steffich, director of operations, Eaglewood Resort & Spa, a Benchmark Resort; Itasca, Illinois
29 June 2016
New hire
Steffich’s prior work experience includes a past position at Eaglewood as assistant food-and-beverage director from 2005 to 2007 and director of F&B at Stonewall Resort, a Benchmark Resort in Roanoke, West Virginia.