Read the latest roundup of U.S.-based hires and promotions in the hotel industry.
Executives
Bill Ryan
Senior vice president and chief technology officer
BWH Hotels
Sept. 30, 2024
New hire
Experience: In his most recent role, Ryan served as the vice president of digital commerce and customer technology at Backcountry, where he worked closely with the product and engineering teams to create a multiyear enterprise modernization plan and mature their product planning processes.
James Karabelas
Vice president of marketing
LionGrove
Sept. 20, 2024
New hire
Experience: Before joining LionGrove, Karabelas served as the regional vice president of sales and marketing with Highgate Hotels in Honolulu, Hawaii. While at Highgate, he oversaw sales, brand planning, digital media strategy, and communications for a portfolio encompassing 15 independent and franchise hotel properties.
Alexandra Valentin
Vice president of talent and culture
LionGrove
Sept. 20, 2024
New hire
Experience: Prior to joining LionGrove, Valentin held several key positions, including corporate director of culture transformation at The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center. In this role, she spearheaded the integration of a comprehensive leadership development strategy for leaders worldwide, benchmarking best business practices and enhancing the company’s talent management.
General managers
Laurent Ebzant
General manager and area vice president
Park Hyatt New York
New York City
Sept. 26, 2024
Promotion
Experience: Ebzant, who has been serving as general manager of the Park Hyatt New York, will report to Yvette Edwards, senior vice president of field operations at Hyatt, to support operations teams within the Park Hyatt portfolio across the Hyatt Americas region.
Raymond Weissert
Hotel general manager
The Grove Resort & Water Park
Orlando, Florida
Sept. 20, 2024
Promotion
Experience: Weissert joined The Grove Resort & Water Park in 2020 as director of operations. He then earned a promotion to assistant general manager in 2021.
Kevin Kelly
General manager
The Resort at Pelican Hill
Newport Beach, California
Sept. 17, 2024
New hire
Experience: Following some time in London, Kelly moved to the United States and served as market general manager at both The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach and The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, and his most recent assignment at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain.
Sales and marketing
Siiri Lobe
Director of sales and marketing
Sheraton Denver Downtown
Denver
Sept. 25, 2024
New hire
Experience: Most recently, Lobe spent the past seven years in San Antonio as the director of group sales for the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter & Riverwalk, a dual property complex of hotels where she had record-breaking numbers and led the property through the pandemic and a $100 million renovation.
Tamika Weiss
Director of sales and marketing
The Elizabeth Hotel
Fort Collins, Colorado
Sept. 24, 2024
New hire
Experience: Weiss joins The Elizabeth from the Embassy Suites Loveland by Hilton Conference Center. Her other previous hospitality experience includes serving as a conference services manager at the Beaver Run Resort & Conference Center in Breckenridge as well as general manager of several Colorado restaurants.
Amanda Santiago
Director of sales and marketing
Pendry Washington DC - The Wharf
Washington, D.C.
Sept. 23, 2024
New hire
Experience: Santiago joins the team most recently as the director of sales and marketing at the Sagamore Pendry Baltimore. Prior to that she was with the Mandarin Oriental, bringing refocused sales objectives and improving employee buy-in, ownership and engagement.
Food and beverage
Javier Arrebola
Executive chef
The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay
Half Moon Bay, California
Sept. 30, 2024
Returning hire
Experience: Arrebola's career spans multiple Ritz-Carlton properties worldwide, including The Ritz-Carlton, Jeddah; The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh; The Ritz-Carlton, Al Wadi Desert; The Ritz-Carlton Reserve at Dorado Beach Reserve; Hotel Arts Barcelona; The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai; and The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay.
Liz Martinez
General manager
KILN at Hotel Heron
Alexandria, Virginia
Sept. 25, 2024
New hire
Experience: With more than 20 years of experience, Martinez brings her experience from the Detroit Foundation Hotel, also part of Aparium Hotel Group. There, she held the roles of general manager and sommelier for the restaurant The Apparatus Room for nearly two years.
Jessica Bingham
Executive pastry chef
Caribe Royale Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Sept. 24, 2024
Promotion
Experience: Bingham has been part of Caribe Royale Orlando’s culinary team since 2021, where she began as assistant pastry chef. Prior to that, she was the assistant pastry chef at The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort.
Josh Bolden
Director of food and beverage
Bambara and The Vault at the Kimpton Monaco Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City
Sept. 24, 2024
New hire
Experience: Bolden has held leadership roles at a number of highly regarded establishments, including general manager for Michelin Guide-recognized restaurant Marche Moderne, outlets general manager at the Auberge Resorts Collection's Solage Resort & Spa and most recently general manager for the San Francisco Giants' Gotham Club.
JV Hernandez
Executive chef
Bambara and The Vault at the Kimpton Monaco Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City
Sept. 24, 2024
New hire
Experience: Most recently, Hernandez was culinary director at Rear View Mirror Concepts, where he oversaw kitchen operations for Community Supper Club's casual French-American dining and Birdhouse's casual dining concept in Lafayette, Colorado.
Louis Martin
Director of food and beverage
Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs
Palm Springs, California
Sept. 18, 2024
New hire
Experience: Martin most recently served as director of food and beverage at Tanzerra Resorts — formerly Enchantment Group — where his leadership helped The Tides Inn on Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay earn a Forbes Travel Guide recommendation.
To be included in an upcoming Hotel News Now U.S. Hires and Promotions List, email Associate Editor Trevor Simpson here.