US hotel hires, promotions: Charlestowne Hotels appoints senior vice president of operations

Read the latest roundup of U.S.-based hires and promotions in the hotel industry.

Barrar has been promoted to senior vice president of technology strategy and innovation at Sandpiper Hospitality. He has been with Sandpiper Hospitality for more than three years, where he has already played a key leadership role in advancing the company's IT infrastructure, systems integration work and technology foundation.

Bursey has been appointed as regional vice president of development for the Pacific Northwest, luxury, lifestyle and premium portfolio, at IHG Hotels & Resorts. He brings more than 20 years of lodging industry experience, most recently serving as vice president of hotel development at Hard Rock International.

Malik has been appointed as senior vice president of operations at Charlestowne Hotels. He joins Charlestowne Hotels from HHM Hotels, where he served as regional vice president of operations for the lifestyle division, overseeing a portfolio of full-service and independent properties across key East Coast markets.

Omeish has been promoted to senior vice president of operations, Americas at Starwood Hotels. Having held senior leadership positions with globally recognized brands including Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, MGM Resorts International and Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Omeish brings deep operational expertise to the role.

Berger has been appointed as general manager of the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills in Los Angeles. He most recently served as hotel manager of the newly opened Peninsula London, following extensive leadership training across the brand's portfolio that broadened his global perspective on ultra-luxury hospitality.

Duke has been appointed as general manager of The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel in San Francisco. She has held senior leadership positions with Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, Margaritaville and a range of independent hotels, giving her a broad perspective across diverse markets, luxury resorts and operating models.

Henry has been appointed as general manager of The Royal Sonesta Kaua'i Resort Lihue in Lihue, Hawaii. Most recently, Henry served as general manager of Sonesta White Plains Downtown in New York, where she successfully led the hotel’s transition from Crowne Plaza to Sonesta Hotels & Resorts with a multimillion-dollar renovation.

Kucuk has been promoted to area general manager of the 1 Hotel Nashville and 1 Hotel Austin for Starwood Hotels. Most recently serving as general manager of 1 Hotel Nashville, Kucuk will now expand his leadership to include the highly anticipated debut of 1 Hotel Austin, set to open in late summer 2026, where he will play a key role in guiding the property through its pre-opening and launch.

Malone has been appointed as director of sales and events at the Marriott San Antonio Airport. He joins the hotel with a strong background in sales, marketing and event strategy, having held director of sales and marketing roles with leading hotel brands including Hilton, Radisson and Omni.

Raoux has been appointed as director of sales and marketing at the Hotel Indigo Los Angeles Downtown. Prior to joining the property, he served as director of sales and marketing at Kimpton Hotel Monaco in Seattle, where he elevated the property’s position within the IHG portfolio and drove notable revenue growth.

Biederman has been appointed as executive chef at Urban Farmer Denver, the steakhouse located at the Oxford Hotel in downtown Denver. Most recently, she led the successful opening of Water Grill Denver in LoDo, serving as executive chef.

Blunston has been appointed as corporate executive chef for Hotel ZaZa's four properties, all in Texas. He previously served as vice president of culinary at HM Alpha Hotels & Resorts, where he led new concept development and directed large-scale event space and food-and-beverage transformations.

Gross has been appointed as executive chef of Kimpton Claret Hotel's two food-and-beverage outlets in Denver. He has been working in the Kimpton family since 2018, including as an executive sous chef at both Panzano at Kimpton Hotel Monaco in Denver and at Angeline’s at the Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel in Charlotte.

Grunin has been appointed as restaurant chef at The Ritz-Carlton, Boston. He comes to Boston via The Charm On Main where he was most recently chef de cuisine for this historic inn in Brewster, Massachusetts, overseeing menu creation for the hotel and its elegant catering operations

Han has been appointed as executive chef of the Hotel Indigo Los Angeles Downtown. Prior to joining the hotel, Han served as director of culinary at the Michelin two-star Restaurant Allen in Korea, where he helped maintain the restaurant’s distinction while leading daily kitchen operations.

Paine has been appointed as food and beverage director and executive chef at Keswick Hall in Charlottesville, Virginia. Most recently, Paine served as food and beverage director and executive chef at The Crescent Hotel in Fort Worth, where he led all culinary and beverage programming across multiple outlets and expansive banquet operations.

Zimmermann has been appointed as executive chef at the Luminary Hotel & Co. in Fort Myers, Florida. Prior to Luminary, he held executive culinary roles at The Pfister Hotel and the Milwaukee Athletic Club, managing large-scale, multi-outlet environments.

Gochnauer has been promoted as area managing director overseeing the 1 Hotel San Francisco, 1 Hotel Seattle and Treehouse Hotel Silicon Valley for Starwood Hotels. Most recently serving as area general manager of 1 Hotel San Francisco and Treehouse Hotel Silicon Valley, Gochnauer now assumes broader oversight across the three properties.

Wieschhorster has been appointed as director of national accounts, West Coast at Naples Grande Beach Resort in Naples, Florida. He brings more than two decades of hospitality sales and business development experience to his new role, most recently serving as area director of group sales with Noble House Hotels & Resorts, where he led group sales strategy for LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort and Inn on Fifth in Naples.

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