Darren NicholasBenchmark Hospitality International, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company, has appointed Darren Nicholas director of food and beverage for Hotel Contessa. Les Utley, general manager for the hotel, a Benchmark Resorts & Hotels property located on the Riverwalk in San Antonio, made the announcement. Darren Nicholas was most recently the director of food and beverage for the Heathman Hotel in Kirkland, Washington, including its critically acclaimed farm-to-table restaurant, Trellis. Previous to this, Mr. Nicholas served as general manager for the fine dining restaurant at the Woodmark Hotel, also located in Kirkland, which was operated by MTM Luxury Lodging at the time, a company Benchmark Hospitality International purchased in 2011. Throughout his productive career, Mr. Nicholas has been active in the food and beverage profession, operating large and smaller restaurants and food service outlets. Mr. Nicholas has relocated to San Antonio.