Ted Knighton

Thompson San Antonio is pleased to announce the appointments of Ted Knighton as General Manager and Sofie Vasquez as Director of Sales & Marketing. The new 162-room hotel is scheduled to open in early 2021 on San Antonio's celebrated River Walk. Both executives are experienced hospitality professionals who will lead hotel operations and strategic sales and marketing initiatives to introduce the Thompson experience to a dynamic new market, while also establishing Thompson San Antonio as a sophisticated new destination for stylish accommodations, dining, socializing and events in the River City.

Known for having a sophisticated and bold, evocative design alongside dynamic programming and visionary food & beverage, Thompson hotels highlight the compelling features of their respective neighborhoods, while thoughtfully weaving these details into the fabric of the experience for guests and locals alike.

Ted Knighton brings a career of operational excellence to his role as general manager of the new Thompson San Antonio. Knighton previously served in leadership positions with Makeready Experience in Dallas. Most recently, he was general manager at the 173-room Alida, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel in Savannah, Ga., where he also led all pre-opening activities, from recruitment to community outreach. He earlier served as general manager at the Alida's sister property, the Noelle, in Nashville, Tenn. Prior to joining Makeready, Knighton was assistant general manager at Thompson Seattle, the brand's first hotel in the Pacific Northwest. Knighton has more than a decade of hospitality experience including earlier management positions with Kimpton Hotels and Starwood Hotels & Resorts. He graduated from Johnson & Wales University with a bachelor's degree in international hospitality management and an associate degree in resort management.

A career sales professional with more than 15 years of experience in the San Antonio market, Sofie Vasquez has served in a number of sales leadership roles for global hotel brands. Most recently, Vasquez was an associate director of sales at Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Spa in San Antonio, Texas where she oversaw corporate and leisure travel sales strategy. She previously held various sales roles at hotels in San Antonio, including La Cantera Hill Country Resort & Spa and Hyatt Place San Antonio/River Walk. She also served as director of worldwide sales at Hyatt from 2002 to 2008 on the National Sales Force. Her earlier career experience includes tenures with La Quinta Inns, Inc. and Choice Hotels International, both in San Antonio. Vasquez is a graduate of Texas A&M University.