Omni Amelia Island Resort & Spa announces the appointment of Steve Savastano as the resort's new Director of Food & Beverage. A seasoned hospitality leader with more than 17 years of experience, Steve brings a wealth of deep industry expertise and a proven track record in food and beverage operations to the team.
Omni Amelia Island Resort & Spa announces the appointment of Steve Savastano as the resort's new Director of Food & Beverage. A seasoned hospitality leader with more than 17 years of experience, Steve brings a wealth of deep industry expertise and a proven track record in food and beverage operations to the team.
Karen Donatelli has been in the hotel industry for over 20 years, with the last six being at Omni Hotels & Resorts. Upon graduating Georgia Southern University with a degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management she began her career at Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort. Karen worked her way from a manager in training in the group reservations department to convention services and then as a catering sales manager handling the wedding market. Karen started with the Omni brand in 2017 as the first hire at the Omni Hotel at the Battery Atlanta and proceeded to open the property in 2018. Karen then went on to win sales team of the year in 2019 and was promoted to National Sales Manager in 2021. Continuing her journey with Omni Hotels & Resorts, Karen transferred to Omni Louisville Hotel as National Sales Manager in 2022.
Daven Wardynski has led the culinary team at Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort since October 2012 and is the mastermind behind The Sprouting Project. With more than 25 years of experience in the culinary world, Wardynski began his career at TRU in Chicago, serving as sous chef under celebrity chef Rick Tramonto. Prior to joining Omni Amelia Island, he was the executive chef at Omni Chicago Hotel. Due to his emphasis on supporting local purveyors and his passion for fresh, high-quality ingredients, Wardynski has received multiple honors from the American Culinary Federation, including a Gold Medal in the Chicago National Restaurant Show.
Executive Chef Ruiz will oversee all culinary operations at the 1,350-acre resort on Amelia Island. Chef Ruiz brings more than twenty years of culinary experience to the resort, having most recently served as executive chef at Omni New Haven Hotel and Omni Berkshire Place Hotel in New York City. Prior to joining Omni, Chef Ruiz held leadership positions at Hotel ZaZa in Houston, The Hotel Hershey in Pennsylvania, and with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. Chef Ruiz's culinary career started in the fields of south Texas, working alongside his father in his produce shipping and receiving business. Chef Ruiz looks forward to biking the tree-canopied trails on Amelia Island with his English bulldog Chefie.
Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort is pleased to announce the appointment of Johanna Marlin as director of resort sales. Marlin, who previously served as director of group sales at the resort, will now oversee resort sales including conference services.