Oakley has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the U.S. hospitality market. He joined Sheraton New Orleans Catering & Convention Services in 1999, and has grown within the hospitality industry ever since.
With over $1 million in renovations, including a complete overhaul of all 95 rooms and suites, the Lexington Inn & Suites, located at 1585 Dundee in Chicago/Elgin, IL, is now open and ready to take advantage of its close proximity to O’Hare Airport and downtown Chicago.
Corrigan arrived at The Blackstone from The Curtis, which she joined in 2008 as General Manager, or "Queen Bee" in the playful style of the hotel. Arriving during challenging economic times for the hospitality industry, Corrigan played a key role as Sage Hospitality soft-branded The Curtis with Doubletree. Hilton recognized her role by including her in the prestigious Circle of Leadership program. She was also named Sage Hospitality's Leader of the Year in 2011. Prior to joining The Curtis, Corrigan spent four years as General Manager of the 206-room, all-suite Embassy Suites Denver Southeast. From 2002-2004, she was owner and operator of The Last Detail, a self-launched, lifestyle management outfit in the Denver suburb of Louisville. Previously, Corrigan held a host of hospitality management positions, from Director of Marketing and Operations at Starwood Vacation Ownership in Denver to Executive Director of Operations at Bally's Grand Casino Hotel in Atlantic City. Her industry experience dates back to 1980 and includes positions at The Tropicana Hotel Casino and the Playboy Hotel & Casino.
Prior to this appointment, Lynch successfully opened the Trump SoHo New York as the Director of Sales and Marketing. During the pre-opening stage, Lynch was responsible for the hiring and managing of the sales team as well as implementing an action plan for the hotel’s opening in 2011. Once open, he contributed to exceptionally high occupancy during for the hotel’s first two years of operation.
Destination Hotels & Resorts appoints Frank Leone as General Manager of the newly-branded MileNorth™, A Chicago Hotel. In this role, Leone will be instrumental in the rebranding of the property, building a culture on exceptional, genuine service, as well as the day-to-day operation of the hotel. Destination Hotels & Resorts puts an emphasis on integrating its hotels into the destinations where they are located and building a strong authentic experience. The focus at MileNorth is on creating a Chicago-centric brand with warm and inviting service. The hotel’s central location in the heart of Chicago’s bustling business and steps from The Magnificent Mile, near the city’s numerous cultural and tourist attractions and just three miles from the convention center, makes it an attractive choice for business, convention and leisure travelers. Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the property and in all guestrooms is the icing on the cake. Leone brings a vast knowledge of the hospitality industry to his new role, combined with years of experience in the Midwest market. Prior to joining MileNorth, he held several management positions with Starwood Hotels, Sage and, most recently, with Remington Hotels as the general manager of The Silversmith Hotel & Suites in downtown Chicago.
Lowe Enterprises Investors (LEI), on behalf of an investment client, has acquired the 28-story, 213-room Affinia Chicago Hotel located at 166 E. Superior St. in downtown Chicago from Denihan Hospitality Group. Concurrent with the sale, LEI affiliate, Destination Hotels & Resorts, will take over the hotel management and implement the property"s rebranding as MileNorth, a Chicago Hotel, a name inspired by its premier location one block from North Michigan Avenue – the Magnificent Mile.
Swissôtel is pleased to announce the appointment of Jack Breisacher as the new General Manager of Swissôtel Chicago. Breisacher returns to Swissôtel Chicago from China, where he spent the last twenty months at the helm of Swissôtel Beijing, Hong Kong Macau Centre.
The Four Diamond Swissôtel Chicago has completed the $10 million renovation of its lobby/bar and classic meeting space. Construction began in December 2011. Inspired by the work of the building’s original architect, Harry Weese, Swissôtel Chicago’s renovated lobby has been transformed into a welcoming oasis for guests. The lobby now features a modern design with natural elements and an earth tone palette that reflect the hotel’s Swiss heritage.
Last year, the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI), announced a new way to MEET. Building on more than 20 years of success with connecting planners and suppliers and adding to its efforts this year to rebrand the organization's mission and focus, HSMAI's renowned Affordable Meetings® conference and exhibition took on a new name and a new vision.
Prior to this appointment, Evanich served with Irvine Company Resort Properties. He joined the organization in 2008 and served as Managing Director of the award winning Island Hotel Newport Beach. Previously Evanich also served with Ritz-Carlton Hotels for seven years. During his tenure, he served as General Manager for some of the company’s finest hotels including The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park. He also served as a general manager at The Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park and The Ritz-Carlton Boston Common.Evanich’s early career included experience as director of food and beverage for the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel where he oversaw a major renovation of the property’s food and beverage operations. He was also the Director of Food and Beverage at the Fairmont Hotel San Francisco and director of operations of the Westin Cincinnati and the Westin Maui. In addition to his experience as a hotel executive, Evanich is a highly trained and accomplished chef. He studied culinary arts in Italy, France and Scottsdale, Ariz., and has worked as an executive chef at various high profile resorts, among them the Marriott Desert Springs Resort in Palm Desert, the Maui Marriott Resort and the Camelback Inn in Scottsdale.
Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park is pleased to announce experienced hotel professional Mark Huntley as their new General Manager and Regional Vice President. Huntley started with Fairmont Hotels & Resorts in 1986, and has since held various positions with hotels under the Fairmont umbrella across the United States and in London.
Tour de Data, hosted by STR Analytics and the STR family of companies, is an intimate event that gives attendees a look at the latest hotel industry data, as well as innovative ways to examine it. The first Tour de Data will be held in Chicago on Friday, 2012 February 17.
The Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts brand, which draws its inspiration from the legendary Waldorf=Astoria New York, is known for delivering highly personalized service and is one of the world's fastest growing luxury hospitality brands. Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts will use the strength of its history, reputation and worldwide presence as it establishes a Waldorf Astoria presence in Chicago in the elegant and celebrated Elysian property which opened in late 2009.
Interstate Hotels & Resorts, the largest U.S.-based global hotel management company, today announced that it has entered into an agreement to manage the landmark 473-room Pheasant Run Resort, located just west of Chicago in historic St. Charles, Ill. The transition of operations, effective January 6, 2012, is expected to be seamless, with no interruption of services to guests.
Gray, who first received the honour for the Chicagoland area in November, was named the state’s Guest Services Employee of the Year on December 16 at the IHLA Stars of the Industry Awards Luncheon in Chicago, which honours outstanding talent and performance of hospitality employees who provide extraordinary service. A 15-year member of the Ritz’s concierge team, Gray shines with her reputation of going above and beyond for the Hotel’s guests. From securing coveted Oprah tickets to setting up a top-secret hair dye appointment for a rock band member so he would not be recognised, Gray always finds ways to fulfill the most unique guest requests.
Sought after speakers, a rich agenda and the presence of key industry players makes the 83rd Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers (CHART, www.chart.org) Hospitality Training Conference one of the premier hospitality industry events. Hotel, restaurant and HR professionals will gather at the Renaissance Austin in Austin, TX on March 3-6, 2012 to learn and share effective training and development practices that can quickly translate into improved operational results and higher level employee performance. The agenda, with session descriptions and speaker bios, can be viewed at: http://bit.ly/CHARTconference
The Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association (IHLA) has awarded the prestigious Hotelier of the Year Award for the Chicago market to Jerry Keyes, White Lodging employee and General Manager at the Courtyard by Marriott Downtown. The award was presented at the group's 14th Annual Stars of the Industry Employee Recognition Program, which was held on November 2 at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare.
"We're taking the best of the Elysian and bringing it into the world-class network of Waldorf Astoria," said John T.A. Vanderslice, global head of Luxury and Lifestyle Brands for Hilton Worldwide. "The Elysian's well deserved reputation for anticipatory service and attention to detail, as well as its stunning design and outstanding amenities, reflect the discerning needs of today's luxury guest, and are hallmarks of the Waldorf Astoria brand."
Virgin Hotels, a new four-star lifestyle hotel brand, announced that its property venture has purchased the Old Dearborn Bank Building in downtown Chicago in an all-cash transaction. Virgin Hotels will convert the former office building and expects to re-open it as Virgin Hotel Chicago in the fall of 2013.
You know Ian Schrager. He made disco rock at Studio 54 and went on to invent the 'design' or 'boutique' hotel that has been ripped off by virtually every hotelier from Birmingham to Boston. Without Schrager, there would be no lobby 'scene', no go-to bars, no signature scents, no hot staff and cool nightclubs, no baffling taps in the bathrooms. Hotels would still be full of swags and ruffles.