Sheraton Los Angeles San Gabriel Hotel, the premier luxury property scheduled to open fall 2017 on East Valley Boulevard, has announced that Sunny Saha has been appointed Assistant General Manager.
Rachel Sweetman's background in events and catering began after her graduation from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Sweetman spent the past three years at the Courtyard by Marriott and The Mondrian Hotel in Los Angeles. Currently, Sweetman assumes the role of Catering and Riviera 31 Sales Associate.
Anh-Dao Tran comes to Sofitel LA from the W Hollywood, where she was a Meetings and Events Manager. Tran will focus on all corporate accounts and will play a vital role in the planning and management of on-site events at Sofitel LA. Tran has been working in hospitality for just over ten years, making her expertise in Catering and Events Management indispensable.
Sophie Jones has exceedingly valuable experience in the hospitality industry that has eased her transition into her role as Director of Catering at Sofitel Los Angeles. Jones started her Catering Sales Manager career with the property in 2007. She left in 2013 to pursue the Director of Events position at the W Hollywood, returning to Sofitel LA in March 2017 to oversee and manage a team of four. She is also currently handling the entertainment market, gala celebrations, VIP events and the hotels top account, Cedars Sinai.
Appointed as one of the Senior Sales Managers who will be responsible for group bookings, Debbie Vail joins the Sheraton Los Angeles San Gabriel team with more than 10 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Her strong negotiation skills, drive and a proven track record of success has allowed Vail to quickly progress into her current position. Vail began her career as a Reservations Agent at Sheraton Pasadena Hotel and continued to make her way up to Group Sales Manager. After eight years of outstanding achievement, she joined Westin Long Beach as a Senior Sales manager where she was responsible for large group business from Southern California and the southern half of the US. Vail graduated from California Polytechnic University, Pomona with a bachelor’s in business management and human resources.
Appointed as the head of the marketing and sales department is Fred Kokash, a hospitality veteran with more than a decade of experience. Kokash joins Sheraton Los Angeles San Gabriel Hotel from the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Conference Center, where he mentored a staff of 11 and helped drive new business development and marketing initiatives. Prior to the Sheraton Fairplex, Kokash worked at various properties around California as Manager and General Manager, assisting in hotel openings and focusing on increasing RevPAR, while leading a team of 50+. A certified Sheraton Brand Culture Trainer, Kokash is delighted that he will continue working on the Sheraton brand with the opening of Sheraton Los Angeles San Gabriel.
Wanda Chan, the newly appointed general manager, will oversee the pre and post-opening phases of the hotel, as well as day-to-day operations. Prior to being selected for this new role, Chan was the General Manager at Millennium Biltmore Hotel. Before that, she was the General Manager for several award-winning hotels, including the Swissôtel New York, The Drake, Warwick New York, and ONE UN New York (formerly the Millennium UN Plaza Hotel). Chan’s passion for hospitality has led her to myriad roles, opportunities and global locales. Originally from Hong Kong, Chan’s more than three-decade-long career spans from California, Singapore, Las Vegas, and New York. Chan received her degree in Hotel Management from University of Hawai‘i at Manoa.
Oceanwide Plaza, the first North American development by prominent international developer Oceanwide Holdings, is set to become one of the most significant mixed-use developments in the history of downtown Los Angeles. Oceanwide Plaza will encompass a variety of lifestyle offerings including a new five-star Park Hyatt hotel, a collection of curated retailers and restaurants and a refined residential offering bringing a new level of sophistication to L.A."s sports and entertainment district.
Journal Hotels announced today the appointment of Kendall Viola to director of sales at The Hollywood Roosevelt. In this role Viola will be responsible for the leadership of all sales initiatives to drive revenue at the iconic hotel as it celebrates its 90th anniversary this year, developing strategic new business opportunities and creating customized solutions for guest and group needs.
Anchoring the extensive revitalization of Los Angeles" famed Hollywood neighborhood, Dream Hollywood officially opens today, Wednesday, July 12, 2017. Bringing together unrivaled partners in dining, nightlife, wellness and more, Dream Hotels" marquee location creates a magnetic social hub for visitors and Angelenos alike.
Disruptive Restaurant Group, a subsidiary of sbe, the leading lifestyle hospitality company that develops, manages and operates award-winning hospitality venues globally, has announced that Scott Kleckner has joined as Senior Vice President of Restaurant Operations.
Andaz West Hollywood, located on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, has named Carlos Rojas as its new Director of Sales, Marketing and Events. With more than 15 years of hospitality experience, Mr Rojas will work with his team to strategically meet sales goals, oversee marketing efforts and manage the execution of events – including the brand-wide Salon Event series.Mr Rojas started his Hyatt career in 2002 on the operations side, where he served as executive housekeeper at Hyatt Boston Harborside. In 2005, he transitioned into sales world, and worked his way through the ranks until he was promoted to director of sales and marketing at Andaz Savannah (Ga.) in 2015.Formerly known as the Riot House, the Andaz West Hollywood – then called Continental Hyatt House and later the Hyatt on Sunset – served as the home of some of rock-and-roll’s most memorable tales by being the choice hotel for rock legends including Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Duran Duran, The Doors and more. Rebranded as an Andaz – Hyatt’s lifestyle collection – in 2009, the hotel has 239 guestrooms, including 20 suites and views of the Hollywood Hills on one side and the Sunset Strip and Downtown Los Angeles on the other.
The board of directors of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation have announced that it has elected Michael O. Hilton as its newest member. Grandson of Conrad N. Hilton, Mr Hilton previously served as an intern on the Hilton Foundation’s board of directors and as a member of the Foundation’s Generations in Giving (GIG) committee. He currently serves on the Foundation’s Building Committee.
LA"s newest injection of unique hospitality experiences has finally arrived: Hollywood Proper Residences, a luxury high-rise designed by Kelly Wearstler. Opened in June 2016, it now offers stays of seven nights or more, and is complete with four new penthouses and Filifera Bar & Lounge, a rooftop locale with 360 degree views.
The 2017 Meet the Money National Hotel Finance & Investment Conference, held May 8–10 in Los Angeles, brought together a strong showing of hotel owners, investors, lenders, brokers, consultants, franchisors, and brand representatives. Top U.S. hospitality executives served on panel discussions that addressed an array of topics related to hotel ownership, development, and financing, as well as the recent proliferation of new hotel brands and the impact of the global economy on the industry. True to this year's theme, "Opportunity or Peril: Finding the Right Key to the Right Door," a sense of cautious optimism echoed throughout the conference, supported by reports of continued hotel performance improvements in markets nationwide, balanced by the potential effects of the supply pipeline and global markets in the next 12 to 18 months.
Waterton, an experienced owner and operator of hospitality and multifamily properties, announced today it will retain real estate investment banking and advisory firm, RobertDouglas to conduct a mergers & acquisitions search in order to further grow its hotel management platform.
Ms. Adams brings with her extensive experience in luxury hospitality, including serving on the opening team for The Peninsula Beverly Hills in 1991 as Director of Sales. She left in 1994 to become Director of Sales & Marketing for The Beverly Hills Hotel, where, in 2008, she was promoted to Regional Director of Sales and Marketing, leading sales for The Beverly Hills Hotel and Hotel Bel-Air as a part of the Dorchester Collection. In 2014, she joined Aman Resorts in a regional capacity before leaving to start her own marketing and branding firm. Originally from Southern California, Ms. Adams graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in communication. She has also spent time at Stanford University and Cornell University studying Business Management and Sales & Marketing respectively. The Peninsula Beverly Hills is a 195-bedroom property located among lush tropical gardens in the heart of Beverly Hills, at the intersection of Wilshire and South Santa Monica Boulevard, within walking distance of the legendary Rodeo Drive.
Oakwood Worldwide®, the global leader in corporate housing and serviced apartment solutions, opens Oakwood Olympic & Olive, a stylish addition to its portfolio of more than 50 branded properties globally. Located at 1001 South Olive Street in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles, this newly constructed property is also the ninth US corporate housing asset owned by Singapore-based Mapletree Investments, the parent company of Oakwood Worldwide. This is the first property added to Oakwood"s portfolio since Mapletree acquired Oakwood Worldwide in February 2017.
The Meet the Money® 2017 conference will bring hospitality industry leaders together from May 8-10 in Los Angeles at the Hyatt Regency Hotel LAX. This marks the conference's 27th year, where hotel owners, operators, developers, consultants, investors, brands, lenders and other capital providers will gather to get deals done and discuss and catch up on the latest issues and opportunities involving the hotel industry.
Journal Hotels, a management company created by the owners of the Hollywood Roosevelt, today announced the company has once again partnered up with Stephen Brandman as Chief Executive Officer. Brandman had previously served an integral role at the iconic Hollywood Roosevelt when it launched under Thompson Hotels. In his new role as CEO, Mr. Brandman will oversee and direct the operations of Journal Hotels, which includes properties located in: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Palm Springs and Chicago. Additionally, Brandman will help grow the brand in strategic locations and new markets. Mr. Brandman was the co-founder and CEO of Thompson Hotels and Commune Hotels before selling his stake in the companies.