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Appointment

Didier Pouzier has been appointed as Executive Chef at the Mandarin Oriental

With nearly 25 years in his multi-faceted career, Chef Pouzier joined the Mandarin Oriental, Miami team in its opening year of 2000 as Executive Sous Chef. During his decade of service at Mandarin Oriental, Chef Pouzier has demonstrated the culinary flair needed to take on the hotel’s three food and beverage outlets, as well as its catering and banquet functions. Chef Pouzier brings international expertise to Mandarin Oriental, Miami, having learned a variety of cuisines and methodologies while working for fine restaurants in France, Italy, Greece and the Bahamas. Since arriving in Florida, Chef Pouzier has worked at the Miami landmark, Grand Bay Hotel, along with other top-rated restaurants in Coral Gables and Port Charlotte. Chef Pouzier has also participated in several charities and community foundations, donating his skills to organizations such as Share Our Strength and Fertile Earth Foundation. Originally from France, Chef Pouzier learned to appreciate exceptional cuisine at a young age. In his hometown of Lyon, Chef Pouzier attended the Lycee Rabelais a Dardilly where he received Professional Certification for Classical Cuisine (C.A.P.) in 1985.

the Mandarin Oriental
Miami, Florida, United States
Appointment

Mark Jeffrey has been appointed as Area VP for the Southeast and Caribbean at RockResorts, a subsidiary of Vail Resorts

In this new position, Jeffrey will oversee The Landings St. Lucia, A RockResort and two new RockResort properties that will debut this year: Balcones del Atlantico, A RockResort in the Dominican Republic and Tempo Miami, A RockResort in Miami. Jeffrey comes to RockResorts with more than 28 years of hospitality industry experience, including roles in food and beverage, human resources, housekeeping, front office and operations. Most recently, Jeffrey served as general manager of the Doral Golf Resort and Spa Marriott in Miami, where he was responsible for overseeing nearly 700 guest rooms, over 100,000 square-feet of meeting space, nine food and beverage outlets, five golf courses, a world-class luxury spa with 50-plus treatment rooms and a private club. Previously, Mark spent seven years as area general manager of Marriott’s Griffin Gate Resort and Spa in Lexington, KY. Originally from Michigan, Mark holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel Management from Michigan State University.

RockResorts, a subsidiary of Vail Resorts
Miami, Florida, United States
Appointment

Maria Corona has been appointed as Director of Sales at Marenas Resort

Over the past 20 years, Maria Corona has experienced significant success in developing productive relationships with the group meeting and individual guest markets. She was previously senior sales manager for One Bal Harbour Resort & Spa, located in Bal Harbour, Florida, where she actively grew leisure and group sales revenues. Prior to this appointment, she served as director of sales and marketing for All Conventions, LLC of Aventure, Florida. While in this position, she streamlined departmental expenses and developed new products to meet the growing needs of the corporate group market. Ms. Corona has held the title of sales manager for international groups and the FIT market for The Westin Diplomat Hotel of Hollywood, Florida. She also served as meeting group coordinator and sales manager for the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Miami. Earlier in her career, Ms. Corona gained international hospitality experience working in positions of increasing responsibility for The Merrion Hotel in Dublin, Forte Grand Pyramids in Cairo, and in Venezuela for Norwegian Cruise Lines out of Caracas and the Intercontinental Hotel Valencia. Maria Corona received her Master of Arts in Tourism and Hotel Management from Escuela Superior de Turismo Sol (UNED) in Madrid. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Hotel Management and Culinary Arts from the same institution. Ms. Corona is resides in Sunny Isles, Florida.

Pyramid Global Hospitality
Miami, Florida, United States
Appointment

Marcos Agostini has been promoted to VP Resort Sales And Service, Latin America at Interval International

In this role, he oversees Interval’s presence in Central/South America and Mexico and plays a lead role in building the company’s developer client base in the region. He also serves in the same capacity for Preferred ResidencesTM, a branded membership and exchange program for luxury fractional resorts and private residences clubs. Agostini joined Interval in 1993 in the company’s Venezuela office and since then he has held various management positions of increasing scope. As international member services manager, Agostini oversaw the member services departments of Interval’s offices throughout Latin America, including Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, and Brazil. Most recently, he was assistant vice president for Latin America. He is a member of the board of the Mexican Resort Development Association (Asociación Mexicana de Desarrolladores Turísticos, AMDETUR) and an active participant in the American Resort Development Association (ARDA).

Interval International
Miami, Florida, United States
Appointment

Burt Cabañas has been appointed as Chairman of the Industry Advisory Board at Florida International University’s School of Hospitality

Benchmark Hospitality International has announced that Burt Cabañas, the company’s founder, chairman and CEO, has been appointed chair of the Industry Advisory Board at Florida International University’s (FIU) School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, located in Miami. Mr. Cabañas has a long-term relationship with FIU and the School of Hospitality, having received his Bachelor of Science degree from the university in 1976. Mr. Cabañas also holds the title of Honorary Community Professor for the School of Hospitality and has served on the School's Industry Advisory Board for several years, the last six as vice chairman. A long-term industry leader, Burt Cabañas is a founding member, past president, and former board member of the International Association of Conference Centers (IACC), the leading authority governing the conference center industry globally. In 1988, he was honored with the organization's Distinguished Service Award for his contributions to the industry. Active in many aspects of IACC during his term as president, Mr. Cabañas co-authored the "Uniform System of Accounts for Conference Centers." Burt Cabañas founded Benchmark Hospitality International nearly 30 years ago.

Florida International University’s School of Hospitality
Miami, Florida, United States
Appointment

Mark Jeffrey has been named General Manager at Doral Golf Resort & Spa, a Marriott Resort

Jeffrey began his Marriott tenure as an assistant housekeeping manager at Marriott's Rancho Las Palmas Resort in California and quickly climbed the ranks. For the past seven years he served as general manager of the Griffin Gate Marriott Resort & Spa in Lexington, KY, where he grew sales 50%, oversaw a $12.5-million renovation and was recognized with the Regional Marriott GM Sales Leadership Award (2006-2007) and Marriott Hotels & Resorts GM Sales Leadership Award (2004). Other posts that Jeffrey has held throughout his rich hospitality career include general manager of Omaha Marriott Hotel in Nebraska; director of operations at Marriott’s Tan-Tar-A Resort & Golf Club in Missouri; food and beverage manager at Desert Springs JW Marriott Palm Desert Resort & Spa in California; and director of services at Marriott World Center Orlando in Florida. Jeffrey is a graduate of Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel Management.

Marriott
Miami, Florida, United States
Appointment

Raul Pino has been appointed as General Manager at Marriott's Villas at Doral

Pino is now responsible for the Marriott Vacation Club resort which is located adjacent to the 650 acre Doral Golf Resort & Spa, A Marriott Resort. Marriott’s Villas at Doral includes 141 two-bedroom villas overlooking the Great White Golf Course, a Greg Norman Signature Course. Each villa boasts a fully-equipped kitchen with granite countertops, spacious living and dining areas, luxurious bedding package, and multiple televisions with DVD players. A 22-year Marriott veteran, Pino began his career in 1986 in loss prevention at the Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay where he was later promoted to director of loss prevention. Pino progressed to regional director of loss prevention for the Florida region in 1993 where his responsibilities included loss prevention for all North American Marriott lodging brands and Marriott Vacation Club International brands in Florida. Pino was later appointed to general manager at the Courtyard Fort Lauderdale Plantation in 2000 and two years later served as general manager at the Fairfield Inn Miami Airport West/Doral Area.

Marriott
Miami, Florida, United States
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Mews
Appointment

Rita Healy has been named Hotel Manager at The Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club

Healy brings more than 25 years of industry experience to the legendary resort and is responsible for assisting the managing director, along with overseeing day-to-day operations and service delivery. Prior to joining The Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club, Healy served as director of operations for the AAA Five Diamond Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle, Wash., and in several supervisory positions at The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort in Scottsdale, Ariz., including director of front office operations, front office manager, associate director of conference services and national sales manager. Healy has a bachelor’s degree in hotel & restaurant management from Moorhead State University in Minnesota and holds a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) accreditation.

FRHI
Miami, Florida, United States