Silverado Resort announces the promotion of Devon Pritchard to the position of Executive Sous Chef. A versatile culinary talent with a career spanning high-end pastry arts and large-scale savory operations, Pritchard will now oversee a broader scope of the resort’s culinary offerings, including the highly anticipated spring opening of Matchplay Kitchen + Bar.
Silverado Resort in Napa Valley is pleased to announce the promotion of Dave Karam from Director of Golf to Director of Club & Golf Operations. Part of the Silverado Resort team for nearly a decade, Dave brings a unique blend of management strategy, hospitality expertise, and a deep-rooted interest in the industry to the Napa Valley destination. In his new role, he will oversee all aspects of the Club at Silverado - including Golf, Membership, and Agronomy - in addition to serving on the resort’s Executive Committee.
Silverado Resort is pleased to announce the appointment of Jay Rocha to Vice President and General Manager for the Napa Valley resort, effective December 15. A seasoned leader with more than three decades of experience in the luxury hospitality sector, Rocha will oversee the strategic direction, operational excellence, and performance of the iconic property while reinforcing Silverado’s position as a premier wine country destination.
Solage, Auberge Resorts Collection announced today the appointment of Pete Alles as General Manager of the award-winning resort. With over 20 years of hospitality experience, Alles will oversee all operations for the property, which underwent a multi-million-dollar renovation just last year. Alles has long been a part of the Auberge Resorts Collection family, having joined Solage following his role as Resort Manager of Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection.
Stanly Ranch, Auberge Resorts Collection, a new luxury resort and residential property opening in Napa Valley this winter, has appointed Ed Gannon as General Manager. A seasoned hospitality professional with more than 30 years of luxury experience, Gannon will oversee all operations for the 700-acre property that is anticipated to open in early 2022.
As Executive Chef of Napa Valley's Vista Collina Resort, which just opened a few days ago, the talented Vincent Lesage has been promoted from Executive Chef to Complex Executive Chef, overseeing all culinary operations for Vista Collina Resort and its sister property, The Meritage Resort and Spa.
With an extensive background in spa and wellness, specifically within the hospitality industry, Spa Director Kathleen McNichols brings creativity to producing a luxurious and reputable spa program at Vista Collina Resort through its sister property, Meritage Resort and Spa, where Vista Collina Resort guests have full access to. In her role, she will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of spa and wellness operations at Meritage Resort and Spa and Vista Collina Resort. Prior to joining Vista Collina Resort, McNichols served as a consultant for Spa Solutions as well as held previous leadership roles, including director of spa at Resort at Squaw Creek for over 10 years and an esthetician at Vail Resorts.
Bringing more than 15 years of luxury hospitality experience, General Manager Dave Elcon, will oversee all aspects of the day-to-day operations and management of Vista Collina Resort. This includes sales and marketing, revenue management, and food and beverage operations as well as leading the hotel staff to continually delight guests with warm hospitality. Prior to joining Vista Collina Resort, Elcon served as director of operations at Bacara Resort & Spa in Santa Barbara, Calif., where he led several million dollars worth of capital projects as well as implemented several green initiatives, resulting in the Cool Planet Award from Southern California Edison. Other notable properties Elcon has had key leadership roles at include Loews Royal Pacific Resort in Orlando, Loews Coronado Bay Resort in San Diego and The Cliffs Resort in Pismo Beach. Elcon graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management from California Polytechnic State University of San Luis Obispo, where he also served on the Hospitality Board for its Tourism Department, and has since been honored as Manager of the Quarter at Bacara Resort & Spa, Manager of the Year and Manager of the Quarter at Loews Coronado Bay Resort, and Manager of the Quarter at The Cliffs Resort.
An award-winning hotel operator with more than 25 years of experience at some of the world's finest hotels, Shashi Poudyal manages the operations for Meritage Ventures, which includes Vista Collina Resort, The Meritage Resort and Spa and the future development of AC Hotel and Residence Inn Napa. Shashi is a solution-focused leader with a proven track record of increasing revenues while maintaining the highest levels of guest satisfaction. A native of Nepal, Poudyal joined Pacific Hospitality Group in 2012. His exemplary tenure with the company has included various management positions throughout Southern California, including general manager at Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa in San Diego, and most recently, general manager at Bacara Resort & Spa in Santa Barbara. After joining Bacara, Poudyal upheld the resort's Forbes Four Star standards while establishing several measures to strengthen the resort's partnerships within the local community.
As Executive Chef of Vista Collina Resort, the talented Vincent Lesage will build and oversee the hotel's culinary program, including its Fivetown Grocery, in-room dining with its Hestan Cue partnership; special events and private celebrations; as well as lead hands-on cooking classes and demonstrations at the on-property Food & Wine Center. Born and raised in Paris at the epicenter of the food universe, Lesage was surrounded by the rich flavors and techniques that define French gastronomy. After graduating from the Institut Paul Bocuse in Écully, France, Lesage trained at some of the world's most celebrated establishments, including The Ritz Paris, the Michelin three-star restaurant, L'Astrance, and Michelin three-star restaurant, Bras. Most recently, Lesage served as executive chef at Bacara Resort & Spa in Santa Barbara where he oversaw the resort's renowned culinary program, including the opening of the award-winning restaurant, Angel Oak. Prior to that, he served as executive chef at Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach and executive sous chef at St. Regis Monarch Beach, as well as participated in some of the industry's most acclaimed culinary events, including Pebble Beach Food & Wine, Los Angeles Food & Wine and All Star Chef Classics.
Brookfield Hotel Properties is pleased to announce the appointment of Kini Sanborn to the position of Director of Sales and Marketing of The Vintage Estate, comprised of The Vintage Inn and Villagio Inn & Spa, located in Yountville, CA. In this role, Sanborn will oversee the repositioning of the luxury property as it undergoes a major transformation in Spring 2017, including the complete redesign of all public spaces, guestrooms at both hotels and the meeting spaces. Sanborn will also oversee all sales and marketing initiatives for both luxury properties, the V Market Place, and Spa Villagio. Her position will be responsible for working closely with several of the world’s top branding teams and designers on the development of creative and innovative strategic campaigns that welcome the most discerning and experiential-based travelers, as well as attracting high-profile meetings and event clientele. As a seasoned hospitality professional for more than 15 years, Sanborn joins The Vintage Estate following nearly four years as Director of Sales and Marketing at Bardessono Hotel & Spa, also in Yountville. Here she led an eight-person sales team, as well as the public relations agency, and was an integral player in the operational success of the ultra-luxury property. While in Yountville, she also held a seat on the Yountville Chamber’s Executive Board for two years, and was Chair of the Marketing Committee for the town. Prior to this role, Sanborn held the same positions at both Pan Pacific Hotel Group and MTM Luxury Lodging, both in Seattle, Washington, where she doubled catering revenues, exceeded group goals, and tactically captured RevShare along with the teams she managed.
Solage Hotels & Resorts, a California-based resort management company, has announced the appointment of Troy Smith as Director of Sales to the brand’s flagship property, Solage Calistoga. Smith, who brings 25 years of sales experience in the luxury hospitality industry, most recently with InterContinental San Francisco, joins the company’s leadership team.
Benchmark Hospitality International®, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company, has named Billy Alberigi director of operations for Bardessono, California's first and only LEED Platinum Certified hotel. Bardessono is located in Yountville, Napa Valley, and is part of Benchmark Hospitality's Personal Luxury Resorts & Hotels® collection. Jim Treadway, Benchmark's general manager at the hotel, made the announcement. Previously, Billy was director of property management for Bardessono, a position to which he was appointed in December 2008, two months before the hotel opened. Earlier in his career, Mr. Alberigi worked in sales and project management for a variety of technically-oriented companies. He has also served as chief engineer for Auberge Resorts at Solage Calistoga, located in Calistoga, California. Prior to this he was principal and chief contractor for Cal-Tech Pump, Well & Compressor, a company he founded and owned. Mr. Alberigi resides in Vallejo, California.
Callihan, a Certified Hospitality Sales Professional and Certified Hotel Administrator, came to The Meritage Resort and Spa after working with Hilton Hotels, Choice Hotels and La Quinta. In working with these national brands she was responsible for leading and managing sales teams while achieving quarterly and yearly sales goals. Callihan has won numerous sales awards for exceeding sales targets, including La Quinta’s Shark Award five years in a row. Her experience in bringing large conferences to regional hotels will help The Meritage Resort as it prepares to open an additional 12,500 square feet of meeting space.