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Balendra Nagesvaran has been named VP of Hotel Operations for North America at Sofitel Luxury Hotels

Sofitel Luxury Hotels has named Balendra Nagesvaran vice president of hotel operations for North America, where he will oversee operations for all of Accor’s luxury hotels in the United States and Canada. In his new role, he will also act as the general manager for the brand’s flagship Sofitel New York. Nagesvaran brings to his position more than 26 years of experience in international hotel operations and management. He was previously based in Miami, where he served concurrently as general manager of Sofitel Miami and area general manager with responsibilities overseeing Accor’s East Coast luxury hotels. Nagesvaran has been with Accor for over 23 years in locations as diverse as New York, Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Thailand, and Colombo and Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka. He spent his early career in Toronto, holding a variety of management positions at Westin, Sheraton and Hilton hotels from 1987 to 1990.

Accor
New York, New York, United States
Appointment

Mark VanStekelenburg has been promoted to senior vice president and New York City practice leader at PKF Consulting LLC

PKF Consulting, LLC (PKFC), a management consulting firm specializing in the hospitality industry, has announced the promotion of Mark VanStekelenburg to senior vice president and practice leader of the firm’s office in New York City. Mr. VanStekelenburg moves from the Los Angeles office of PKFC where he has been since 2004. While in the firm’s L.A. office, Mr. VanStekelenburg conducted and supervised numerous economic, financial, and operational analyses for hospitality and real estate related clients. VanStekelenburg graduated from the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science degree. Prior to joining PKFC in 2004, he held operational positions at the Palmera Plaza Grand Hotel in Spain and the Ritz-Carlton Lodge at Reynolds Plantation, Ga. He has held leadership positions with the Los Angeles chapter of Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals, the American Hotel & Lodging Association Gateway Council and the Los Angeles chapter of the Cornell Hotel Society. VanStekelenburg has spoken at a number of hotel industry conferences and events. VanStekelenburg replaces industry veteran John Fox who is retiring as the leader of the PKFC New York practice. Fox joined the New York office of Harris Kerr Forster (predecessor to PKFC) in 1971, and became a senior principal of Pannell Kerr Forster in 1982.

CBRE Hotels
New York, New York, United States
Appointment

Brian Cernik has been appointed as Director of Meeting and Event Management at The Sheraton New York Times Square

The Sheraton New York Times Square hotel has named Brian Cernik Director of Meeting and Event Management, charged with overseeing the hotel’s newly renovated 60,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event space. With more than 17 years of experience in the hotel industry, a hallmark of Brian’s style is bringing a personalized touch to each event, while creating seamless and memorable client experiences with the culinary, event management, banquet and sales teams.

Starwood
New York, New York, United States
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Appointment

Rusty Middleton has been appointed as General Manager at Andaz Wall Street

The Andaz brand announced that two current Andaz general managers will switch roles. Jeffrey Miller, current general manager of Andaz Wall Street, will become the new general manager of Andaz San Diego while Rusty Middleton, currently Andaz San Diego's general manager will move to Andaz Wall Street to serve as general manager. While Miller heads West, Rusty Middleton heads East, bringing more than 21 years of Hyatt experience with him. Before opening Andaz San Diego in 2010, Middleton served as general manager of Hyatt Lodge at McDonald's Campus in Oak Brook, Ill. and held positions with the Hyatt Regency brand in San Francisco, Chicago, Denver and Knoxville. Under Middleton's leadership, Andaz San Diego recently acquired the AAA Four Diamond award and was voted best hotel in the Gaslamp Quarter by the Gaslamp Quarter Association.

Hyatt
New York, New York, United States
External Article Sales & Marketing

NYC's Pod Hotel: Why They Should Rename it 'Disco Starship' | curbed.com

"Where are you staying?" "The Pod 51." My friends looked worried, as if I had just admitted to volunteering for a social experiment. The kind you subject yourself to for fast cash. They offered to put me up. I didn't need the charity. Instead of staying in one of New York's one hundred million regular hotels (note to editor: that should probably be fact-checked on Wikipedia?), I had chosen to spend a few nights at a swanky dormitory that played techno in the lobby. Why? Because I make impulsive emotional decisions. It should be apparent that I am, in no way, a qualified critic of the hospitality industry.

New York, New York, United States
External Article Sales & Marketing

How Much To Give Hotel Staff: The Ultimate Guide To Tipping | curbed.com

Hotel tipping is one of those things that can paralyze even the most experienced of travelers with indecision. Who to tip? When? How much? The exchange can become quite awkward, even if you are prepared with a stack of dollar bills, and decidedly worse if you start over-employing the "I'll get you next time" strategy. There's also a question of expectations. At a modestly priced hotel, should guests tip at all? Freelance travel writer Renee Sklarew tackles the issue by going to the experts for this special Hotels Week report.

New York, New York, United States