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Appointment

Leonard Kong has been appointed as Complex Director of Rooms at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort

Leonard Kong is the Complex Director of Rooms, overseeing the new Loews Sapphire Falls Resort as well as Loews Royal Pacific Resort. Kong has extensive experience across the Orlando hotel campus, having served in key roles at Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel and Hard Rock Hotel. He has been instrumental in improving guest satisfaction scores and overall hotel performance. Kong brings a deep understanding of the best practices and operational excellence at the on-site hotels. He is a recipient of the Loews Legacy award, one of the company’s highest honors.

Loews
Orlando, Florida, United States
Appointment

John Askew has joined Loews Sapphire Falls Resort as Complex Director of Food & Beverage

John Askew has joined the team as Complex Director of Food & Beverage. A seasoned hospitality professional with formal training from the world-famous Culinary Institute of America, Askew began his career at The Peabody Orlando. He is a Certified Food and Beverage Executive from The Educational Institute and a recipient of the prestigious Silver Plate award from the International Food Manufacturers Association. During his 30-year career, Askew also led the food and beverage operations for the Colonial Williamsburg Company, where he oversaw four hotels and four historical taverns.

Loews
Orlando, Florida, United States
Appointment

Nando Belmonte has been promoted to Complex Executive Chef at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort

Nando Belmonte has been promoted to Complex Executive Chef. A driving force in the development and ongoing operation of several of Loews Hotels’ most successful food and beverage concepts at Universal Orlando Resort, Belmonte was on the opening teams for Loews Portofino Bay Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific Resort. He graduated from the Sydney TAFE College of Culinary Arts in Australia and is a member of the American Culinary Federation. Belmonte and his teams have won numerous culinary awards in the industry’s most respected competitions.

Loews
Orlando, Florida, United States
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Appointment

Perry Goodbar has been appointed as Director of Sales & Marketing at The Villas of Grand Cypress

Benchmark Hospitality International, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company, has named Perry Goodbar director of sales & marketing for the Villas of Grand Cypress, a Personal Luxury property located in Orlando, Florida. Mark Cox, general manager, made the announcement. Goodbar was previously vice president of sales, services and business development for the Colonial Williamsburg Company, the multi-property resort consisting of six hotels, golf, spa, retail and dining facilities, located in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Pyramid Global Hospitality
Orlando, Florida, United States
Appointment

David Wahba has been appointed as Director of Sales and Marketing at Waldorf Astoria Orlando and Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek

Wahba’s career spans many of the most influential hotel groups in the hospitality industry. Most recently, he led the group global sales effort as senior director for Wyndham Hotel Group. Eleven years with Starwood Hotels & Resorts included tenure as director of sales for the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort where he also garnered valuable experience with dual-hotel properties. He led the sales and marketing teams at the Westin Beach Resort Ft. Lauderdale and Sheraton Ft. Lauderdale Beach Hotel complex, managing revenue generation for group, leisure and marketing activities at both hotels. Other previously held positions include director of sales and marketing at the Westin Resort in Aruba as well as director of sales at the Westin Peachtree Plaza. Wahba holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada.

Hilton
Orlando, Florida, United States
Appointment

Dawn Walzak has been appointed as Director of Sales and Marketing at Hilton Orlando

The award-winning Hilton Orlando is proud to announce the appointment of Dawn Walzak as director of sales and marketing. Walzak will oversee the full service hotel’s group and leisure sales, marketing and public relation efforts. In this position, Walzak will oversee all marketing and sales activities while developing business strategies that drive growth, increase revenue, and exceed business goals. Prior to her role as director of sales for the property, she served as senior vice president for Tishman Hotel Corporation, where Walzak was directly involved in the sales, marketing and revenue strategy of the hotel and resort portfolio of multiple brands including Starwood, InterContinental, Marriott, Radisson and Doubletree among other boutique and independent properties. Prior to her 17 year tenure with Tishman, Walzak held senior sales roles with Westin and Hyatt Hotels & Resorts. She is currently a board member of the Florida International University (FIU) Hospitality Real Estate and Financial Management Task Force and FIU Industry Advisory. She is a member of Visit Orlando Citywide Task Force and editorial board member and contributing writer for Hotel Business Journal. During her career, Walzak has been named one of the “Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds” in Sales and Marketing by HSMAI and one of the “Top 40 Industry Executives Under 40” by Travel Weekly. Walzak graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Master’s Degree in Business & Hospitality Management and received her Bachelor’s Degree from Florida International University in Miami, Florida.

Hilton
Orlando, Florida, United States
Appointment

Barb Bowden has been appointed as Complex Managing Director at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort

Loews Hotels & Resorts has promoted two of its most seasoned and talented leaders to new roles at the Orlando hotel campus. Barb Bowden has been named complex managing director and Larry Beiderman has been promoted to complex general manager for Loews Sapphire Falls Resort and Loews Royal Pacific Resort. Loews and Universal Orlando Resort plan to operate the two hotels as a complex, when Loews Sapphire Falls Resort opens in the summer of 2016. The complex will offer a combined 2,000 rooms and suites and nearly 250,000 square feet of connected meeting space.

Loews
Orlando, Florida, United States