Jack Strong has been appointed as Executive Chef at The Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel
The Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel has named Jack Strong as Executive Chef for the 521-room iconic property, according to General Manager Paige Lund.
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James Anderson has been appointed as Director of Sales & Marketing at JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa
James Anderson was recently named Director of Sales & Marketing for the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa. He was most recently the Director of Group Sales for the 1,511-room Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas. During his 12 year tenure at the Gaylord, Anderson was Director of West Coast Sales and Director of Northeast Sales/Senior Sales Executive before being promoted to Director of Group Sales. He has held similar positions at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis and the Tan-Tar-A Resort & Golf Club in Osage Beach, Missour
Derek J. Ellis has been appointed as Resort Manager at JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa
Prior to returning to the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa where he initially opened the 950-room luxury property as Director of Rooms Operations in 2002, Ellis was most recently the General Manager of the JW Marriott Houston Galleria. Ellis brings extensive industry experience to his new position and has spent 27 years within the Marriott organization.
Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG) Converts Former Hilton Suites Phoenix to Embassy Suites by Hilton Phoenix Downtown North
Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG), an Atlanta-based, private hotel investment, ownership and management company, today announced the completed conversion of the former Hilton Phoenix Suites to the 242-suite Embassy Suites by Hilton Phoenix Downtown North. HVMG, which purchased the hotel in 2016 as part of a joint venture, will continue to operate the property.
Mark Lindsey has been appointed as Director Of National Accounts at Arizona Biltmore Hotel
The Arizona Biltmore, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, announces the appointment of Mark Lindsey as Director of National Accounts. In this position, Lindsey will utilize his vast luxury hospitality expertise to develop exciting new strategies and plans to represent the resort, offer unparalleled customer service and maximize revenue. He brings a unique perspective and affiliation to the storied resort, having worked at the property as a teen where he garnered the experience that shaped his forthcoming career as a respected hospitality industry veteran.
Renovation to Celebrate 40 years of Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort
Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort has announced the completion of an extensive $8.5 million renovation. The updates encompass 224 North Pointe Suites, including the exclusive Presidential Suite, the remastered North Pointe lobby, and 48,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. The redesign celebrates the resort"s 40th anniversary along with its colorful history and iconic location in the Valley of the Sun.
Wade Gruenewald has been appointed as Director of Food & Beverage at Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix
Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix has hired Wade Gruenewald as the director of food and beverage.
Mike DiNucci has been named Director of Sales at DoubleTree by Hilton Phoenix North
San Diego-based hotel management firm, RAR Hospitality is pleased to promote Mike DiNucci as Director of Sales of DoubleTree by Hilton Phoenix North who recently served positions as General Manager and Director of Sales for Holiday Inn Express & Suites Tempe. Formerly, the Radisson Hotel Phoenix North, the property is undergoing a hotel conversion to be rebranded as DoubleTree by Hilton Phoenix North, part of DoubleTree by Hilton’s fast-growing global portfolio of upscale, full-service hotels. Owned and operated by RAR Hospitality, the redesign and renovation is scheduled to be completed by Fall 2017.
Joe Martin has been named Food & Beverage Director at The Camby
The Camby has named Joe Martin as the food & beverage director of the luxury lifestyle hotel in Phoenix. In his new role, Martin oversees operations for Artizen Crafted American Kitchen & Bar, the rooftop Wade Poolside Bar and the property’s banquet operations. Bringing more than 20 years of experience in the industry, he is instrumental in leading an unrivaled culinary management team in addition to further elevating guests' dining experiences at Phoenix’s most engaging and elegant urban hotel.
Dual Branded Courtyard & Residence Inn Opens in Downtown Phoenix, Arizona
Marriott International, Inc. today announced that a combined 120-room Courtyard hotel and 200-suite Residence Inn hotel in downtown Phoenix, Arizona will open today. Located at 132 South Central Avenue, the hotels are owned and managed by Hansji Corporation of Anaheim, California. The 20-story property will share an indoor swimming pool and whirlpool spa, a fitness center and 5,733 square feet of meeting space to accommodate functions of up to 270 people. Each property features custom designed room décor packages that will provide guests with a one of a kind experience.
Onal Kucuk has been named General Manager at The Camby
The Camby, Arizona’s first hotel from Marriott International’s Autograph Collection, is proud to announce the addition of Onal Kucuk as general manager. Kucuk will be instrumental in creating an unrivaled culture for The Camby staff as well as bringing an innovative and a think-outside-the-box perspective to Phoenix’s most engaging and elegant urban lifestyle hotel. A playful mix of the professional and the avant-garde, The Camby seamlessly blends the timeless beauty of the property, originality in contemporary design, and on-trend services to create a colorful and bold hotel that is exactly like nothing else.Over the course of his career, Kucuk served in various leadership positions across the country including director of operations at W Atlanta Buckhead and area director of Six Sigma for Starwood Hotels and Resorts. Most recently, Kucuk held the position of general manager of Hotel Lincoln in Chicago, which was honored as one of the “Best Places to Work” by the Chicago Tribune for two consecutive years under his leadership.
Ryan Lamkin has been appointed as Executive Chef at JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa
JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa has promoted Ryan Lamkin to Executive Chef for the 950-room property, where he will be responsible for overseeing cuisine for banquets, receptions, meetings and themed restaurants in Arizona’s largest resort. Steve Hart, JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa's General Manager and Area Vice President, made the announcement.
Ryan Fitzgerald has been appointed as Resort Manager at The Arizona Biltmore, A Waldorf Astoria Resort
Most recently, in his role as Hotel Manager of the Loews Philadelphia in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Fitzgerald successfully served as interim General Manager of the 581-key hotel for several months. Under his leadership, the property achieved record breaking guest satisfaction reviews for two years straight. Prior to his time on the mainland, Fitzgerald spent nearly a decade on the Hawaiian Islands. While there he held a variety of executive positions including Hotel Manager of The Kahala Hotel & Resort in Honolulu, where he played an integral role in advancing guest satisfaction scores of the AAA Five Diamond resort, and as Hotel Manager of the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows on the Kohala Coast, where he aided in driving profitability within key departments. Fitzgerald holds a Bachelor degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and is trained in crisis management and hospitality law. He is an avid fitness fan and in his spare time can often be found on the golf course.
Mortenson Announces New Hotel in Downtown Phoenix
Mortenson today announced the groundbreaking for the newest hotel in downtown Phoenix. The company is developing and building a Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton at the intersection of N. 1st Street and E. Polk Street, centrally-located near entertainment and business, and immediately south of the downtown campus of Arizona State University (ASU). It will be the first Hampton Inn & Suites in downtown Phoenix.
In Focus: Phoenix, AZ
Steady, paced growth describes Phoenix's current economic trajectory, which has lagged the nation's post- recession recovery in terms of job growth, population growth, and housing trends. The protracted recovery of the Phoenix Metropolitan Statistical Area, which comprises both Maricopa and Pinal Counties, has been buoyed by growth in company expansions, infrastructure improvements, and increased tourism demand. Rising demand and occupancy have driven the recovery, with improvements in average daily rate lagging the cycle.
Lynn Flosi has been appointed as Director of Sales & Marketing at Hilton Phoenix Airport Hotel
Twenty-year hospitality veteran Lynn Flosi joins as Director of Sales & Marketing. Flosi most recently served as Director of Sales & Marketing for the Crowne Plaza Airport North Hotel, where she played a critical role in the Crowne brand naming this property the Crowne Newcomer of the Year based on guest satisfaction. She also was honored as HSMAIs Hospitality Professional of the Year in 2014.
Sally Shaffer has been appointed as General Manager at Hilton Phoenix Airport Hotel
HMC has announced top-level appointments for the Hilton Phoenix Airport Hotel including Sally Shaffer as General Manager. Most recently, Shaffer was General Manager at the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country where she held the positions of Board Chair for Visit Santa Rosa and Vice President of Sonoma County Lodging Association. She is returning to Phoenix where she was prior to California and where she held senior executive management positions at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge and the JW Marriott Camelback.
Heavlin Management Company Adds The Hilton Phoenix Airport Hotel To Management Portfolio
Heavlin Management Company, LLC (HMC), a full-service hospitality management and consulting company, today announced it has signed an agreement and assumed management of the four-story, 259 guest room Hilton Phoenix Airport Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona. Located adjacent to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, HMC, which also manages the Holiday Inn & Suites Phoenix Airport and the Crowne Plaza Phoenix Airport, now manages over 51% of full-service hotel rooms (7 81 rooms) in the Phoenix Airport Submarket.The company has been incredibly successful over the past 18 months growing its management portfolio and providing strategic operations improvement plans at our properties to elevate guest experience and owner value, said Frank Heavlin, president of Heavlin Management Company. The addition of the Hilton Phoenix Airport Hotel brings our portfolio to 7 properties, 550 employees and 1,208 guest rooms, in Arizona and Alaska. We are proud to offer superior management and guest experience representing prestigious brands as Crowne Plaza, Hampton Inn & Suites, Hilton and Holiday Inn & Suites and Choice.HMC has announced top-level appointments for the Hilton Phoenix Airport Hotel including Sally Shaffer as General Manager. Most recently, Shaffer was General Manager at the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country where she held the positions of Board Chair for Visit Santa Rosa and Vice President of Sonoma County Lodging Association. She is returning to Phoenix where she was prior to California and where she held senior executive management positions at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge and the JW Marriott Camelback. Twenty-year hospitality veteran Lynn Flosi joins as Director of Sales & Marketing. Flosi most recently served as Director of Sales & Marketing for the Crowne Plaza Airport North Hotel, where she played a critical role in the Crowne brand naming this property the Crowne Newcomer of the Year based on guest satisfaction. She also was honored as HSMAIs Hospitality Professional of the Year in 2014. Hammad Akbar joins as Director of Food and Beverage. An award-winning manager and 21-year industry veteran, Akbar most recently was the Food & Beverage Director at the Crowne Plaza San Marcos Resort. The Hilton Phoenix Airport Hotel underwent an extensive $8 Million renovation in 2015, upgrading all areas of the property to maintain its status as a leading hotel in the South Airport market. An additional $750,000 property improvement plan is scheduled to add modern conveniences and upgrades to the restaurant, bar and other common areas as well as parking lot improvements. The hotel features over 10,000 sq. ft. of meeting/convention space including an amphitheater ideal for presentations. It also has a full service restaurant with room service, great hotel bar and happy hour, and outdoor pool and meeting areas. Beyond traditional airport business, the Hilton captures strong market and significant occupancy demand with 50 Million sq. ft. of neighboring office/industrial space and surrounding corporate clients.
AAHOA Officers, Past Chairman to Speak at 2016 Lodging Conference
Leadership from the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) will be featured speakers at the 2016 Lodging Conference in Phoenix. AAHOA Chairman Bharat "Bruce" Patel will serve on the "Lodging Leaders Panel: A View From the Top" on Tuesday morning during the general session. Vice Chairman Bhavesh Patel, Treasurer Hitesh "HP" Patel, and 2015 Chairman Jay R. "Jimmy" Patel will join the event's "think tank" panels on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss topics including new hotel construction, hotel renovation and conversion, and the relative merits of independent hotels versus franchised properties.
Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG) Joint Venture Acquires the Marriott Century Center/Emory Area in Atlanta and Hilton Suites-Phoenix
Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG), an Atlanta-based, private hotel ownership and management company, today announced it has formed a joint venture with True North Management Group of White Plains, N.Y., to acquire the 282-room Marriott Century Center in Atlanta, Ga., and the 226 two-room suite Hilton Phoenix Suites in Midtown Phoenix, Ariz. HVMG will operate both hotels, bringing its portfolio to 35 operated hotels with 7,572 rooms nationwide. The deal was brokered by Atlanta-based Hunter Hotel Advisors for $50.75M, inclusive of the hotels' capital reserve accounts.