Geoff Gray has been named general manager of The Royal Palms Resort and Spa in Phoenix, Ariz. The hotel joins other local Hyatt properties in the state, including Hyatt Regency Phoenix and Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch. Andaz Scottsdale Resort and Spa is scheduled to debut later this year.
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced that a wholly owned subsidiary has entered into an agreement to purchase the 119-room Royal Palms Resort and Spa. The transaction is expected to close in July 2016. The hotel will continue to be operated as the Royal Palms Resort and Spa and will become affiliated with The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, offering a rich history and sense of place that fits the brand's promise of creating story-worthy and shareable experiences for guests.
RAR Hospitality, a San Diego-based hotel management and acquisitions company with a presence in Southern California and Arizona, is proud to announce that Rochelle Samms, a newly-appointed director of sales and marketing joined the Radisson Hotel Phoenix North team.
Tammy Lucas has been promoted to vice president of marketing, Best Western Hotels & Resorts. In her new and expanded role with Best Western, she will lead Brand Marketing and Advertising, and Best Western Rewards. Tammy has also named by HSMAI as one of the Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales & Marketing.
Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Worldwide's (NYSE: HLT) award-winning brand of hotels, announced today the opening of Hilton Garden Inn Phoenix Downtown, representing an addition to the brand's growing portfolio of more than 650 properties worldwide. Once home to Phoenix's historic Professional Building, the hotel is owned by and managed by Minneapolis-based CSM Corporation, and is truly distinctive.
Terry Porter, CHA, serves as the 2016 chairman of the Best Western® Hotels and Resorts Board of Directors. He was elected to the Board in November 2013 to represent the interests of Best Western hoteliers in the brand's District I, which includes Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. Porter previously served as vice chairman.
The Camby Hotel, Phoenix’s most anticipated independent luxury property opening in December 2015, is proud to announce the appointment of Dushyant Singh as director of culinary experiences of the hotel. A culinary veteran for 16 years, Singh will be instrumental in curating an epicurean experience that not only complements, but also elevates The Camby Hotel’s engaging, creative and elegant ambiance. The property is the first and only hotel in Arizona to be a part of Autograph Collection Hotels – Marriott International’s curated portfolio of hotels recognized for celebrating individuality – and owned by Host Hotels & Resorts.
Stephen Johnson has joined Royal Palms Resort and Spa, A Destination Hotel, as the new general manager of the 119-room resort located here. He comes from Ventana Inn & Spa in Big Sur, CA, where he served in the same role.
Howard Harris, general manager for the Boulders Resort & Spa, announces the appointment of John Maskovich as director of food & beverage. In his new role, he will be overseeing six onsite restaurants including the Palo Verde, the Spotted Donkey Cantina, the Spa Café, the Grill Kitchen and Bar, the Bakery Café, Discovery Lounge, Room Service and the Catering/Banquet staff.
Destination Hotels is proud to announce the promotion of Greg Miller to vice president, managing director of the newest independent luxury lifestyle hotel in Phoenix set to open in December. A hospitality veteran for 34 years, Miller will be instrumental in launching Phoenix's soon-to-be most engaging, creative and elegant urban hotel. The former Ritz-Carlton Phoenix will reopen after a multi-million dollar renovation as part of Marriott International's Autograph Collection – the first in Arizona – owned by Host Hotels & Resorts.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. (NYSE:HOT), today announced the opening of the Sheraton Mesa Hotel at Wrigleyville West in Mesa, Arizona. Independently owned by Arizona hotelier Bob Yost, Sheraton Mesa offers 180 rooms, ample meeting facilities and all of the brand's signature services and amenities. The opening is part of the Sheraton brand's strategic $8 billion expansion effort, and further reinforces Sheraton as the most global hotel brand.
Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the world's largest hotel companies, has announced it is hiring 100 new IT positions following recent technological successes. Choice will be holding a career fair and open house on December 10th from 4–7 p.m. MST at the company's Phoenix, Arizona office, where its IT operations are headquartered.
Officials of the Lodging Conference, a national hospitality conference targeting hotel owners, operators, developers and investors, today announced that it will present Randy Smith, chairman and co-founder of STR, Inc., with its annual "Above and Beyond Award," a distinction is given to a hotel industry executive who has made a valuable contribution to his or her community and/or to society at large. Additionally, the conference will recognize Ed Watkins, editor-at-large for Hotel News Now, and Jerry Daly, co-founder and chairman of Daly Gray, Inc., with lifetime achievement awards.
Hilton Worldwide today announced the appointment of Sheila Foley to the position of general manager of the 740-guestroom, iconic, Arizona Biltmore, a Waldorf Astoria Resort. Dubbed "The Jewel of the Desert," this luxury property opened in 1929 and was inspired by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. To this day, the Arizona Biltmore remains a favorite destination among U.S. presidents, titans and celebrities. The resort is currently undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation of guest rooms and suites, meeting spaces, ballrooms and pre-function areas. Foley will oversee the day-to-day operations of this historic resort and will report directly to Hilton Worldwide Area Vice President, Ben Fusco.Foley joins the Hilton Worldwide family from Marriott hotels and resorts where she served as the general manager of JW Marriott Houston for the past six years. During her time there, she has been instrumental in developing a new service culture propelling the property and its team members to one of the highest performing assets in the system. Additionally, under Foley's leadership, she improved guest experience scores and led the development of new property-level recognition programs for Marriott's silver, gold and platinum-level loyalty program guests.
Royal Palms Resort and Spa, Phoenix's premiere luxury resort, is excited to introduce Mark Lindsey as the property's new Director of Sales and Marketing. Lindsey brings more than 36 years of hospitality experience and leadership to his newest role of Director of Sales and Marketing at Royal Palms. Prior to joining the Phoenix resort's team, Lindsey was the Director of Sales and Marketing for Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Arizona, where he orchestrated several large-scale marketing campaigns, led a team of seven sales managers and managed all of the property's revenue goals and leisure sales initiatives. During his time at Loews, Lindsey established himself as a preeminent leader in the luxury hospitality industry. Additionally, Lindsey spent seven years with The Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa in Tucson as its Director of Sales and Marketing, where he increased room revenue by $3 million in less than three years. He has also held senior and sales management positions with Hilton, Hyatt, and The San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The Arizona Biltmore, A Waldorf Astoria Resort (www.arizonabiltmore.com) has named veteran hospitality executive Michael R. McMahon the director of sales and marketing of the historic property, announced General Manager David Kirken. McMahon comes to the Arizona Biltmore with nearly 30 years of hospitality experience in senior management, sales and marketing positions, with almost half of his career with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. Most recently, he was with Revelation Consultancy, a global business-consulting firm based in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, where he was senior advisor - resorts and clubs. Previous positions include general manager, The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, Marana, Arizona; general manager, The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, and director of sales and marketing, The Ritz-Carlton Resorts of Naples, Naples Florida; and area director of sales and marketing, Boca Resorts, Naples, Florida.
Over his 24-year career, he has cooked in the kitchens of Michelin-starred restaurants in Europe and served as executive chef at leading hotels and resorts in the U.S. and Caribbean. He comes to the Arizona Biltmore from the PGA National Resort & Spa, Palm Beach, Florida, where he was executive chef overseeing 10 food and beverage outlets and was involved in the design and concept development of two of the restaurants.
Royal Palms Resort and Spa, Phoenix’s historic luxury resort, is pleased to announce Todd Sicolo as Executive Chef. A veteran food and beverage executive with extensive luxury hotel experience, Chef Sicolo graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in Hype Park, New York, and boasts nearly 25 years of widespread culinary experience. Most recently, Chef Sicolo served as Executive Chef of the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa over the past five years. Prior to this, he honed his culinary skills as Executive Sous Chef at Boca Raton Resort & Spa in Boca Raton, Florida. Chef Sicolo has also served as Executive Chef at other notable luxury properties including Little Dix Bar, A Rosewood Resort in the British Virgin Islands and La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California.
Ehmann brings a wealth of experience to his new role. Most recently, Ehmann served as general manager for Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel where he oversaw its successful conversion from an Adam’s Mark Hotel. Prior to that, he was Area Managing Director for Starwood’s Southeast Region, supervising and supporting 12 properties across multiple brands within Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. A team member of Starwood Hotels and Resorts for more than 30 years, Ehmann is accustomed to delivering the highest levels of customer service and hotel management. His industry background includes management roles with The Westin Galleria in Dallas and the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Ehmann’s early Starwood career was highlighted by more than three years at The Westin La Paloma where he held a variety of positions, including Director of Rooms.
Iacono was previously the director of operations for the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel, just a few blocks away. Iacono has been with Starwood for about five years and has more than 20 years of hotel management experience. As general manager he will focus on increasing occupancy and revenues at the Westin. Iacono added that the previous GM Debra Barton left the hotel in good shape. Barton moved on to a new position at another Starwood hotel.