Alastair McAlpine, General Manager, Four Seasons Resorts Lanai, has announced the appointment of Avi Phookan as Resort Manager, where he will lead the day-to-day operations at the Resort, along with overseeing rooms, spa, food and beverage and engineering.
Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort - an iconic resort nestled on 40 acres of lush, tropical gardens fronting Maui's Wailea Beach - is pleased to announce the promotion of seasoned hospitality leader Jillian Stevens to the role of Director of Meetings and Special Events. Stevens will oversee the strategic business planning for the Meetings and Events department at the resort.
Candy joined Montage Kapalua Bay from Lanai after spending the past three years as director of spa at Hawanawana Spa at Four Seasons Resort Lanai. Along with growing and mentoring the resort's spa and wellness team while staying on top of industry trends, she was intimately involved in the refinement and implementation of new product lines and services.
In his new role, Petard, a third-generation chef with a deep passion for culinary excellence, will oversee culinary operations, development and programming for 'Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach. Prior to joining 'Alohilani Resort, Petard served as executive chef for BLT Steak Waikiki. For the past 30 years, he has worked in all facets of cooking and management in restaurants across France, England and New York City. During his time in Manhattan, Petard worked in esteemed restaurants including Jean-Georges, Brasserie Les Halles and Brasserie Beaubourg.
Heu has over 28 years of experience in the hospitality industry. In his new role, he will oversee Highgate Hawaii food and beverage strategies as well as all restaurant operations for 'Alohilani Resort. Prior, Heu served as the director of operations for Morimoto Management, where he managed operations for internationally acclaimed Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto's two restaurants within 'Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach, Morimoto Asia and Momosan. Throughout his career, Heu has worked in major restaurants and casinos such as Caesars Palace, Aria Resort & Casino, Cosmopolitan, the Rio Hotel and Resort and MGM Grand Casino.
Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort - an iconic resort nestled on 40 acres of lush, tropical gardens fronting Maui's Wailea Beach - is pleased to announce the appointment of seasoned chef Ryan Fox to the role of Executive Chef of Grand Wailea's signature restaurant Humuhumunukunukuapua'a.
Courtyard King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel today announced the appointment of Edward Braunlich to the role general manager of the destination-defining hotel, located on the historical site where King Kamehameha the Great, first king of Hawaii, once lived, and set on 13 idyllic beachfront acres. As a seasoned professional with more than 35 years of domestic and international hotel and resort experience, Braunlich's new role marks his formal return to the Hawaii Island, after having most recently served as the hotel's interim general manager. With one of his first hotel roles at Hyatt Regency Waikoloa (now Hilton Waikoloa Village), here, Braunlich first developed his passion for hospitality and Hawaiian culture.
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts is delighted to announce the appointment of Sandra Estornell as managing director of Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort, the iconic retreat on the Big Island's Kona Coast of Hawai'i, set to once again open its doors in 2023. Sandra brings extensive experience in the luxury hospitality space to her new role, which will be key for positioning Rosewood's first property in the coveted destination as the brand continues to expand its footprint in the United States.
Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort - an iconic resort nestled on 40 acres of lush, tropical gardens fronting Maui's Wailea Beach - is pleased to announce the appointment of seasoned hospitality leader, Wendle Lesher to the role of Hotel Manager. Lesher will lead the team overseeing all hotel operations at the resort.
Destination Residences Hawaiʻi announces the appointment of Davide Barnes as director of operations for The Lodge at Kukuiʻula, an oceanfront luxury resort nestled within the exclusive 1,010- acre Kukuiʻula community on the southern shores of Kauaʻi. Barnes is responsible for the successful daily operations of the guest experience, housekeeping and maintenance departments, and cultivatin g owners' relations and acquisitions.
The Laylow, Autograph Collection is pleased to announce the appointment of Fuchsia Yamashiro as the General Manager of Hideout at The Laylow, an award-winning restaurant that's loved by locals and visitors alike. Born and raised in Kaneohe, Yamashiro previously served as the restaurant manager of Hideout. She brings 12 years of restaurant and hospitality management experience to her new role. Yamashiro began her hospitality career as the Catering Coordinator and Restaurant Supervisor at the Tahiti Village in Las Vegas in 2010.
Shauna Nakamura has been appointed area director of leisure and transient sales for Highgate Hawaii.
Courtney Conching has been named director of sales at 'Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach and area director of group sales for Highgate Hawaii.
Most recently, Kass served as general manager of the San Francisco Marriott Marquis, where he oversaw a $140 million hotel refurbishment. In 2019, he achieved the highest revenue producing year in the hotel's 30-year history. Kass has also served as a director of sales & marketing at various properties. He opened Tucson's first luxury resort, Starr Pass Resort & Spa, and went on to lead successful sales teams at San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa. He then became a hotel manager at The Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain. As hotel manager the resort was awarded the Forbes Five-Star Award, only the 3rd Ritz Carlton Hotel in North America to be so recognized. Kass' first stint in Hawaii was in 2011 when he served as hotel manager of The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua before being promoted to general manager.
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai announces the promotion of Charlie Parker to Regional Vice President and General Manager. A skilled leader whose global career with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts spans 26 years, Parker brings a breadth of luxury hospitality experience and knowledge to his new role, which maintains his responsibilities at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai and will also oversee operations at Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea.
Hōkūala, an expansive 450-acre resort community currently being developed by Timbers Resorts, has welcomed seasoned hospitality and real estate professional, Carrie Bligh, as its Operations Director. In this recently established role, Bligh oversees operations across the entire Hōkūala masterplanned community, from its impressive array of amenities to its signature five-star hospitality and residential development, Timbers Kaua΄i at Hōkūala. The creation of this role, and Bligh's strategic appointment, aligns with Timbers forthcoming plans to announce the second phase of its Hōkūala masterplan.
At Sensei Lāna'i, A Four Seasons Resort, Catherine Phillips is the new Retreat Director bringing more than 25 years of luxury and wellness experience to the property. Phillips has managed luxury operations for large-scale hotel groups including Marriott International and its Ritz-Carlton brand, as well as various independent hoteliers in California, England and the Caribbean. Phillips holds qualifications in hospitality management, holistic health, meditation, massage therapy, cosmetology and aesthetics, including luxury skincare training in Switzerland. Having grown up visiting family on Moloka'i, Phillips has a strong tie to the Hawaiian islands offering a unique perspective that is pertinent to leading the retreat on Lāna'i. In her free time, Phillips regularly volunteers for community outreach programs, wellness initiatives and animal welfare.
Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort - an iconic resort nestled on 40 acres of lush, tropical gardens fronting Maui's Wailea Beach - is pleased to announce the appointment of Nathan Decker to the role of Director of National Accounts. Decker will direct west coast group sales initiatives for the resort.
Robert Ishihara has been promoted to general manager at Kings' Land, a role in which he will also oversee nearby resorts Kohala Suites and The Bay Club. During Ishihara's previous tenure as general manager of Hokulani Waikiki by Hilton Grand Vacations, the resort received numerous accolades including Outrigger's Hospitality Award (2018), Hawaii Green Business Recognition (2018, 2020) and HGV's coveted Connie Award (2017).
The Laylow, Autograph Collection is pleased to announce the appointment of Benjamin Buckley as assistant general manager.Buckley previously served as the general manager of Hideout, the hotel's signature restaurant that's loved by locals and visitors alike. He brings 10 years of hospitality and restaurant management experience to his new role.Under Buckley's leadership, Hideout has won accolades such as "Best Place to Pau Hana" and a silver Hale 'Aina award from Honolulu Magazine. Buckley is deeply rooted in the local food scene and advocates to incorporate locally-owned brands and fresh ingredients at Hideout.