Gold Key | PHR Hotels & Resorts, a rapidly growing hospitality company headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia, is pleased to announce that Kurt Krause has joined the company as the Managing Director of The Main in Norfolk, Virginia. The Main is a $126-million, mixed-use, entertainment, meeting, dining, hotel and conference center destination located in the heart of Downtown Norfolk at the corner of Main and Granby Streets.
Bringing over a decade of hospitality experience to this position, Levine returns to the luxury Eastern Shore resort, most recently from his role as the Director of Sales and Marketing at Hyatt Regency Sarasota, a AAA Four Diamond property in Sarasota, FL. former Associate Director of Sales at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay, Levine's familiarity with the property will serve as an advantage in helping to oversee its continued progress and development. Prior to Sarasota and Chesapeake Bay, Levine spent several years at Hyatt Regency O'Hare, IL, and Hyatt Regency New Orleans, LA.
Hyatt Regency Tysons Corner Center has named Daniel Amato, General Manager and Ray Messina, Director of Sales, Marketing and Catering, respectively. Hyatt Regency Tysons Corner Center, a new build hotel, is scheduled to debut in Winter 2015. Amato brings 37 years of experience with Hyatt to his new role at Hyatt Regency Tysons Corner Center, having started his career as a Hyatt Corporate Management Trainee at The Lincolnwood Hyatt House. Among his moves across the country, Amato was part of the opening teams for Grand Hyatt New York, Hyatt Regency Bethesda, Hyatt Regency Columbus, and was the opening General Manager for Hyatt Regency Reston, where he served in that role for 10 years. Amato was also General Manager at Hyatt Regency West Houston and Hyatt Regency Lake Las Vegas. During his time at Grand Hyatt Washington, Amato was integral to the hotel’s success, including overseeing a multi-million dollar renovation. Amato was named General Manager of the Year for Hyatt’s large room category in 2008, and Washington D.C Hotelier of the Year in the same year. Amato also served as the Chairman of Destination D.C., the Convention Bureau of Washington, D.C.
Hyatt Regency Tysons Corner Center has named Ray Messina, Director of Sales, Marketing and Catering. Hyatt Regency Tysons Corner Center, a new build hotel, is scheduled to debut in Winter 2015. Ray Messina started his career with Hyatt in 2000 as an Associate Director of Sales for both Hyatt Dulles and Hyatt Fair Lakes hotels. From 2001-2004, Messina was the Director of Sales for Hyatt Fair Lakes and in 2003, he received the Director of Sales of the Year award for Hyatt’s small room category. Later in 2004, Messina moved to Hyatt Regency Reston where he has since served as the property’s Director of Sales and Marketing. In this role, Messina was nominated in 2009 for Director of Sales of the Year for Hyatt’s mid-size room category.
Tony Goebel has been named as the general manager of the Richmond Marriott Downtown. Goebel started his hospitality career more than 35 years ago and served in roles including director of catering at the New Orleans Marriott Canal Street and the director of catering, the director of convention sales, director of event management and director of rooms operations at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis. He served as the director of food and beverage at the Memphis Marriott Downtown for a year before he was promoted to general manager at the same hotel where he served for six additional years.
Kearney arrived at the historic Allegheny Mountain address from Pinehurst Resort, where he was director of group sales. With a career spanning 18 years, Kearney became well acquainted with The Omni Homestead Resort serving alongside the resort's sales team while it was under ClubCorp ownership.
As Digital Marketing Manager, James Buck focuses his expertise in online marketing and social media to achieve strong visible online presences and promote the success of The Grove Park Inn and The Homestead.
As Director of Leisure and Travel Industry Sales, Donna Smith oversees industry-specific sales and marketing efforts for the two resorts, working closely with wholesales tour operators, retail travel agents and consortiums such as Virtuoso, Signature, Ensemble and American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts.
Today Digital Alchemy, the pioneer of customer relationship management and e-marketing solutions for the global hospitality market, announced that Don Hay, Chief Executive Officer, has been named to the 2013 Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Americas Region Board of Directors. Hay has been an active member of HSMAI since becoming involved with the hospitality industry in 1992. Hay’s unique background that combines over 20 years of hospitality industry experience with 35 years of technical expertise will contribute an innovative vision and strategic direction to the HSMAI board. As Founder and CEO of Digital Alchemy, Hay has used that same vision to develop the comprehensive suite of integrated e-mail CRM offerings and mobile apps which have helped the company establish a reputation as the leader in hospitality CRM solutions.
Blake arrived at Lansdowne after serving the last two and a half years as the director of food and beverage at fellow Destination Hotels & Resorts property, Wild Dunes Resort, in Charleston, SC. Possessing extensive career experience in the hospitality industry, Blake has fulfilled similar roles at the Boar’s Head Inn in Charlottesville, VA; the Fairmont Hotel and the Monarch Hotel in Washington, DC; and as an executive chef with ANA Hotels, also in Washington, DC. Blake attended Northern Virginia Community College and also earned certifications from the Darden School of Business for service excellence and from Cornell University for strategic hospitality management. Blake is also a certified sommelier. He started his new position on September 10.
Mr. McClinton has been with Marriott International for 24 years and was most recently the general manager of the Crystal City Marriott at Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC. In that position he was given the General Manager of the Year Award for impressive financial results and guest satisfaction improvement. Mr. McClinton began his career with Marriott as a student intern in Housekeeping at the Marco Island Marriott Resort and has since worked at various Marriott properties throughout Florida and Maryland. He is a graduate of Mercyhurst College in Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts in Hotel and Restaurant Management.
DoubleTree by Hilton today announced that Kieran Donahue has been named vice president of global brand marketing. In her new role, Donahue will be responsible for the development of long term global market share growth strategies and overall brand marketing initiatives. Her priorities will include a focus on enhancing owner return on investment by further leveraging the resources of the Hilton Worldwide enterprise and developing tools and resources that hotels can implement in-market, ensuring the brand is well positioned for the rapid global growth it continues to enjoy.
Crestline Hotels & Resorts, Inc. today announced the appointment of Douglas E. Wolfe, C.H.A. as General Manager for the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Virginia Beach Oceanfront. The 144 guestroom select service hotel, comprised of 18 2-bay suites and 126 guest rooms, is located oceanfront at 2607 Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach. The property recently completed a major renovation and rebranding to incorporate the standards of the Holiday Inn Express brand.
Williams joins Lansdowne Resort after serving as the Managing Director at Innisbrook Resort near Tampa, Fla. The resort is owned by LaSalle Hotel Properties and managed by Destination Hotels & Resorts. Williams assumed his new role on May 8. Prior to joining Lansdowne Resort, Williams enjoyed successful stints in executive management roles at various destinations including Amelia Island Plantation; The Woodlands Conference Center, Resort and Country Club in Texas; and Wintergreen Resort in Virginia. He has also served as the General Manager at Williamsburg Lodge in Colonial Williamsburg where he also oversaw Golden Horseshoe Golf Club in Virginia.
Mr. Fournier rejoins Crestline Hotels & Resorts from Remington Hotels where he was the General Manager at the Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village, Princeton, NJ. He brings more than 20 years of hospitality industry management experience to The Mason Inn having also served in executive positions with Radisson, Weingardner Hammons, and Hyatt Hotels & Resorts. Mr. Fournier holds a B.A. from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI and is a certified 6 Sigma Champion. He was also an Adjunct Instructor for Keystone Community College and Mercer County Community College, as well as a Board Advisor for the Greater Princeton Convention and Visitors Bureau.
HEI Hotels & Resorts (HEI), a socially responsible investor and employer in the hospitality industry, today announced that the company has purchased the 154-room hotel in the Rosslyn submarket of Arlington, Virginia, for an undisclosed amount. Effective today, the hotel will become Le Meridien Arlington, offering all the benefits of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, including Starwood Preferred Guest, the company's award-winning loyalty program. The hotel is the eleventh acquisition by HEI's Fund III and is the 43rd hotel in the company's portfolio. Hospitality veteran Jon Coleman has been appointed general manager of Le Meridien Arlington. New to HEI, Jon was recently a general manager with Island Hospitality managing the Sheraton Rockville in Maryland. Prior to that position, Jon spent ten years with Starwood Hotels & Resorts, his last position as a corporate director in the corporate headquarters.
Sal Dickinson, the Founder and Chief Executive of FloridaVacationAuction.com, has been named as one of the "Top 25 Minds in Hospitality Sales & Marketing." The annual list recognizes the "best of the best" in the hospitality, travel and tourism industries. According to Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHBA, president and CEO of HSMAI, "These professionals have succeeded in growing business for their own organizations and have continued to inspire and raise the bar for the rest of the hospitality industry." According to HSMAI, the 2011 "Top 25" recipients were judged by a panel of senior industry executives for their recent work based on the following criteria: creativity and innovation; cutting edge sales or marketing campaigns; triumph in challenging situations; and sales efforts that resulted in dramatic gains.
Rudd Davis has been named to the newly created position of president of USA TODAY Travel Media Group. Davis will direct the overall strategy and implementation of business tactics with USA TODAY's travel partners, offering the on-the-go audience a broader array of information, products and services as USA TODAY diversifies its business focus. He will be based in Los Angeles. The announcement was made today by USA TODAY executive vice president and general manager Susie Ellwood. Davis joined USA TODAY in August 2010 as vice president of business development. In that role, he led the department responsible for business innovation, developing and securing new business opportunities and strategic partnerships including brand licensing, content syndication, acquisitions and joint ventures as well as USA TODAY's retail, hotel and education-based partnerships.
Barceló Hotels & Resorts, a leading global hotelier with more than 80 years in the industry, appoints Alejandro Peralta to sales manager for the southeast region. Based in Miami, Peralta will be responsible for the sales and promotion of Barceló Latin American resorts to consumers and travel industry partners in the southeastern United States.
Benchmark Hospitality International, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company, has named Michael van Emmenes director of food and beverage for Lansdowne Resort, the landmark property located adjacent to Leesburg, Virginia, near Washington, DC. David Kohlasch, Benchmark’s general manager at the resort, made the announcement. Michael van Emmenes was most recently assistant director of food & beverage for Hilton Hotels & Resorts, serving at the company’s Orlando property. Prior to this appointment he was assistant director of food and beverage for the landmark Palmer House hotel in Chicago.