BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has named Jay Sheldon general manager for The Equinox Golf Resort & Spa, a Gemstone Collection property located in Manchester Village, Vermont. Greg Champion, Benchmark's president & COO, made the announcement.
The Palmer House Resort and The Valley Inn have recently joined Choice Hotels International, Inc.'s (NYSE: CHH) Ascend Hotel Collection, a global portfolio of resort, boutique and historic hotels. Located in New Hampshire and Vermont, these hotels are ideally suited for travelers looking to take advantage of the fall season to explore the outdoors and escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Each hotel, surrounded by mountain and forest views, exemplifies the unique stay experience that Ascend hotels offer and that leisure travelers desire.
BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has named Jamie Costa spa director for The Essex, Vermont's Culinary Resort & Spa and a Gemstone Collection property, located in Essex, Vermont.
Most recently, James Massey was the Executive Chef and Owner of the Field and Cellar, a noted fine dining restaurant in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. He earlier served as Executive Chef at the legendary Canyon Ranch Resort in Lenox, Massachusetts.Mr. Massey's distinguished culinary background spans restaurant kitchens in Arizona, Massachusetts and Ohio, managing a range of food and beverage operations including menu development, restaurant design and banqueting. He has held executive chef and senior management positions within the culinary departments of several prominent hospitality brands, including Marriott, Hilton, Starwood, Wyndham and Canyon Ranch, serving at both the Lenox and Tucson locations.With this exceptional background, James Massey brings a strong farm-to-table sensibility, in-depth knowledge of regional ingredients, a kinship with Native American culinary techniques as well as a cosmopolitan flair to his new position at The Essex. He holds a degree in Business Administration and Management from the University of Arizona. Massey is relocating to the Essex area.
Cambria Hotels will be expanding to Vermont, following Choice Hotels International, Inc.'s (NYSE: CHH) agreement with Hospitality Funding Inc. and TQP Capital Partners to develop a 142-room hotel, slated to open in 2021.
BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has named Ron Droegmyer general manager for The Essex - Vermont's Culinary Resort & Spa, a Gemstone Collection property located in Essex, Vermont. Greg Champion, BENCHMARK's president and COO, made the announcement.
Shayd Pecor comes to The Essex with 30 years of exemplary industry experience important to the resort. He was previously facilities and manufacturing supervisor for Hearthstone Stoves of Morrisville, Vermont. Prior to this he held the position of facilities maintenance manager for Green Mountain Coffee Roasters of Waterbury, Vermont. Earlier in his career Mr. Pecor served in positions of increasing responsibility within facilities and production for companies in New York and Vermont. He resides in Montpelier, Vermont.
Newly renovated The Equinox, a Luxury Collection Golf Resort and Spa, announces the appointment of Martin Rosenthal as General Manager of the 147-room luxury resort. The luxury hotelier brings more than a decade of experience and sophisticated knowledge of the Vermont market to his new role as General Manager for the destination resort.
BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has named Lloyd Van Horn general manager of Topnotch Resort, a Gemstone Collection property located in Stowe, Vermont. This represents a return to the resort for Mr. Van Horn, who served as resort manager from 2006-2009. Cedric Fasbender, Benchmark's vice president of operations, made the announcement.
The Copper Grouse, a comfort-driven tavern located in the Kimpton Taconic Hotel, has appointed Michael Bates-Walsh as its new executive chef. Chef Michael will continue to expand the menu with local flair at the contemporary, yet elegant restaurant, situated in the picturesque Vermont town.
BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has appointed Caleb Lara executive chef for The Essex - Vermont’s Culinary Resort & Spa, a Gemstone Collection property located minutes from downtown Burlington in the foothills of the legendary Green Mountains. Nic Barger, general manager, made the announcement. Caleb Lara brings over a decade of culinary experience to his new position at The Essex. He was previously chef de cuisine for the Chatham Bars Inn in Chatham, Massachusetts. Prior to this he served as executive chef for the Kemble Inn of Lenox, Massachusetts. Earlier in his career chef Lara worked under the leadership of Certified Master Chef Derin Moore at the Ritz Carlton Resorts of Naples, Florida. He gained experience staging in New York City at the Michelin Star-rated restaurants Le Bernardin and The Modern. Caleb also completed professional chef certification under the mentorship of Certified Master Chef Dan Dumont. Mr. Lara is a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park, New York. He developed his love of the culinary arts while growing up in San Diego, California. He has relocated to Essex, Vermont.
BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has named Rebecca Lamson director of human resources for The Essex – a Culinary Resort & Spa, a Gemstone Collection property located minutes from downtown Burlington in the foothills of the legendary Green Mountains. Nic Barger, general manager, made the announcement.
Prior to rejoining the Kimpton team, Stock held management positions at well-known hotels including The Ritz-Carlton Phoenix, The Roosevelt Hotel, Kimpton Muse Hotel, Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix and opened The Saguaro Scottsdale for Commune Hotels + Resorts and boutique independent hotel FOUND:RE Phoenix. Stock was also a long-time board member of the Global Business Travel Association Arizona Chapter, where he served as President from 2014 until 2016, a GBTA member and a OneCommunity member. In 2010, Stock won the Golden Circle Achievement Award for his successful work in transient sales with the Ritz-Carlton and in 2012 he received the Joie de Vivre Hotels Rising Star Award.
BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has named Jean Marie Napoliello director of food and beverage for Topnotch Resort, a Gemstone Collection property located in Stowe, Vermont. Robert Burnetti, general manager, made the announcement. Jean Marie Napoliello was most recently food and beverage manager for the Hilton Garden Inn, located in Burlington, Vermont. Previous to this, she served in the same position for Smuggler’s Notch Resort of Jeffersonville, Vermont. Exercising her entrepreneurial talents, Ms. Napoliello owned and served as general manager of the Vermont Supper Club, a restaurant she created, opened and operated in Hardwick, Vermont. She attended Hampshire College of Amherst, Massachusetts, and Elizabethtown College, located in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. Ms. Napoliello is relocating to Stowe.
BENCHMARK, a global hospitality company, has named Robert Burnetti general manager of Topnotch Resort, a Gemstone Collection property located in Stowe, Vermont. Greg Champion, BENCHMARK’s president, made the announcement.Robert Burnetti comes to his new position with over three decades of senior leadership experience. He was previously general manager of the Hotel Viking, located in Newport, Rhode Island. Prior to this he served in the position of area general manager for TPG Hospitality.
BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has appointed Henry Wallace director of food & beverage for The Essex - Vermont’s Culinary Resort & Spa, a Gemstone Collection property located minutes from downtown Burlington in the foothills of the legendary Green Mountains. Nic Barger, general manager, made the announcement.
Eurowest Inns, Inc., owners of The Essex - Vermont"s Culinary Resort & Spa, have announced a multi-million dollar renovation program that will bring new levels of comfort, innovation and culinary inspiration to the landmark property. The design concept, "All Things Culinary", is inspired by The Essex"s noted Cook Academy and its critically acclaimed restaurant, Junction, where a team of professional chefs bring the best of Vermont"s bounty to the tables of the resort. Robert Botjer, Chairman of Eurowest Inns, Inc., made the announcement.
The Copper Grouse, a comfort-driven tavern located within Kimpton Taconic Hotel, has appointed Vanessa Davis as its new executive chef. A Vermont native, Chef Davis will continue to expand the menu with a creative flair. Born and raised in Vermont, Executive Chef Vanessa Davis brings her Portuguese heritage to the restaurant, pulling inspiration from her mother. Chef Davis, previously from The Essex Resort and Spa and The Eagle Mountain House & Golf Club, will work alongside Dunne to curate a welcoming, dynamic atmosphere to enhance the restaurant’s offerings.
Ryan Krukar, general manager of Topnotch Resort & Spa, has announced that Devin Gleason has joined the team as the new director of sales and marketing for the award-winning resort. Gleason will work closely with Krukar to determine sales and marketing strategies and will lead all marketing and sales team efforts for Topnotch Resort & Spa.
Gemstone Hotel & Resorts, LLC. announces that Ryan Krukar has taken the helm as the new general manager of Topnotch Resort & Spa. In this position, Krukar will manage the resort operating teams, oversee all sales and marketing for the resort, as well as provide operational leadership for the 68-room luxury boutique resort. Krukar also will interface with the three other Gemstone New England properties and coordinate the resulting synergistic opportunities.