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Todd Yamaoka has been named at Four Seasons Resort Lana‘i, The Lodge at Koele

Yamaoka, a 12-year veteran Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, has worked in management positions throughout North America. Todd makes the move to Hawaii from Four Seasons Hotel Austin, where he served as assistant director of rooms. Prior to Austin, Yamaoka was with Four Seasons Hotel Washington D.C. as assistant director of rooms and director of conference services. Todd’s first stint in the Islands came at Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, where he worked in catering and conference service management. Todd’s hospitality career began in 1998 at Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, where he worked in various hotel capacities. Yamaoka is a graduate of the University of Toronto, Victoria College where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in Commerce and Economics. He also completed the Japanese Program at the Japanese Language Institute in Tokyo. An avid golfer, Todd lives in Lana‘i City, and enjoys hiking, camping, fly fishing and travel.

Dietrich Chillous has been appointed as Food and Beverage Manager at Outrigger Reef on the Beach

Dietrich Chillous joins the Outrigger Reef on the Beach in the newly-created position of food and beverage manager. As such, he is responsible for the hotel’s overall food & beverage operations including the day to day food and bar operations at Kani Ka Pila Grille, as well as the hotel’s room service, catering, banquet functions and special events operations. Chillous is no stranger to Outrigger having worked as a banquet captain for the former Outrigger Prince Kuhio hotel in 1979. Other career highlights include food & beverage positions at the Waialae Country Club, Royal Hawaiian Cruises, Alana Waikiki Hotel, and Padovani’s Bistro & Wine Bar. In 1999, he returned to the then renamed Radisson Waikiki Prince Kuhio to serve as the banquet and beverage manager before becoming the food & beverage manager for the Honolulu Country Club, a position he most recently held prior to joining the Outrigger Reef on the Beach.

Harold Beltran has been appointed as Executive Chef at Outrigger Reef on the Beach

In his position, Harold Beltran is responsible for all food preparation, production and control for Kani Ka Pila Grille, the hotel’s banquet facilities, special events and room service operations. Chef Beltran is a 12-year food operation veteran having prepared a wide variety of unique appetizers, soups, entrees, sauces, specialty items and desserts. He is proficient in numerous cooking techniques and cuisines with talent for working with ingredients from various countries around the world. Prior to joining Outrigger, Chef Beltran held key positions at several award winning restaurants in Honolulu including Ryan’s Grill and Palomino Euro Bistro. Most recently, he was the executive chef for BluWater Grill, an upscale Pacific Rim cuisine restaurant. Chef Beltran received his education and certification from Kapiolani Health System Food Service. He is also a very active member of the community providing services through various charities such as Hawaii Kai Retirement Community, Adult Friends For Youth, Muscular Dystrophy Association, and March of Dimes just to name a few.

Kelly Lewis has been appointed as General Manager at Makena Beach & Golf Resort

Kelly Lewis brings two decades of senior-level expertise in hotel operations and food & beverage to his new position at Makena Beach & Golf Resort. This includes significant international and off-shore experience. Mr. Lewis was previously general manager of The Hotel Victor, a luxury boutique property located in Miami’s South Beach, where he was successful in growing revenues and profitability while reducing costs. He also served as general manager for The Grove Isle Hotel & Spa, a condo-hotel property located in Miami. Prior to this, Kelly Lewis held the title of general manager for The Carefree Resort and Villas, located in Carefree, Arizona. He served in the same role for Daufuskie Island Resort & Breathe Spa of Hilton Head, South Carolina. He was initially hired at the resort as director of resort operations. Mr. Lewis gained international experience serving as hotel manager for the Shangri-La Golden Sands Resort of Batu Feringgi Beach, Batu Ferringhi, Pulau Penang, Malaysia. He also previously held the title of resident manager for the Half Moon Golf, Tennis and Beach Club of Montego Bay, Jamaica; and as director of food & beverage for Pacific Islands Club Resort, Saipan, Southeast Asia. He served as director of food & beverage and executive assistant manager for Princess Hotel in Hamilton, Bermuda. Earlier in his career, Mr. Lewis held positions of increasing responsibility within the hospitality industry, including as acting food & beverage director for the Hyatt Regency Maui, located in Lahaina. Kelly Lewis is a hotelier and leader who has helped his properties garner top awards of excellence, including the Conde Nast Top Hotel award, Top 50 Small Resorts by Zagats Hotel Guide, Top Performing Hotel 2007 award, and Miami’s Most Romantic Restaurant by Gourmet magazine. He attended the University of Arizona and resides on Maui with his family.

Gary Rohanna has been named Director of Operations at Aqua Hotels & Resorts

In his current role, Rohanna will oversee all guest service and operations functions. Prior to moving to Hawaii, Rohanna was General Manager of Loews Beverly Hills Hotel. He began his career with Loews more than fourteen years ago working in various capacities at several properties including the Loews Annapolis Hotel, Loews Coronado Bay Resort, the Metropolitan Hotel and, Loews’ flagship, the Regency in New York City. Throughout his hospitality career, Rohanna’s role was significant to the development and implementation of programs that enhance key points of service. Rohanna received his B.S. from University of Maryland. Aqua Hotels & Resorts is a management company founded in 2001 by Hawaii hotelier Mike Paulin. The company provides independent hoteliers and individual owners with full-service administration including revenue management, Internet distribution, sales, reservations, as well as individualized and brand advertising and marketing for maximum profitability.

Tom Cross has been promoted to Resort Manager at Turtle Bay Resort

A hospitality veteran, Tom Cross was previously the highly effective director of operations for Turtle Bay Resort. He joined the north shore property and Benchmark Hospitality International in 2005 as director of conference services and food & beverage, following a decade of leadership experience at other Hawaiian resorts. This included serving as director of food and beverage for Kona Village Resort, an exclusive property of individual bungalows on the Big Island of Hawaii. Prior to this, he held the same position at the Hawaiian Regent Hotel on Oahu, one of Hawaii’s largest hotels. Mr. Cross attended the Kansai Gaidai University in Hirakata Shi, Japan, and the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, earning a degree in Non-western Cultures. He graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science degree in International Relations. In keeping with Benchmark Hospitality International's "Hometown Hospitality" initiative, Mr. Cross serves on the Board of Directors for the Ko'olauloa Educational Alliance Corporation, a local non-profit organization that benefits schools near Turtle Bay Resort. He resides in Hawaii Kai on Oahu.

Scott Ingwers has been named Director at Trump International Hotel & Tower Waikiki Beach Walk

Scott will be responsible for all aspects of this luxury hotel. Ingwers has more than 20 years of luxury resort management experience and was most recently Hotel Manager of The Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui, one of Fairmont’s flagship resort properties. Prior to his role at The Fairmont Kea Lani, Ingwers held the position of General Manager at the Maui Prince Hotel and Makena Golf Courses. His career includes leadership roles with Hyatt and Renaissance Hotels, as well as Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas. The hotel opening is anticipated for late 2009.

Roy Cordeiro has been named Director of Sales & Marketing at Courtyard by Marriot Waikiki Beach

In his new position, Cordeiro is responsible for all sales and marketing initiatives at The Wyland Waikiki, with a top priority being the transition to the Courtyard by Marriott brand. Cordeiro, a hotel veteran with over thirty years in hospitality sales and marketing, is no stranger to the Marriot brand having previously held the position of director of sales and marketing for the Wailea Marriott, formerly the Outrigger Wailea Resort in 2001. In 2004, Cordeiro moved to Oahu to become the director of sales and marketing for Outrigger’s beachfront properties, which includes the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach, Outrigger Reef on the Beach, and the Keauhou Beach Resort on Hawaii’s Big Island.

Janelle Cram has been appointed as Director of Sales and Marketing at Hilton Waikiki Prince Kuhio

Janelle Cram will lead the sales and marketing team, as well as develop and implement targeted sales and marketing strategies. In addition to identifying and creating marketing opportunities, Cram will examine and coordinate direct marketing efforts to include new market development and community outreach. Cram brings to the team a dynamic blend of accomplishments and talents that includes transitioning brands, repositioning hotels, increasing market share, public relations, e-commerce promotions, staff training and successful team building.

Guy Bittner has been appointed as Director of Operations at Fairmont Orchid

Mr. Bittner joins The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii from The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise where he held the position of Director of Food and Beverage. At The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Bittner was responsible for the repositioning of restaurants and implemented regional initiatives to enhance food and beverage operations. A graduate of Ben-Gurion University in Israel, Mr. Bittner also held the positions of Head of Military Clinic-Field Unit and Purchasing Officer-Captain in the Israel Defence Forces from 1994-1997. Mr. Bittner also holds a Master’s Degree in Hospitality Management from the University of Birmingham in the UK. Bittner’s background includes stints at The Fairmont Winnipeg as Director of Food and Beverage as well as the David Citadel Hotel in Jerusalem.