The Essex, Vermont’s Culinary Resort and Spa, today announced the appointment of Nicholas Barger as general manager. In this position, Barger is responsible for providing leadership, strategic direction and vision to strengthen and expand the culinary positioning of the resort, as well as overseeing operational and asset management.
MetWest Terra Hospitality Group appointed seasoned hospitality professional Stephanie Mehail to the position of General Manager at Topnotch Resort. Mehail will be responsible for overseeing all operations at the 68-room boutique luxury resort in Stowe, Vermont, fresh off of a renovation and property enhancement of over $15M. She joins Topnotch following two and a half years as General Manager of The Inn at Perry Cabin in St. Michaels, Maryland, overseeing all aspects of the AAA 4 Diamond luxury inn and spa which was ranked by Condé Nast Traveler as the #1 Top Hotel in the Mid-Atlantic region for 2013.Mehail began her career in the hospitality industry in 1993, and since has held positions of increasing responsibility with groups including Orient Express, Langham Hotel Group and Wyndham International, serving as Director of Food and Beverage, Hotel Manager, and General Manager in hotels around the world.
Canning, President of Westport Hospitality, LLC based in Burlington, announced the appointment of Hans van Wees as General Manager of the NEW Hotel Vermont. When the contemporary, LEED-certified hotel begins welcoming guests in Spring 2013, van Wees will be responsible for managing the hotel including all operations, sales and marketing and overseeing food and beverage. A seasoned hospitality professional with extensive Vermont hotel experience, van Wees arrives at Hotel Vermont following senior leadership roles at hotels across New England, Europe and the Caribbean. Trained as an officer in the Dutch army, he launched his career in the Netherlands with Sonesta International Hotels and Resorts before transferring to Bermuda as Resident Manager of in various senior management positions at the 400-room Sonesta Beach Resort and Spa. Van Wees then moved to the U.S. as General Manager of the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont. He also provided consulting services to a variety of businesses throughout New England, including Jay Peak Resort in Jay, Vermont, where he led the opening of the boutique Tram Haus Lodge - a key component of the resort's $200 million expansion.
Topnotch Resort & Spa in Stowe, Vermont has announced the appointment of Erik Dombroski as Director of Sales. A seasoned hospitality sales professional with success at MetWest Terra Hospitality hotels in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Dombroski will be responsible for leading group and leisure sales efforts and creating innovative strategies to drawbusiness and attention to the award-winning Green Mountain property.Dombroski joined Topnotch Resort and Spa after spending three years at MetWest Terra Hospitality effectively against other traditional western lodges in the region. With Dombroski's strong resort and sales background, he was promoted to his new position in Vermont hotels in Wyoming. There, his strong sales efforts were instrumental in introducing the eco-friendly Hotel Terra Jackson Hole to the marketplace and helping Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa compete effectively against other traditional western lodges in the region. With Dombroski's strong resort and sales background, he was promoted to his new position in Vermont.
The Hilton Burlington Hotel announced today that Mari Breen Palace has been named director of sales and marketing. In her new role, she is responsible for leading the day-to-day sales and marketing initiatives for the 258-room hotel. Palace most recently served as group sales manager for the Sheraton Providence Hotel in Rhode Island. Prior to that she was general manager for the Residence Inn by Marriott in Shelton, Ct. Her extensive hospitality career includes director of sales and general manager positions for a number of hotels in Rhode Island and Connecticut. In 2008, Palace served as pre-opening director of sales and marketing for NYLO Hotel in Warwick, Rhode Island, responsible for all hotel opening sales and marketing initiatives.
Mark Hickey, senior vice president of operations for Destination Hotels & Resorts announced Heinrich von Puschendorf as director of operations at Stowe Mountain Lodge, effective December 2010. With more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry von Puschendorf will be responsible for the operation of the 312 Stowe Mountain Lodge, all food and beverage outlets, front office and concierge services. Von Puschendorf brings more than two decades of industry expertise to Stowe Mountain Lodge with background managing boutique hotels to private clubs to sprawling 400-room resorts, including a cumulative of eight years at other Destination Hotels & Resorts properties in Colorado, New York and New Jersey. His most recent position with the company was director of operations at Tarrytown House Estate and Conference Center where he led operations during a $12 million property-wide restoration.
Topnotch Resort and Spa in Stowe, Vermont has announced the appointment of Aaron Black as General Manager. Bringing broad management experience earned at Four Seasons hotels across the country – including two AAA 5 Diamond properties – Black will oversee all operations, sales and marketing of the award-winning Green Mountain resort, which is now part of the Terra Resort Group.
Mr. Graef had been an employee of RockResorts when it was owned by Laurance S. Rockefeller, and successfully managed high-end resorts such as Caneel Bay and Little Dix Bay in the Caribbean and Kapalua Bay in Hawaii. He has lead many other international luxury resorts over the years, and has a record of establishing strong management teams and achieving favorable financial results while maintaining high customer satisfaction ratings. Gary L. Avigne, who ably acted as The Resort’s Chief Operating Officer during the search period for a new President and general Manager, will continue his involvement with The Resort as consultant and Asset Advisor.