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Appointment

Balendra Nagesvaran has been named VP of Hotel Operations for North America at Sofitel Luxury Hotels

Sofitel Luxury Hotels has named Balendra Nagesvaran vice president of hotel operations for North America, where he will oversee operations for all of Accor’s luxury hotels in the United States and Canada. In his new role, he will also act as the general manager for the brand’s flagship Sofitel New York. Nagesvaran brings to his position more than 26 years of experience in international hotel operations and management. He was previously based in Miami, where he served concurrently as general manager of Sofitel Miami and area general manager with responsibilities overseeing Accor’s East Coast luxury hotels. Nagesvaran has been with Accor for over 23 years in locations as diverse as New York, Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Thailand, and Colombo and Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka. He spent his early career in Toronto, holding a variety of management positions at Westin, Sheraton and Hilton hotels from 1987 to 1990.

Accor
New York, New York, United States
Appointment

Mark VanStekelenburg has been promoted to senior vice president and New York City practice leader at PKF Consulting LLC

PKF Consulting, LLC (PKFC), a management consulting firm specializing in the hospitality industry, has announced the promotion of Mark VanStekelenburg to senior vice president and practice leader of the firm’s office in New York City. Mr. VanStekelenburg moves from the Los Angeles office of PKFC where he has been since 2004. While in the firm’s L.A. office, Mr. VanStekelenburg conducted and supervised numerous economic, financial, and operational analyses for hospitality and real estate related clients. VanStekelenburg graduated from the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science degree. Prior to joining PKFC in 2004, he held operational positions at the Palmera Plaza Grand Hotel in Spain and the Ritz-Carlton Lodge at Reynolds Plantation, Ga. He has held leadership positions with the Los Angeles chapter of Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals, the American Hotel & Lodging Association Gateway Council and the Los Angeles chapter of the Cornell Hotel Society. VanStekelenburg has spoken at a number of hotel industry conferences and events. VanStekelenburg replaces industry veteran John Fox who is retiring as the leader of the PKFC New York practice. Fox joined the New York office of Harris Kerr Forster (predecessor to PKFC) in 1971, and became a senior principal of Pannell Kerr Forster in 1982.

CBRE Hotels
New York, New York, United States
Appointment

Brian Cernik has been appointed as Director of Meeting and Event Management at The Sheraton New York Times Square

The Sheraton New York Times Square hotel has named Brian Cernik Director of Meeting and Event Management, charged with overseeing the hotel’s newly renovated 60,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event space. With more than 17 years of experience in the hotel industry, a hallmark of Brian’s style is bringing a personalized touch to each event, while creating seamless and memorable client experiences with the culinary, event management, banquet and sales teams.

Starwood
New York, New York, United States
Appointment

Matt Wheeler has been appointed as General Manager at High Peaks Resort

Spire Hospitality, one of the nation's leading and most respected hotel management companies, appoints Matthew Wheeler as general manager of High Peaks Resort. Responsible for consistent delivery of product quality and service, Wheeler brings more than 14 years of marketing experience and 10 years of operational knowledge in both the food and beverage and rooms divisions to the Spire Hospitality Team.

Spire
Lake Placid, New York, United States
Appointment

Rusty Middleton has been appointed as General Manager at Andaz Wall Street

The Andaz brand announced that two current Andaz general managers will switch roles. Jeffrey Miller, current general manager of Andaz Wall Street, will become the new general manager of Andaz San Diego while Rusty Middleton, currently Andaz San Diego's general manager will move to Andaz Wall Street to serve as general manager. While Miller heads West, Rusty Middleton heads East, bringing more than 21 years of Hyatt experience with him. Before opening Andaz San Diego in 2010, Middleton served as general manager of Hyatt Lodge at McDonald's Campus in Oak Brook, Ill. and held positions with the Hyatt Regency brand in San Francisco, Chicago, Denver and Knoxville. Under Middleton's leadership, Andaz San Diego recently acquired the AAA Four Diamond award and was voted best hotel in the Gaslamp Quarter by the Gaslamp Quarter Association.

Hyatt
New York, New York, United States
Appointment

Nadine Shelf has been named Spa Director at Trump SoHo New York

Shelf brings to The Spa at Trump SoHo more than 15 years of experience including her most recent position as general manager of The Peninsula Spa at The Peninsula New York. There, Shelf oversaw management of more than 135 employees while exceeding business growth in overall revenue by $7 million in services and an additional 30 percent increase in retail sales. Previously, Shelf managed the national spa team of more than 15 spas and 500 employees at The Spa at Equinox, where she once again surpassed revenue expectations by $5 million dollars. Throughout Shelf's career, she has successfully implemented new business initiatives, directed renovation projects and provided education and productivity analyses.

Trump
New York, New York, United States
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Appointment

Rachel Alcaro has been promoted to senior sales manager at Residence Inn/Courtyard by Marriott Syracuse Downtown at Armory Square

Alcaro previously was the director of sales at the 90-room Craftsman Inn and Conference Center, a Stickley-furnished, boutique-style suburban inn. While there, her direct sales efforts generated nearly 50 percent of the hotel's total room nights. Prior to joining that hotel, Alcaro was a convention sales manager for the Syracuse Convention and Visitors Bureau.

New Castle
Syracuse, New York, United States
Appointment

Joseph Gaeta has been appointed as Director of Sales and Marketing at InterContinental New York Barclay

A New York native and twenty-year hotel veteran, Joe is an experienced leader who believes in motivating and inspiring his team by example. He started his career in the hospitality industry in the late 1980's holding several hotel positions before directing sales and convention services at the New York Palace. He went on to become that hotel's Director of Sales, a position he held through 2008. Joe later became Director of Sales and Marketing at the Loews Regency, then the Area Director of Sales and Marketing for New York's Surrey and Benjamin Hotels in 2012. Within a year at Denihan hospitality, Joe was promoted to General Manager of the Benjamin Hotel in February 2013, directing the final touches of that hotel's renovation. Some of Joe projects have involved the re-vamping of hotel websites, doubling room revenue through the online vehicles. With a strong background in food and beverage, Joe was able to significantly lower costs by implementing measurements and staffing guidelines. "

IHG
New York, New York, United States
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Appointment

Jackie Carter has been appointed as Assistant Director of Sales at The Towers of the Waldorf Astoria New York

Jackie Carter began her hospitality career in the competitive management trainee program at Palmer House® A Hilton Hotel, with its unique exposure to each operational department. Before her promotion to Waldorf Astoria New York in 2011, she also spent time on teams at the Hilton Chicago, Palmer House A Hilton Hotel and Conrad Chicago with a focus on corporate group sales. She joined the sales team at Waldorf Astoria New York as a sales manager and has demonstrated superlative abilities in leisure and transient sales for the Towers. Jackie is a graduate of Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science in Hotel Administration.

Hilton
New York, New York, United States
Appointment

Jackie Collens has been appointed as Director of Sales at The Towers of the Waldorf Astoria New York

A member of the Waldorf Astoria New York since 2007, Jackie Collens holds experience in an array of hotel functions including meeting and banquet operations manager, rooms division manager, diplomatic events manager before transitioning to this position as director of leisure sales. Her extensive knowledge of the hotel's operations and customer base is a true advantage in her ability to successfully attract and engage clientele in the Towers sales process. Jackie is a graduate of The School of Hospitality Business in the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University. Her significant career achievements thus far include Michigan State University's Emerging Alumni of the Year (2011) and, a two-time recipient of Hilton Worldwide's Elite Circle of Excellence Award (2010 and 2011).

Hilton
New York, New York, United States
Appointment

Richard W. Hurd has been named Associate Director at Cornell Institute for Hospitality Labor and Employment Relations

Richard W. Hurd has been named associate director of the Cornell Institute for Hospitality Labor and Employment Relations (CIHLER) at the Cornell School of Hotel Administration. He will serve as a liaison between the School of Hotel Administration and the ILR School, creating opportunities for ILR faculty to get involved in the institute and facilitating partnerships with unions and other organizations that advocate for employees. In addition to his new role as CIHLER associate director, Hurd is associate dean for external relations and professor of labor studies at the ILR School. He is a leading specialist on trade union administration and strategy and on the unionization of professional workers. Hurd has published dozens of papers in books and professional journals, including several articles directly relevant to the hospitality sector. He is co-editor of four books: International Handbook on Labour Unions: Responses to Neoliberalism (2011); Rekindling the Movement; Organizing to Win; and Restoring the Promise of American Labor Law. Hurd works closely with labor organizations and professional associations, offering technical assistance on strategic issues including organizational change, internal and external organizing, and leadership development.

Cornell
Ithaca, New York, United States
Appointment

Marc Pichot-Moise has been appointed as Hotel Manager at Sofitel New York

Before his move to New York in November, Pichot-Moïse spent six years in Edinburgh, Scotland, most recently as general manager of the Novotel Edinburgh Centre, and previously as general manager of the Mercure Edinburgh Point Hotel. His past experience also includes managerial posts at Novotel Nottingham, Holiday Inn Thoiry Geneva Airport, Lux Island Resort on Reunion Island, and Sofitel Minneapolis.

Accor
New York, New York, United States
Appointment

Jesse Suglia has been appointed as Director of Sales & Marketing at The Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel

An experienced leader with more than 15 years working in the domestic and international group, business travel and leisure hotel travel segments, Suglia has held hotel sales positions in major cities including New York, Boston, Chicago and San Francisco. Suglia’s prior roles with Omni Hotels & Resorts included Area Director of Sales & Marketing, Senior Director, Global Sales and Director, Global Business Travel Sales. Suglia earned a B.A. in Hotel Management from the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and completed the Institute of Business Travel Management, Global Leadership Program at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. The Sheraton New York Times Square is the largest Starwood Hotels and Resorts property in New York City and won ten meetings industry excellence awards in 2013, making it the most-awarded New York City convention hotel.

Starwood
New York, New York, United States
Appointment

Alan Howe has been appointed as Vice President of Hotels at Olshan Properties

During his career with Olshan Properties working for the division of the former MPI, which was known as Olshan Hotel Management, Inc., Alan Howe has served as both General Manager of the Hilton Columbus at Easton and as the company’s Regional Director for the Columbus, Ohio area overseeing the operations of the Residence Inn Columbus Easton and the Courtyard Columbus Easton. As Vice President, Mr. Howe’s new responsibilities now involve him directly in the development and day to day operations of Olshan Properties’ hotel investments. A graduate of Cornell University’s prestigious School of Hotel Administration Mr. Howe has served on the Board of Directors of the Greater Columbus Lodging Council, the Ohio Hotel and Lodging Association, Experience Columbus (Columbus’ Convention and Visitor’s Bureau), The Ohio State University Hospitality Advisory Board, as well as the Greater Columbus Soap Box Derby Association and the International Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio.

Olshan Properties
New York, New York, United States
Appointment

Kristina (Svensson) Oumedlouz has been appointed as Director Hotel Development, Americas at Worldhotels

Oumedlouz will focus on hotel development in Canada and the U.S. With nearly 20 years of experience in hospitality and real estate, she previously worked as a director overseeing performance and revenue optimization for Worldhotels locations in the Southeastern U.S. and South America regions. Her past experience also includes sales positions with Worldhotels affiliates. Senior Director Bonnie Somerstein, who was appointed earlier this year, leads the Worldhotels development team for the Americas.

WorldHotels Collection
New York, New York, United States
Appointment

Javier Pareja has been appointed as Director of Hotel Development & Performance | Revenue Optimization, The Americas at Worldhotels

Prior to joining Worldhotels, Pareja was director of revenue generation for Pegasus Solutions Inc./Utell Hotels & Resorts where he oversaw all operational, sales and marketing activities for Utell Hotels & Resorts in North America. His position with Worldhotels is the first in the organization to focus primarily on South America, Central America and the Caribbean. Pareja will be responsible for acquiring new affiliate hotels, as well as servicing existing Worldhotels properties in these geographic areas. As a director on the PRO team, he is responsible for maximizing revenue through sales, marketing and revenue management.

WorldHotels Collection
New York, New York, United States
Appointment

Louis Gonzalez has been appointed as General Manager at Holiday Inn New York JFK Airport

Gonzalez, a 27-year hospitality industry veteran who has managed and opened hotels at the airport and in Manhattan, will be oversee all on-site activities including operations, maintenance, housekeeping, security, accounting, sales and marketing. He also will serve as liaison with the operator of the hotel's restaurant, The Landing.

M&R Hotel Management
New York, New York, United States