John Klukan has been named General Manager at The Worthington Renaissance Fort Worth Hotel
John Klukan, general manager of the Dallas/Fort Worth Marriott Solana, was named to the same post Thursday at the Worthington Renaissance Fort Worth Hotel.
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John Herdman has been appointed as Executive Chef at Hotel Contessa
Benchmark Hospitality International, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company, has appointed John Herdman executive chef for Hotel Contessa. Les Utley, general manager for the hotel, a Benchmark Resorts & Hotels property located on the famed Riverwalk in San Antonio, made the announcement. John Herdman was previously fine dining sous chef for the highly-acclaimed Inn at Palmetto Bluff, located in Bluffton, South Carolina. Mr. Herdman has also served as sous chef for the Westin La Cantera in San Antonio, where he participated on company task forces for resorts that later were awarded Five Stars and Five Diamonds. Chef Herdman has been honored with the opportunity to cook at the James Beard House in New York City as part of a culinary team of professionals. He is a graduate of Johnson and Wales’ inaugural class in Charlotte, North Carolina. Herdman earned his Bachelor’s degree in Art from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. He has relocated to San Antonio.
Teresa Sims has been promoted to Resident Manager at Hyatt North Houston
The Dow Hotel Company, LLC (DHC), a hotel ownership, investment and management company, today announced the promotion of Teresa Sims to resident manager for the Hyatt North Houston in Greenspoint, Texas. A veteran of the Houston market, Sims most recently was the hotel manager for the Sheraton North Houston where she was responsible for substantial increases in guest satisfaction, profitability and employee retention and managed a $6 million post-hurricane renovation. Prior to joining Dow in 2008, she held numerous positions, at other full-service, Houston-area hotels.
Darren Nicholas has been appointed as Director of Food & Beverage at Hotel Contessa
Benchmark Hospitality International, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company, has appointed Darren Nicholas director of food and beverage for Hotel Contessa. Les Utley, general manager for the hotel, a Benchmark Resorts & Hotels property located on the Riverwalk in San Antonio, made the announcement. Darren Nicholas was most recently the director of food and beverage for the Heathman Hotel in Kirkland, Washington, including its critically acclaimed farm-to-table restaurant, Trellis. Previous to this, Mr. Nicholas served as general manager for the fine dining restaurant at the Woodmark Hotel, also located in Kirkland, which was operated by MTM Luxury Lodging at the time, a company Benchmark Hospitality International purchased in 2011.
James Franks has been promoted to General Manager at The Hilton College Station Hotel and Conference Center
Sage Hospitality and the Hilton College Station Hotel and Conference Center are pleased to announce the recent appointment of James Franks as the General Manager of the highly respected Brazos County hotel. Franks was promoted from Hotel Manager after having been with the property for more than four years. Before joining the Hilton College Station in 2008, he opened the Hotel ZaZa and The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, both in Texas, in various senior leadership roles. His more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry includes 12 years of service to hotels in Texas. “James clearly lives and breathes the ‘Howdy!’ culture that the Hilton is known for,” says Jim Darter, Senior Vice President of the Full Service Division at Sage Hospitality. “He is a tremendous leader and we are highly confident that he has the right skills and attitude to continue to drive excellent results with this hotel and the College Station community.” Franks will be the first new general manager at the Hilton in 18 years following Barron Hobbs.
Jason Stewart has been appointed as Sales Manager at The Westin Galleria Dallas
Jason has over six years of catering and sales experience. He joins The Westin Galleria Dallas from Le Meridien Dallas where he a Senior Group Sales Manager. He was also Director of Catering and Conference Service at the Hilton Indianapolis North.
Bethany Reese has been appointed as Sales Manager at Hilton Palacio del Rio
Reese brings over six years of experience to her new role at Hilton Palacio del Rio. In her former role at Hilton San Antonio Airport, she was responsible for developing relationships with all Department of Defense and Federal Agency accounts in San Antonio. She is an active member in several associations including: AUSA, AFCEA and MAC.
Marcus Latner has been appointed as General Manager at Lone Star Court Hotel
Lone Star Court, a new upscale, retro-inspired, motor court concept hotel by Valencia Group, set to open at the Domain in summer 2013, has named Marcus Latner as general manager. Latner has been with Valencia Group for more than 10 years, starting as a valet parking attendant at Hotel Valencia Riverwalk in San Antonio and rising through the ranks all the way up to his new position as general manager of Valencia Group’s newest property, Lone Star Court. After earning a bachelor’s degree from University of Texas and a master’s degree in business communications from Monmouth University in New Jersey, Latner got a job as a valet parking attendant at Hotel Valencia Riverwalk in San Antonio just as it was opening in 2003. He was quickly promoted to a bellman position, where he was mentored by hotel staff to develop management skills, serving in the front office, housekeeping, food and beverage, and sales.
Michelle Clement has been named Director of Sales and Marketing at W Dallas Victory
Michelle Clement has been named Director of Sales and Marketing at W Dallas Victory Hotel. She brings more than 22 years experience to the position, including 13 years with Starwood brand hotels. Most recently, Clement was Complex Director of Sales and Marketing for The Westin and Sheraton Stonebriar in Frisco. She has also worked at The Westin Galleria in Dallas as Director of Sales and Marketing and The Westin City Center as Director of Group Sales. Clement has previously worked with the W Hotel brand in New Orleans as Director of Group Sales for W New Orleans and W French Quarter. She also held sales manager positions at Fairmont, Hyatt and Le Meridien hotels in New Orleans. Clement earned a Bachelor of Science in Hotel, Restaura nt and Tourism Administration from the University of New Orleans.
Tom Thomas has been appointed as General Manager at Magnolia Hotel Dallas
Leigh Hitz, president and chief executive officer of Stout Street Hospitality, recently announced that Tom Thomas has been hired as the general manager of Magnolia Hotel Dallas. Tom has more than 35 years of travel and hospitality experience throughout the United States. He most recently managed an Embassy Suites in Frisco, Texas. He spent many years with Hilton Hotels as a general manager in Chicago and various locations in Texas. He also oversaw a diverse group of hotels for the company, which ranged from the historic Drake Hotel in Chicago to a conference center property in Grapevine, Texas. Earlier in his career, Tom worked for a number of conference center hotels managed by Benchmark Hospitality.
Larry Magor has been appointed as Managing Director at Omni Dallas Hotel
Omni Hotels & Resorts announced the appointment of Larry Magor as the managing director of the Omni Dallas Hotel. In this role, Magor will oversee overall future growth and all operations of the hotel, which is connected via skybridge to the Dallas Convention Center.
Les Utley has been appointed as General Manager at Hotel Contessa
Benchmark Hospitality International, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company, has named Les Utley general manager for Hotel Contessa, located on the picturesque Riverwalk in San Antonio, Texas. Greg Champion, Benchmark’s chief operating officer, made the announcement. Prior to joining Hotel Contessa, Les Utley was general manager of The Heathman Hotel, located in Kirkland, Washington, near Seattle. He has served as general manager for multiple luxury hotels and resorts throughout his productive career. Mr. Utley began his hospitality career working in sales and marketing in Cincinnati, and has held director of sales & marketing and general manager positions at luxury hotels in Los Angeles, New York City, Vail, Houston, and previously in San Antonio. While serving in his most recent position, Mr. Utley held Board of Director positions for the Washington Lodging Association, Kirkland Chamber of Commerce and Kirkland Downtown Association. He is a graduate of The University of Cincinnati where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and business. Mr. Utley is returning to San Antonio with his family.
Darryl Jett has been appointed as General Manager at W Dallas-Victory Hotel
Darryl Jett has been named the new General Manager for W Dallas Victory hotel. The position marks Jetts return to the W brand. He was General Manager of W Atlanta at Perimeter Center for four years and Director of Operations at W Chicago Lakeshore, where he helped launch the W concept in the Chicago market.
Diana Spina has been appointed as Catering Sales Manager at The Westin Galleria
Diana has over six years of catering and hospitality experience. She joins The Westin Galleria Dallas from the Sir Francis Drake Hotel in San Francisco where she was the Catering Sales Manager. Diana has also worked for the Sofitel San Francisco Bay in their Catering Department and the Palace Hotel in Guest Services. Diana earned her Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication and Broadcast Journalism at St. Scholastica’s College in the Philippines. She is also a certified wedding planner with the Bridal Society in New York.
Howard Field has been named Recipient of the ‘2012 Paragon Award at Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP)
HOSPA is proud to announce that one of the Association's founder members and 2005 Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Howard Field, has received one of the most prestigious hospitality industry awards in the USA – the 2012 Paragon Award.
Andrew Zinni has been appointed as General Manager at Marriott Austin South
White Lodging is pleased to announce that Andrew Zinni has been promoted to General Manager of the Marriott Austin South in Austin, TX. Previously, Zinni served as the Director of Food and Beverage at Louisville Marriott Downtown in Louisville, KY. Prior to joining White Lodging in 2011, Andy was the general manager of the Pelican Yacht Club in Fort Pierce, Florida, a 346-member private equity club.
Freddie Khoo has been appointed as Director of Food & Beverage at Four Seasons Hotel Houston
Mr. Khoo arrives here from the Four Seasons Resort Seychelles where he held a similar position, but it is yet another promotion in an amazing, world-traveling career that has had him in the tropical paradises of Lanai, Hawaii, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and St. Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean to the thriving metropolis of Singapore, the excitement of Seattle and glow of Toronto in Canada.
Monte Hansen has joined Royal Sonesta Hotel Houston as General Manager
Monte Hansen joined Sonesta as General Manager of the 485-room Royal Sonesta Hotel Houston as the hotel began operation Monday. With over 15 years of experience in hospitality management, Hansen brings new leadership to the hotel team as the hotel transitions to Sonesta management.
Matt Traub has been appointed as Director of Sales and Marketing at W Dallas Victory
Matt Traub has been tapped as the new Director of Sales and Marketing for W Dallas - Victory hotel. The position marks a return to Texas for Traub, who spent five years in food and beverage and sales management at the Four Seasons Resort and Club in Irving.
Steven DeFelice has been appointed as Director of Sales & Marketing at Hotel Contessa
Benchmark Hospitality International, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company, has appointed Steven DeFelice director of sales & marketing for Hotel Contessa , located on the famed Riverwalk in San Antonio. Ted Davis, Benchmark’s senior vice president sales & marketing, made the announcement.Steven DeFelice was previously director of sales and marketing for Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa, a Hyatt flagship property located in Santa Fe. Prior to that, Mr. DeFelice was the director of sales and marketing for the Hyatt Regency in San Antonio. He has also held sales & marketing positions for other major hospitality brands at properties located in New Orleans, Phoenix, and Point Clear, Alabama.