BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has named Robin Hess controller of Marenas Beach Resort, a Gemstone Collection property located in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, just north of Miami. Rikki Boparai, vice president operations, made the announcement.
Tom Osborn joins Radisson Hotel Group as director of Franchise Sales & Development. Osborn is based in Miami and will work towards increasing the presence of the company's brands in the Caribbean. Prior to joining Radisson Hotel Group, Osborn had an extensive career with Best Western International, where he was a regional director of North American Development and was recognized with multiple salesman of the year honors. In this role, he was responsible for development in the Midwest, Southeast and Caribbean. He also has experience working as director of Franchise Sales & Development for Cendant Corporation.
Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort today announced the appointment of industry veteran Kathryn Day as the property's new general manager. In this role, Day will leverage her expertise in award-winning customer service and internal operations to lead the path for success at the 374-room full-service residential resort.
Hilton announced today the appointment of Jorge Giannattasio as senior vice president and head of Caribbean and Latin America operations. In his newly appointed position, Giannattasio will oversee the dynamic region where Hilton currently operates a portfolio of more than 130 hotels. Giannattasio joins Hilton from SBE Entertainment Group, where he held the role of chief operating officer. His career spans three decades of operations and finance with global organizations, including more than a decade in the hospitality industry with Starwood Hotels & Resorts where, latterly, he served as senior vice president and chief of Latin America operations and global initiatives, overseeing more than 100 hotels, across eight brands in nearly 20 countries. Giannattasio is a graduate of Buenos Aires University and speaks several languages including English, Spanish and Portuguese.
Summit Hospitality Management Group has announced the appointment of Androse Bell as general manager of the new Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach, overseeing day-to-day operations and the (175) rock star team. A familiar face in the Central Florida hospitality industry, Bell was promoted from director of rooms at Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach to general manager of the recently opened, 200-room, beachfront property.
International lifestyle company Two Roads Hospitality announces the development of its newest property in Miami Beach, Florida, as part of the Thompson Hotels brand. The project marks the return of Thompson Hotels to the desired destination, and will be one of the few new-build properties in the core of the South Beach district.
Slated to open in 2020, the new TRYP by Wyndham in Orlando becomes the fourth hotel in Florida for the growing cosmopolitan brand. Celebrating the spirit of the urban traveler, each TRYP hotel is infused with local spirit allowing guests to uncover each destination's individual culture and setting the stage for authentic, local experiences. The 98-room hotel will offer the brand's hallmark social lobby, library space and small meeting room; a bar and restaurant featuring TRYP's signature tapas, or small plates, service; a gym; and an outdoor pool. With its unique cities and range of experiences, Florida remains a top market for the brand which recently opened TRYP by Wyndham Sebastian St. Augustine, TRYP by Wyndham Maritime Fort Lauderdale and TRYP by Wyndham Miami Bay Harbor in "The Sunshine State". The brand's global pipeline includes approximately 4,000 rooms and 29 hotels, including Florida locations such as Coral Gables, Miami and Kissimmee. The company also recently announced plans for a dual-branded TRYP by Wyndham and Wyndham Grand concept in Miami's popular Brickell district.
The four-story La Quinta hotel will feature 101 modern guest rooms; a comfortable and multifunctional great room for guests to gather, relax, or work; a fully equipped fitness center; a pool; and approximately 750 square feet of meeting space. Upon opening, it will join eight hotels already operating in the market under the La Quinta flag, and it will be the first in the city to reflect the brand's contemporary Del Sol prototype. The Del Sol design combines clean geometric lines, bold colors, and varying textures with iconic brand elements, like La Quinta's recognizable red-clay roof, and guest-centric offerings to enhance the stay experience while also helping maximize revenue-per-square foot for hotel developers. Like all of the brand's approximately 900 upper-midscale and midscale La Quinta and LQ Hotel™ locations in North and Latin America, the new La Quinta in Orlando will offer guests the brand's signature Bright Morning Bed®, free Bright Side Breakfast®, spacious in-room work areas and free high-speed internet.
Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the world's largest hotel companies, in collaboration with Brookwood Hotels and Nationwide Hotel Management Company, announced the opening of the WoodSpring Suites Deerfield Beach hotel in Florida. Located at 1400 SW 11th Way, the hotel represents the 29th WoodSpring property to open in the state.
David McKeever previously was Assistant Food and Beverage Director for Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort and was instrumental in the success of this 2,200-room hotel since it opened in 2014. Prior to joining Loews Hotels at Universal Orlando, McKeever held several leadership positions with Hyatt, Marriott, Universal and Hilton. He is also a recipient of the Loews Legacy award, one of the company's highest honors.
Most recently, he was Executive Chef at Meraki Market, described as a "temple of food disguised as a little corner store," in San Francisco. His culinary career also includes Sous Chef posts at Spice Market under world-famous Chef Jean George Vongerichten and at Loews Atlanta Hotel alongside Master Chef Olivier Gaupin. Chef "Mousse" was Chef De Cuisine at the former Loews Don CeSar Hotel's award-winning Maritana Grille. Born in Teflit, Morocco, Chef Mousse's expertise in French, Moroccan, American and Asian cuisines will influence the international flavors served throughout Universal's Aventura Hotel.
sbe, The Related Group and Allen Morris Company announced yesterday the upcoming Summer 2018 opening of the sold-out SLS LUX Brickell Hotel & Residences, the third SLS-branded property in Miami. The formidable talents of sbe Founder and CEO Sam Nazarian, The Related Group Founder and Chairman Jorge Perez, Allen Morris Company Chairman and CEO Allen Morris, Arquitectonica co-founding Principal Bernardo Fort-Brescia, and design duo Yabu Pushelberg, have joined forces to deliver a property poised to become a Miami landmark, boasting sbe's award-winning Katsuya restaurant and mixology concept S Bar. SLS LUX marks the fourth of nine jointly developed projects in the pipeline for The Related Group and sbe and closely follows the recent delivery of Hyde Midtown Suites & Residences.
Hilton Grand Vacations (NYSE:HGV) announces Charles Corbin, executive vice president and chief legal officer, has been appointed chief development officer in addition to his current position.
Driftwood Acquisitions & Development (DAD), an innovative hospitality industry leader with decades of experience and a strategic focus on hotel and resort acquisitions, has celebrated the groundbreaking of its $50M+ dual-branded Tru by Hilton and Home2 Suites by Hilton hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Located at 315 NW 1st Avenue, the property will be managed by DAD's North Palm Beach management arm - Driftwood Hospitality Management (DHM) - and is expected to open in early 2020, merging two of Hilton's popular brands in the vibrant Flagler Village neighborhood in downtown Fort Lauderdale. A festive groundbreaking event took place, welcoming more than 60 attendees, including representatives from Hilton, Merrimac Ventures (Driftwood's co-developers and GP partners), as well as local dignitaries and special guests.
Visit Tampa Bay honored Joe Collier, president of Mainsail Lodging & Development as its Gonzmart Family Tourism Ambassador of the Year at the National Tourism luncheon Wednesday at The Gathering at Armature Works.
TRYP by Wyndham, Wyndham Hotel Group's urban lifestyle brand, opened its newest hotel in Fort Lauderdale, the TRYP by Wyndham Maritime Fort Lauderdale, anchoring the city's four-star Marina Bay, a premier luxury yacht marina in the celebrated 'Yachting Capital of the World.'
Kimpton EPIC Hotel announced the appointment of Luis Mendez as Director of Sales for the renowned Downtown Miami property. In his new role, Mendez will be responsible for planning and implementing sales and development programs for EPIC, focusing on new and existing markets. New to the Kimpton brand, Mendez brings more than 25 years of international hospitality experience in the sales and marketing sector. Most recently, he served as Associate Director of Sales and Marketing at the InterContinental Miami, and before this post, he served as Director of Meetings and Incentives for Karisma Hotels. Mendez's career includes work with The Ritz Carlton, Renaissance and IHG properties in Puerto Rico, where he held various senior leadership roles.
Hyatt announces the opening of Hyatt Centric Brickell Miami, located in Miami"s thriving Brickell Financial District. The newly constructed full-service lifestyle hotel, located at 1102 Brickell Bay Drive, is situated within the first 19 floors of the new 83-story Panorama Tower, the tallest building in Miami. The hotel is owned by Concord Aztec Brickell LLC, a joint venture comprised of Aztec Group and Concord Hospitality, which operates the hotel.
Hernandez brings extensive experience to his role as senior director of development for Latin America, having over three decades of industry knowledge. In this new position, he will be responsible for overseeing efforts to increase the WorldHotels portfolio of qualified hotels in Latin America. During his hospitality career, Hernandez was employed with Preferred Hotel Group for nine years, serving as regional marketing manager for Latin America before being promoted to regional director for Latin America, representing the company's luxury brands.
Positioned along the Atlantic Ocean and the beaches of Fort Lauderdale, Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Fort Lauderdale, developed by Fort Partners, breaks ground today to become the newest iconic global destination for Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. The development will offer unmatched access to a lifestyle of leading amenities, services and design and will include 90 Private Residences and 130 guest rooms.