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Appointment

Mark Becker has been appointed as General Manager at Hyatt Regency Minneapolis

Becker, a 22-year Hyatt veteran, will oversee operations at the newly renovated Hyatt Regency Minneapolis. As General Manager, Becker is responsible for the overall vision and future direction of the property. He began his career with Hyatt in 1990 as a Housekeeping Supervisor with Hyatt Regency Greenwich. Becker acted as Executive Assistant Manager for Hyatt Grand Champions Resort and Spa at Indian Wells, CA and Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach. While serving as Rooms Executive, he oversaw a $36 million expansion of the Hyatt Grand Champions Resort and developed the first Medical and Skin spa in Hyatt’s portfolio. During his time as a Senior Rooms Executive with Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach, he implemented a recreation department and developed the first ocean front property partnership with Disney. As General Manager of Hyatt Regency Sarasota, Becker was the leading force behind a $20 million transformation which resulted in a 4 Diamond rating.

Hyatt
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Appointment

Former Carlson CEO Hubert Joly has been named Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Best Buy Co.

It's been a rough year for Best Buy -- it's shuttered dozens of stores, seen its founder step down and even lost its CEO, Brian Dunn. Still, the big box retailer hasn't given up hope, and today chose a new chief executive, one Hubert Joly. Until Sunday afternoon, Joly was responsible for Carlson, a hospitality and travel outfit that operates hotels and restaurants in over 150 countries. If you've eaten at a TGI Friday's, you've patronized Joly's old firm. Best Buy seems optimistic, according to the Wall Street Journal, noting that Joly has a knack for turning around companies in trouble. Still, Best Buy will have to get along without its new head honcho until September -- the new boss is French, and is apparently waiting on a visa. In the meantime, Mike Mikan will continue to serve as interim CEO, presumably helping the board of directors sift through Richard Schulze $10 billion rescue plan.

Best Buy Co.
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Appointment

Chad Sorensen has been named Principal at Warnick + Company’s New office in Minneapolis

Warnick + Company, one of the world’s leading hospitality asset management and advisory firms, has further expanded its presence with the opening of a fifth U.S. office in Minneapolis, Minn. With offices in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York, the newest location adds to the Phoenix, Ariz.-based company’s growing national presence.

Warnick + Company
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Appointment

Michael Kappel has been appointed as Director of Sales & Marketing at The Hotel Ivy, a Starwood Luxury Collection hotel

Before joining the Hotel Ivy, Kappel was the Director of Sales and Marketing at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City, Missouri where he came in over budget on annual rooms revenue for the 733-room hotel multiple years in a row. Other sales and marketing experience include the Hyatt Regency Valencia in Santa Clarita, Cali. and the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, Minn. He was also a Senior Travel Director at Carlson Marketing Worldwide, planning national and international travel for corporate events. Awards presented to Kappel include the 2005 Hyatt Make a Difference Award and the Hyatt Hotels Sales Team of the Year finalist in 2009.

Starwood
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Appointment

John Yeadon has been named Director of Sales and Marketing at Hyatt Regency Minneapolis

Previous to his new position at Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, Yeadon served as a Sales Manager at Hyatt Regency Indianapolis and at Hyatt Regency Denver. He also worked as the Associate Director of Sales at Hyatt Regency Denver and at Grand Hyatt Denver. A native of Indianapolis, Yeadon is a graduate of Indiana University.

Hyatt Regency Minneapolis
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Appointment

Wendy Roe has been appointed as National Sales Manager at GrandStay® Hospitality

Wendy has over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry and four years of experience in the aviation industry. Starting her career in operations as Front Desk Associate, she was soon promoted to a number of advanced positions with Holiday Inn Hotels. She then served as General Manager with Hampton Inn of Indianapolis, IN for two years before joining American Trans Air, where she served in various positions including Tour Operations Supervisor and Hotel Inspector for four years. Wendy served as the Director of Sales and Marketing for Residence Inn of Naples, FL for six years and Director of Sales for the Staybridge Suites of Naples, FL for three years. Immediately prior to joining GrandStay® Hospitality, Wendy was the Business Travel Sales Manager in Minneapolis, MN for Marcus Hotels. In her new role with GrandStay® Hospitality, Wendy will lead and direct marketing and sales functions for GrandStay® adding specific talent and experience in her respective role.

GrandStay® Hospitality
Saint Augusta, Minnesota, United States
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Appointment

Don Cook has been promoted to General Manager at The Hotel Minneapolis – Autograph Collection

A 15-year hotel industry veteran, Cook joined HEI in 2004 as director of food & beverage at the company’s Atlanta Marriott Northwest. Within three years, he was promoted to general manager of the property. He was later named general manager of the HEI-managed Embassy Suites Orlando Downtown, followed by his most recent assignment as general manager of the Marriott Norcross, near Atlanta, which achieved outstanding results in sales and revenue under his leadership. Prior to joining HEI, Cook spent 10 years with Interstate Hotels & Resorts in both food & beverage and general management. Cook has relocated to Minneapolis to assume his new position as general manager of The Hotel Minneapolis – Autograph Collection.

HEI Hotels
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Appointment

David Fabian has been appointed as General Manager at Embassy Suites Philadelphia - City Center

Fabian was vice president of revenue management with HEI before becoming a hotel manager of the Embassy Suites Orlando Downtown, in Florida, in 2007. Prior to HEI, he was vice president of revenue management for Wyndham Worldwide Hotel Group. Previously, he was director of sales and marketing for the Westin Stamford, in Conn., for Merritt Hospitality. Also, Fabian was regional director of revenue management, mid-Atlantic region for Starwood Hotels and Resorts. He graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s degree in Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management. He will report to Michael Miner.

HEI Hotels
Philadelphia, Minnesota, United States
Appointment

Elizabeth Bastoni has been appointed as Executive Vice President of Human Resources at Carlson

Bastoni will report to Hubert Joly, president and chief executive officer, Carlson. Bastoni succeeds Jim Porter who had decided to retire from the company after eight years of service. Bastoni joins Carlson from The Coca-Cola Company where she was head of global compensation and benefits for its 90,000 employees. She brings broad experience in diverse business and cultural environments to Carlson, including 18 years working in global roles, based in Paris, France. Prior to joining The Coca-Cola Company in 2005, she held senior human resources positions with the Paris-based Thales Group. She served first as vice president, Human Resources Aerospace Division and Global Remuneration, then as vice president, Human Resources, Professional Development, Remuneration and Benefits for the approximately 68,000 employees in 40 plus countries. From 1998 to 2000, Elizabeth was director of Global Compensation, Benefits and Expatriate Programs for Lyonnaise des Eaux worldwide. She started her career in Paris with KPMG in 1989 in the International Tax Practice where she served in various roles, including senior manager of Business Development.

Carlson
Minnetonka, Minnesota, United States
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Appointment

Mike Brunkow has been named General Manager at the Northland Inn Hotel and Conference Center

Northland Inn Hotel and Conference Center today named hospitality industry veteran, Mike Brunkow, to the position of general manager. Brunkow brings more than 30 years of hotel management experience to the all-suite hotel located in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Park, Minn. In his new position, Brunkow will oversee the hotel's renovation efforts planned for 2011 and provide stable management for the hotel, which ran into financial trouble before it was purchased by Hotel Asset Value Enhancement Inc. in October 2010. The Rhode Island-based company -- one of the nation's largest hotel real estate advisory firms -- works closely with its sister company, StepStone Hospitality.

the Northland Inn Hotel and Conference Center
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, United States
Appointment

Jon D. Kennedy has been appointed as Senior Vice President of Franchise Development at GrandStay Hospitality, LLC

Jon D. Kennedy, 39 year hotel veteran specializing in start-up chains such as Super 8 and AmericInn, has joined Rodney L. Lindquist and the team of GrandStay Hospitality, LLC as Senior Vice President of Franchise Development. GrandStay Hospitality, founded by Rodney L. Lindquist, CEO, is an emerging hotel chain characterized by family core values and a unique team with strong industry backgrounds. Jon brings a wealth of experience to GrandStay. He has been involved in the development, sales and marketing of over 1500 franchise business hotels in the past 20 years. Jon is a graduate of The School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University, and currently participates on its Alumni Board. Jon is also a member of national and regional organizations to promote hospitality and tourism throughout the country.

GrandStay Hospitality, LLC
Saint Augusta, Minnesota, United States
Appointment

Paul Kirwin has been named President and Chief Operating Officer at Northcott Hospitality International, LLC (NHI)

Kirwin joins NHI after a 25-year career at the Carlson Companies, where he most recently served as president of its Americas division with 800 hotels operating or in development. He also led Carlson Companies’ expansion in Asia and was with their Country Inn & Suites hotel brand for 13 years, the last five as president, during which the brand grew from 8 to over 400 locations in multiple countries. NHI is the parent company for the Chanhassen, Minnesota-based AmericInn brand of 220 midscale hotels. In conjunction with the announcement of Kirwin’s hire, Angeloni confirmed that he intends to retire from NHI early next year. Angeloni joined the company in 2004.

Northcott Hospitality International, LLC (NHI)
Chanhassen, Minnesota, United States