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Robert M. Taylor has been appointed as SVP Miami Branch at Hunter Hotel Advisors

Hunter Hotel Advisors has tapped investment sales veteran Robert M. Taylor to join the company as an SVP based out of their Miami office. In the new role, Taylor will focus on both single asset and portfolio transactions specializing in hotels and resorts in South Florida. Prior to joining Hunter, Taylor was SVP for CBRE’s Miami hotel brokerage and investment sales team. Some of his Florida transactions include Deauville Beach Resort, Miami; Postcard Inn Resort, St. Petersburg; Marriott Resort in Key Largo; Residence Inn in Tampa; and the Courtyard in Naples.

Perry Goodbar has been appointed as Director of Sales & Marketing at The Villas of Grand Cypress

Benchmark Hospitality International, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company, has named Perry Goodbar director of sales & marketing for the Villas of Grand Cypress, a Personal Luxury property located in Orlando, Florida. Mark Cox, general manager, made the announcement. Goodbar was previously vice president of sales, services and business development for the Colonial Williamsburg Company, the multi-property resort consisting of six hotels, golf, spa, retail and dining facilities, located in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Dana Kelly has been appointed as Director of Sales at Homewood Suites Cape Canaveral

A 15-year veteran of the hospitality industry, Kelly will head the sales department of the new Homewood Suites where she will foster new and existing customer relationships within the community. She has successfully held several sales management positions, most recently serving as director of sales for Intercontinental Hotels Group’s Staybridge Suites Plantation in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Dominic Fraticelli has been appointed as General Manager at Homewood Suites Cape Canaveral

As general manager, Fraticelli will manage the property’s day-to-day operations and embrace LBA’s company-wide goal of providing exceptional guest service. Fraticelli has been immersed in the hospitality industry for more than 15 years, most recently as general manager of Hampton Inn Titusville, Fla. He has also served as area general manager for five other hotels.

David Wahba has been appointed as Director of Sales and Marketing at Waldorf Astoria Orlando and Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek

Wahba’s career spans many of the most influential hotel groups in the hospitality industry. Most recently, he led the group global sales effort as senior director for Wyndham Hotel Group. Eleven years with Starwood Hotels & Resorts included tenure as director of sales for the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort where he also garnered valuable experience with dual-hotel properties. He led the sales and marketing teams at the Westin Beach Resort Ft. Lauderdale and Sheraton Ft. Lauderdale Beach Hotel complex, managing revenue generation for group, leisure and marketing activities at both hotels. Other previously held positions include director of sales and marketing at the Westin Resort in Aruba as well as director of sales at the Westin Peachtree Plaza. Wahba holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada.

Matthew Echevarria has been appointed as Director of Catering and Conference Services at Westin Fort Lauderdale

The Westin Fort Lauderdale, situated in Fort Lauderdale/Pompano Beach area, overlooking a beautiful, three-acre lagoon, announces a new senior sales team, including Deanna Sylvestri as director of group sales and Matthew Echevarria as director of catering and conference services, following the finalization of a multi-million guestroom renovation.

Michelle Lardizabal has been appointed as Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Club Med US Division

Club Med, the brand that pioneered the all-inclusive concept 65 years ago, is pleased to announce the appointment of Michelle Lardizabal to Vice President of Sales. In her new role, Lardizabal will join the Executive Committee and worldwide Leadership Committee to lead the sales team and focus on the brand’s global expansion efforts as the category leader in the upscale, family-friendly all-inclusive vacation.

Chris Alto has been appointed as General Manager at The Westin Fort Lauderdale

The Westin Fort Lauderdale -- situated in Fort Lauderdale/Pompano Beach area, overlooking a beautiful, three-acre lagoon -- welcomes new leader, Chris Alto as General Manager. With more than 20 years of dynamic hospitality experience, Alto has a proven track record of success in leading outstanding hotel performance and guest satisfaction.

John DePiro has been appointed as General Manager at Fort Lauderdale Marriott North

Fort Lauderdale Marriott North welcomes new leader, John DePiro as General Manager. With over 25 years of hotel industry experience, DePiro will utilize his extensive skill set and team building expertise to elevate Fort Lauderdale Marriott Norths anticipatory service, guest relations and revenue, while the entire hotel is going through a significant reinvention and upgrade.

Peter J. Conway has been appointed as Assistant General Manager at Residence Inn by Marriott Miami Beach-Surfside

Atlanta-based Hotel Equities (HE) named Peter Conway the Assistant General Manager for the $52 million Residence Inn by Marriott Miami Beach/Surfside, Florida. The unique, resort-style hotel with 175 suites is scheduled to open in March 2016. Hotel Equities has an ownership position in the project and manages the upscale property for their JV partner, Hotel Development Partners (HDP) of Atlanta. Mr. Conway reports directly to General Manager Sean McKeen to assist with pre-opening duties including sales and marketing and departmental hiring His ongoing responsibilities include overall management of all hotel operations including food & beverage concepts plus training, sales, marketing and revenue management strategies. With more than 25 years of experience, primarily in South Florida, Mr. Conway has served in leadership positions at a series of top Miami Beach hotels, including the Raleigh, the Bentley Beach and the Conrad Miami. Early in his career, he served as VIP Coordinator at the Ritz- Carlton Resort and Spa in Naples, Florida. Most recently, he directed the front office operations at the Toronto Don Valley Hotel & Suites in Toronto, Canada. Mr. Conway holds a degree in Hotel Marketing Management from Johnson and Wales University and has earned the Swiss Hotel Management diploma and the Canadian Hotel Operations diploma. In his free time, he enjoys antiquing and collecting Wedgwood Jasperware.

Laurence Dubey has been appointed as General Manager at Nobu Hotel and Eden Roc Resort Miami Beach

Eden Roc Resort and Nobu Hospitality announce the appointment of Laurence Dubey as General Manager of Eden Roc Resort and the second Nobu Hotel in the U.S., set to debut in Miami next year. In her new role, Dubey will oversee the operation of Nobu Hotel and Eden Roc Resort, to provide strategic leadership for the continued evolution of Nobu hospitality. Together with her leadership team, she will work to ensure guests receive one-of-a-kind experiences and luxury services that uphold Nobu and Eden Roc Resort brand standards. Dubey brings with her over 21 years of experience in the luxury hotel and hospitality industry. Prior to joining the Nobu hospitality team, she spent 6 years with the Viceroy Hotel Group joining in 2009 as Area Director of Sales and Marketing. In her most recent role, Dubey served as General Manager of Viceroy Miami where her responsibility's included crafting the perfect balance between customer satisfaction, colleague retention and growth, owner relationship and fulfillment of Hotel Management Company's goals and expectations. Dubey will be overseeing the multi-million dollar vision to renovate and re-launch the Eden Roc Resort name and property. Nobu Hotel at Eden Roc Resort Miami Beach is the flagship property with 10 new hotel projects on the horizon - including Chicago and London - and will represent the same key principles as Nobu restaurants; a perfect balance of luxury, fun, craft and theater. Owners and brand visionaries Chef Nobu, Robert DeNiro and Meir Teper are passionate to reenergize the property through the global appeal of Nobu Hospitality, welcoming guests both locally and from all over the world. An avid traveler, Dubey enjoys broadening her horizons through experiencing the different cultures of each new place she visits. She earned a bachelor's degree in hospitality from the world renowned Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne in Switzerland. Joining Dubey is Colleen Donlin as Director of Operations for Nobu Hospitality and Danielle Finnegan as Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Nobu Eden Roc Hotel Miami Beach. Donlin brings with her over years of experience in luxury hospitality, having served previously as Hotel Manager at Nobu Hotel Caesars Palace as well as having key management roles at New York' Finnegan brings with her over 7 years of experience in the luxury and hospitality industry, serving previously to her recent appointment as Director of Communications at The Setai Miami Beach. As Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Finnegan will lead all communication initiatives through creative programming development and strategic positioning of the brands.

Michael Hooper has been appointed as General Manager at Hilton Miami Airport

Hilton Worldwide today announced that Michael Hooper has been appointed General Manager of Hilton Miami Airport situated on a private 12.5-acre tropical peninsula surrounded by a 100-acre fresh water lake in Miami, Florida. Hooper will run operations, effective immediately, for the 508-room hotel centrally located hotel just minutes from Downtown Miami, Coconut Grove, South Beach and Art Deco District area and Miami International Airport.

Mehmet Bahtiyar has been appointed as General Manager at Renaissance Boca Raton Hotel

Renaissance Boca Raton Hotel -- an upscale, chic hotel for the discoverer, conveniently located in Boca Raton’s urban and sophisticated business district -- welcomes new leader, Mehmet Bahtiyar as General Manager. With over 15 years of hotel industry experience Bahtiyar, will utilize his extensive skill set, team building expertise and management experience to elevate Renaissance Boca Raton’s overall, day-to-day operations, which include attention to service, elevated guest relations and generative revenue.

Dragan Savin has been appointed as General Manager of Food and Beverage at Pelican Grand Beach Resort

Noble House Hotels & Resorts, a collection of luxury hotels and resorts, announces the appointment of Dragan Savin as the new General Manager for OCEAN2000 and O2K Lounge at Pelican Grand Beach Resort – located just steps from the Atlantic in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. In this role, Savin will oversee all food and beverage operations.

Scott Thomas has been appointed as Club Director at LaPlaya Beach & Golf Club at LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort

As an accomplished hospitality leader with 25 years of professional experience, Thomas has an established history of success serving as food and beverage director, general manager and director of operations with numerous luxury hotels/resorts and private clubs -- such as Jonathan Club in Los Angeles, Calif., Cheyenne Mountain Resort and Country Club of Colorado and Sonnenalp Hotel, Resort and Golf Club in Vail, Colo. However, Thomas joins LaPlaya most recently from Stratton Mountain Resort and Country Club in Vermont, where he served as Food and Beverage Director, as well as General Manager of the resort’s elite private club, overseeing a total of 10 venues while achieving annual revenues of $14 million+.

Dawn Walzak has been appointed as Director of Sales and Marketing at Hilton Orlando

The award-winning Hilton Orlando is proud to announce the appointment of Dawn Walzak as director of sales and marketing. Walzak will oversee the full service hotel’s group and leisure sales, marketing and public relation efforts. In this position, Walzak will oversee all marketing and sales activities while developing business strategies that drive growth, increase revenue, and exceed business goals. Prior to her role as director of sales for the property, she served as senior vice president for Tishman Hotel Corporation, where Walzak was directly involved in the sales, marketing and revenue strategy of the hotel and resort portfolio of multiple brands including Starwood, InterContinental, Marriott, Radisson and Doubletree among other boutique and independent properties. Prior to her 17 year tenure with Tishman, Walzak held senior sales roles with Westin and Hyatt Hotels & Resorts. She is currently a board member of the Florida International University (FIU) Hospitality Real Estate and Financial Management Task Force and FIU Industry Advisory. She is a member of Visit Orlando Citywide Task Force and editorial board member and contributing writer for Hotel Business Journal. During her career, Walzak has been named one of the “Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds” in Sales and Marketing by HSMAI and one of the “Top 40 Industry Executives Under 40” by Travel Weekly. Walzak graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Master’s Degree in Business & Hospitality Management and received her Bachelor’s Degree from Florida International University in Miami, Florida.

Cathy Jones has been appointed as National Sales Manager at The Renaissance World Golf Village Resort and Convention Center

The Renaissance World Golf Village Resort and Convention Center in Jacksonville/St. Augustine, Florida has expanded its sales team with the addition of Cathy Jones as National Sales Manager. In her position she is responsible for coordinating meetings, conventions, and incentive programs at the award-winning resort. Together with the adjacent World Golf Hall of Fame, The Renaissance World Golf Village Resort and Convention Center is the largest combination hotel and convention center between Atlanta and Orlando, with 101,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space. The announcement of Jones appointment was made by the resorts Director of Sales & Marketing William McBroom.