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Colm O’Callaghan has been named Managing Director at Montage Beverly Hills

Montage Hotels & Resorts has announced the appointment of Colm O'Callaghan as managing director of Montage Beverly Hills. Drawing upon over 30 years of experience at luxury properties from coast to coast, O'Callaghan will oversee all operations of the urban hotel located steps away from iconic Rodeo Drive in the heart of the Golden Triangle of Beverly Hills.

Paolo Buffa has been appointed as Executive Sous Chef at Marriott Irvine Spectrum

Joining Irvine’s skyline and offering an elevated gathering place, Marriott Irvine Spectrum is pleased to announce the appointment of Paolo Buffa as executive sous chef for the 271-room hotel set to debut late December. Hailing from Italy, Executive Sous Chef Paolo Buffa brings over 25 years of culinary experience to the Marriott Irvine Spectrum, where he will be showcasing inventive California cuisine through a Mediterranean lens. Buffa studied at the Culinary Art Institute of Milan and further honed his skill of Italian, French and Belgian cuisine while in Austria. His US foray was Caffe Milano, the Italian hotspot on Miami Beach’s Ocean Drive, and later, he held multi-faceted positions at The Ritz Carlton, Battery Park and the Mayflower Hotel in Washington DC. Buffa is not new to the Marriott family, having led banquet functions and operations at the hotel group’s Southern California locations. Off duty, he spends time with his son Leonardo, and pursues outdoor adventure, photography and the California varietals featured on his wine list. He is fluent in Italian, Spanish and English.

Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa Unveils Renovations

An exciting, hotel-wide refurbishment brings new magic to the deluxe Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa at the Disneyland Resort, with completely redesigned guest rooms plus a refreshed lobby, pool area and concierge-level lounge. The most extensive refurbishment since the hotel's 2001 opening elevates the premium guest experience and brings a contemporary approach to the Arts & Crafts design style.

Construction on Dream Palm Springs has Started

Developed by Selene International, in partnership with Dream Hotel Group, Dream Palm Springs will be a driving force in the ongoing revitalization of downtown Palm Springs. Located on the corner of Amado Road and Calle Alvarado, adjacent to the Convention Center, the 169-room hotel pairs executive architect Oswaldo D. Lopez with Hirsch Bender Associates (HBA) for design and is expected to open with 30 private residences, multiple experiential dining and nightlife venues and more than 10,000 square feet of flexible meeting space in late 2019.

Robert “Prince” James has been appointed as Eco Wellness Journey Guide at Pier South Resort

Robert “Prince” James, Eco Wellness Journey Guide – Robert has the distinction of being the very first person named for this position at the eco-friendly hotel that has recently begun a program encouraging guests to try an array of different local experiences – such as bike riding to the nearby important ecological preserve, the Tijuana Estuary; horseback riding on the beach, paddleboard lessons; rooftop yoga class, and more – so each guest can create their own Eco Wellness experience no matter how long a stay. In his new role, Robert leads guests on daily complimentary bike rides to the estuary and also hosts the nightly Sunset Celebration on the resort’s rooftop/lounge with a sweeping view of the Pacific. Born in Trinidad, Robert has had his eye on the hospitality industry since he was 17 years old and applied at the Hyatt Hotel on the island. While on the island, he was a member of the Key Club and received extensive technical and service training. He came to San Diego to visit his brother, who is in the Navy, and never left. With a goal of owning his own hotel in Trinidad one day, Robert also enjoys filling in for positions throughout the hotel as needed and is excited to live only four blocks from the property.

Kimpton The Rowan Palm Springs Opens with General Manager Abe Liao at the Helm

Kimpton The Rowan Palm Springs makes a splash in the Southern California desert with its opening on November 17, 2017, reaching major milestones for the Kimpton brand and the City of Palm Springs. The seven-story, 153-room urban oasis features the city"s first and only rooftop pool, two restaurants and two bars, serene mountain and Coachella Valley views, and inspiring spaces for meetings & events.

Vintage House at The Estate Yountville Reimagined

The Estate Yountville, a 22-acre compound located in California"s Napa Valley wine country comprised of two ultra-luxe lifestyle hotels, a celebrated spa, retail and dining complex and experiential event spaces, The Vineyard and The Pavilion, unveiled the design concept for the multi-million dollar transformation of Vintage House and Hotel Villagio. A team of the world"s most sought-after interior designers, architects, landscape designers and talent were assembled by owners Brookfield to bring the new luxury vision to life and further enhance the property"s legacy in the community. Leading hospitality interior design firm, Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA), worked in tandem with two of the firm"s subdivisions, Illuminate lighting design and Canvas art consultants, as well as with SB Architects for the exteriors, to spearhead the transformative renovation. Launched to the public on October 4, 2017, Vintage House"s serene interiors exude a sophisticated aesthetic with gray and soft lavender color schemes and subtle nods to the locale"s carefree spirit. The 80 bungalow-style abodes are tucked quietly amidst the lush landscape of The Estate, which is ideally located in the center of Yountville, walking distance from many of the nation"s most acclaimed restaurants and world-renowned wineries.

David Nadelman has been appointed as Area Vice President and General Manager at Hyatt Regency Orange County

Industry veteran, David Nadelman has been appointed Area Vice President and General Manager of Hyatt Regency Orange County. In this role, Nadelman is responsible for managing all operations for the 653-room hotel, while also overseeing the operations of six additional Hyatt properties in the Southern California region.

Carmine Iommazzo has been appointed as General Manager at The Westin Anaheim Resort

Wincome Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Carmine Iommazzo as the General Manager for The Westin Anaheim Resort, the under construction four-diamond hotel expected to open in late 2019. In this new role, Iommazzo will oversee all aspects of the luxurious new hotel, including its 613 stylish guestrooms, 101 suites, three restaurants, two bars including a rooftop lounge, and more than 42,000 square feet of state of the art meeting space. Iommazzo, born and raised in Australia, fell in love with hospitality while originally studying accounting, and although he had a knack for numbers, his true passion rested in the food and service industry. He earned a diploma in 1997 at the International College of Hotel Management in Adelaide, a joint project of the Swiss Hotel Association, Le Cordon Bleu, and the Government of South Australia.While studying for his degree, Iommazzo worked at Hyatt Hotels in Adelaide and Melbourne, and The Regent Hotel Sydney. Upon graduation, he joined the Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas. Iommazzo has held several management positions at prestigious hotels in Hawaii and San Diego. He was named General Manager of Makena Beach and Golf Resort in Maui in 2011, and in 2013 as General Manager of The Kahala Hotel and Resort in Honolulu, a five-diamond resort operated by Landmark Hotels Group.

Alicia Dill has been appointed as SVP for The Americas at Worldhotels

Worldhotels, a global sales, marketing and distribution company, with over 350 independent upscale and luxury hotels in 50 countries, is strengthening its leadership team by appointing Alicia Dill as new Senior Vice President, the Americas. In her new role, Dill will be responsible for all Sales, Marketing, and Revenue Optimisation efforts for the company’s growing portfolio of member hotels in North and South America. She will report directly to Geoff Andrew, the Chief Executive Officer of Worldhotels. Dill’s hiring comes at a time when Worldhotels is making significant investments in enhancing its service offerings for independent hotels – including the expansion of its global sales force, new property development teams, a major rebranding project, and the design of a robust CRM/loyalty platform. Dill joins Worldhotels from the 5-star, 5-diamond Viceroy L’Ermitage Beverley Hills, where she led the sales and marketing team for the past seven years and served on its Executive Committee. Prior to Viceroy, she spent eight years in various sales and marketing leadership roles with Starwood Hotels and Resorts and Hilton Hotels.

Luca Bruno has been appointed as Restaurant General Manager Of Madera at Rosewood Sand Hill

Rosewood Sand Hill, the luxury hotel located in Menlo Park, California, has appointed Luca Bruno as Restaurant General Manager at Madera, the hotel’s Michelin-starred signature restaurant. In his new role, Bruno will continue the ongoing success of Madera and oversee all restaurant operations including staff management and guest interactions. Bruno will also work closely with both front and back of house staff to optimize the restaurant experience for guests.