Choice Hotels International executive Bill Clegg has been named among the new slate of officers elected to the executive board of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), underscoring the global hotel franchisor's expanding presence and commitment to developing travel in the rebounding Caribbean market.
Hans Schmitt has been appointed General Manager at the Naples Grande Beach Resort in addition to his role as Director of Asset Management for Northwood Hospitality. In this position he will oversee operations of the hotel, which includes 474 guestrooms, suites and Garden Villas and over 83,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor event space. This iconic Naples, FL resort is currently underway on $18M renovations as part of its transition to a newly independent property.
With a proven track record of success in the hospitality field overseeing several luxury hotels and resorts, Weber's vast industry knowledge includes sales and marketing, revenue management, group business, inventory control, rate strategy, forecasting and food and beverage functions. A Most recently, he guided Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina in Bimini, Bahamas, through a renovation and expansion with a focus on the diving, fishing, yachting, family and wedding markets. Prior to joining the boutique resort, Weber managed the AAA 4-Diamond Radisson Our Lucaya Beach & Golf Resort in Grand Bahama as well as the all-suite il Lugano Luxury Suite Hotel in Fort Lauderdale. In 2005, Weber was awarded General Manager of the Year by Coral Hospitality for his leadership at the Chesapeake Resort in Islamorada. Boasting dual citizenship in the United States and Switzerland, the multilingual, second generation hotelier will apply his knowledge of the Keys market in his new position as he leads La Concha Key West to its highest level of achievement.
Lee began her long-standing career in 1998 with a degree in Hospitality Management. Since, she has held positions with several prestigious hotel chains in both Palm Beach and Broward counties. Lee has a proven track record of increasing revenue and generating profitable marketing strategies, and formerly held positions as a Palm Beach Chamber Ambassador, an Association Secretary, and Board Member to Worth Avenue.
Sgarbi joined Starwood Hotels & Resorts in 2000, in Italy, as the General Manager for the Hotel Romazzino, a Luxury Collection Resort. His next assignment took him to French Polynesia, as the opening General Manager for The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort, obtaining the recognition of Best Resort in The World by Travel Weekly and Best Hotel in The South Pacific by Virtuoso already on the first year of operation. Most recently, he held the position of opening General Manager for The St. Regis Princeville Resort, introducing the unparalleled level of services to the first property of the St. Regis brand in Hawaii.
Vazquez will report to Matthew Fry, Senior Vice President, Global Development, and will oversee the company’s aggressive growth strategy in the region. Vazquez, who has relocated to the company’s Miami office, brings more than 20 years of experience, most recently serving as brand standards and global project lead in Singapore for IHG. In that role, he was responsible for shaping and executing the operations strategy for IHG’s Asia, Middle East & Africa (AMEA) division and led the development of hotel operations models and process for new hotel brands, joint ventures and special projects. Prior to that, Vazquez was part of the Global Operations team and Operations Council based out of IHG’s head office in the United Kingdom, and held a variety of positions within the company, including roles in feasibility, development, investment and asset management, brands and operations/finance support. He also served as a General Manager and gained hotel operations and hotel openings experience at city-center, resort and convention properties in the U.S., Argentina and Venezuela. Victor is a CPA who holds a MBA from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.
Tom Petrillo has recently been appointed General Manager of JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes. In this position he will oversee operations of the hotel, which includes 1,000 guest rooms, over 100,000 square feet of flexible meeting and banquet space, and 65,000 square feet of outdoor function space, including the resort's Whisper Creek Farm event space. A leader in the hospitality industry, Mr. Petrillo most recently served as Hotel Manager at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Orlando where he led a $50-million renovation, and the resort's transition to the Marriott International portfolio.
Luxury Miami Beach hotel, The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach, announces the appointment of Mr. Dennis Jung to the position of Hotel Manager. With more than 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry, the seasoned international hotelier will lead and oversee the operation of the 375 room hotel in Miami Beach, FL. The oceanfront restored 1953 Art Moderne building, in the famed Art Deco district, is located at the epicenter of South Beach.
Peroulakis has extensive experience in the field, particularly in Florida, and has served as director of sales and marketing for two Marriott Residence Inns (Boca Raton and Plantation, FL) the Palm Beach Gardens Marriott (Palm Beach Gardens, FL), and the DoubleTree by Hilton and Executive Meeting Center (Palm Beach Gardens, FL). Most recently, she led the sales and marketing team at Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa.
A two-decade hospitality industry veteran, Laine Blaker comes to his new position with extensive food and beverage, and operations experience. Prior to joining Benchmark Hospitality, Mr. Blaker served as corporate food & beverage operations director for the Washington, DC-based eXceed Hospitality Asset Advisors. While here he developed numerous F&B concepts, including opening successful sustainable farm-to-table restaurant concepts in Northern California.
Smith has over eight years of experience in human resources working with sister Starwood properties within the state such as Sheraton Suites Cypress Creek, The St. Regis in Fort Lauderdale, Sheraton Bal Harbour, and most recently W South Beach. As director of human resources at the waterfront resort, she will manage all recruitment, hiring, benefits, training and employee relations.
In his new role as director of operations, Sanabria will administer and manage the hotel’s operating departments, maintaining Starwood’s quality standards. A former practicing attorney, Sanabria began his Starwood career in 2000 and was most recently the director of six sigma and director of retail at The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood, FL.
With more than a decade of experience driving sales and managing creative event programming, Wark possesses an extensive network of influential contacts and an impressive ability to stay ahead of market trends. As director of catering & events, Wark is charged with identifying and coordinating strategic alliances, managing all catering functions and establishing creative programming and offerings for locals, hotel guests and groups.
Casey joins the Thompson Miami Beach team from Miami Beach luxury resort, The Setai, where he served as executive director of marketing & sales for two years. During his time at The Setai, he led an extensive transition of the sales, marketing and revenue functions to a new management company. Casey also oversaw the opening of the first U.S.-based Expedia CruiseShipCenters retail and host agency franchise for which he remains a franchise co-owner and managing partner. Prior to his arrival in South Florida, Casey worked in the northeast market as vice president of hotel sales and marketing for one of the world’s largest casinos, Mohegan Sun Resort & Casino in Uncasville, Conn. There, Casey managed all hotel marketing and sales initiatives for a $1.4 billion expansion project, and developed and executed a comprehensive pre-opening and opening strategy.
Orlando brings more than 20 years of experience in the luxury hospitality industry to Thompson Miami Beach, where he will be general manager. Recognized as a trailblazer in his respective category, Orlando’s bold leadership skills and contagious enthusiasm will drive his team as he oversees the pre-opening phase of the beachfront hotel, as well as general operations post-opening. Prior to joining Thompson Miami Beach, Orlando was general manager at Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants’ EPIC Hotel in downtown Miami and regional director of operations for the group’s southeast region. In this role, he managed more than 500 employees across four hotels and led all operations, strategic marketing and revenue efforts. Before joining Kimpton, Orlando served as managing director at Gansevoort Hotel Miami, where he worked to transition the property out of a foreclosure status while also increasing growth in the leisure business category, ultimately positioning the hotel above its market competitors. At Thompson Miami Beach, Orlando will also draw on his experience from Fontainebleau Miami Beach, the 1,504-room hotel he supported as vice president of operations during their re-launch period from 2007 to 2009, driving nearly $200 million in revenue that translated to more than $26 million in profit during his first year. Orlando also counts tenures as general manager at Hotel Palomar in Washington, D.C., Royalton Hotel, The Maritime Hotel, as well as the SoHo and TriBeCa Grand Hotels in New York City, among his other industry experiences.
When Vantage Hospitality Group entered into an agreement to acquire the America’s Best Franchising brands (America’s Best Inns & Suites, Country Hearth Inns & Suites, Jameson Inns & Suites, Signature Inn, and 3 Palms Hotels & Resorts), one of the largest hotel companies in the world added nearly 20 percent more hotels and multiple brands overnight. To capitalize on this unprecedented growth, Vantage has tapped Mark Williams to serve as a new Group President and lead Vantage’s midscale to upscale brands. Williams comes to Vantage with a wealth of hospitality industry experience and a proven track record of revenue generation, value creation, and innovative growth. Most recently, Williams was the Director of Business Development for G6 Hospitality, where he was responsible for the development in major markets of the Motel 6 and Studio 6 brands. Before that, he served 12 years as the Vice President of North American Development for Best Western International, where he oversaw brand development in the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean Islands. Williams will lead Vantage’s midscale to upscale brands, which include Lexington Inns, Lexington Hotels, Lexington Legacy, Jameson Inns & Suites, and 3 Palms Hotels & Resorts. He will be based out of Vantage’s global headquarters in Coral Springs, FL.
Benchmark Hospitality International®, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company, has appointed Rubin Sabater director of operations for ONE Bal Harbour Resort & Spa, a Personal Luxury Resorts & Hotels® property located in Miami Beach. Rikki Boparai, general manager for Benchmark Hospitality at the resort and managing director for the Personal Luxury Resorts & Hotels of Florida, made the announcement. Prior to joining Benchmark at ONE Bal Harbour Resort & Spa, Mr. Sabater held leadership roles with the Mandarin Oriental Miami as well as the Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Tower. He brings this wealth of experience and knowledge to his new role at ONE Bal Harbour. Mr. Sabater resides in Miami.
Casa Marina, A Waldorf Astoria Resort in Key West, Florida is pleased to announce the appointment of Warren Zinn as its new director of food and beverage. Bringing more than 20 years of industry experience in leadership and hospitality roles, Zinn oversees all the food and beverage operations at the luxury resort, including three food and beverage outlets, in-room dining, catering services, meetings, and more. Most recently, Zinn served as the assistant director of food and beverage at New York Hilton Midtown in New York City. There he was nominated for the Hilton Excellence in Leadership Award three years in a row. Prior to that, Zinn was operating partner at Daryl Wine Bar & Restaurant, an upscale retail wine shop in New Brunswick, NJ. He has also held various management roles at other top dining outlets in New York and London.
David Smith has been named General Manager of the Fairfield Inn and Suites Jacksonville West/Chaffee Point hotel, bringing a dedication to attentive service and gracious hospitality to the forefront of the Jacksonville, FL West hotel’s already award-winning service.
William Yahr has been named hotel manager at the Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove. Before, he was at the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, where he was room executive. Yahr has a degree in hotel, restaurant and institutional management at Penn State University.