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Appointment

Christophe Thomas has been appointed as General Manager at Palace Hotel (a Luxury Collection Hotel)

The Palace Hotel is pleased to welcome Christophe Thomas as General Manager of San Francisco’s most historic hotel. Christophe comes to San Francisco from the W Union Square in New York. As General Manager, he led his team to the 2nd highest Guest Experience Index score of all W properties in America, a spot the property held for several years. He recently over-saw the entire renovation to the property. His focus on team-work and quality service produced outstanding results during his time at the hotel. Christophe is very proud to be leading the Palace team. “This is an exciting time for the Palace, a Luxury Collection property. The Luxury Collection is an assemblage of more than 80 of the world’s finest hotels and resorts in over 30 countries. The Palace will go through some major changes over the next few years and we are excited about the opportunity for the entire team to work together to create an elevated experience for our guests. I am thrilled to join this iconic property in San Francisco and look forward to meeting and getting to know our clients, partners and neighbors and becoming involved in this wonderful community.” Christophe began his career in hospitality in 1990. He has worked in the Rooms Division in many hotels around the world. Christophe was employed at the Hilton Paris, and then moved to a corporate position that took him to Ecuador, Brazil, Morocco and many other locations. In 2000, he became the Director of Revenue Management at The Drake Hotel in Chicago. He was promoted to Director of Rooms at the property in 2003 and successfully increased room profitability. In August 2005 Christophe’s expertise enabled him to support the community in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. In his role as Director of Rooms at the Windsor Court Hotel, an Orient Express property, he managed a team of 200 employees, coordinating safety efforts for hotel guests and associates. In November 2005, Christophe joined the Ian Schrager Hotel Group as Hotel Manager, helping to open the Gramercy Park Hotel in New York City. He played an integral part in developing the culture of the group’s first luxury property. Christophe was promoted in January 2007 to General Manager of the Shoreham Hotel in New York City. Christophe joined Starwood in September 2008 at the W Union Square. Christophe holds his degree from the Hotel Management School of Strasbourg in France, and he speaks French and Spanish.

Starwood
San Francisco, California, United States
Appointment

Stephen E. O'Connor has been named Principal & Managing Director at RobertDouglas

Prior to joining RobertDouglas, O'Connor was a Senior Director of Cushman & Wakefield's Equity Debt & Structured Finance Global Hospitality Group, based in Los Angeles. With Cushman & Wakefield and its predecessor company, Sonnenblick-Goldman, O'Connor completed more than $3 billion in real estate transactions, located throughout North America and the Caribbean, representing a variety of structures that include dispositions, debt financings and equity recapitalizations in both single asset and portfolio transactions. Earlier, he worked at HVS International in San Francisco where he appraised more than $1 billion of lodging assets and land. He received a Master of Management in Hospitality degree from the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dartmouth College.

RobertDouglas
Los Angeles, California, United States
Appointment

Chris Ropko has been named Director at RobertDouglas

Ropko was most recently a Portfolio Manager at PIMCO where he focused on sourcing, structuring, negotiating and executing public and private commercial real estate transactions across the capital structure, primarily through the BRAVO family of fund vehicles. While at PIMCO, Ropko evaluated more than $15 billion of investment opportunities involving CMBS, performing, sub- and non-performing loan portfolios, mezzanine loans, preferred equity and direct equity investments secured by all major property types, including hospitality assets. Prior to joining PIMCO, Ropko was an Associate at Goldman Sachs in the Real Estate Principal Investment Area focused on acquisitions and asset management. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel Administration with a concentration in Real Estate and Finance from the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration. He is registered with FINRA as a Series 7 General Securities Representative.

RobertDouglas
Los Angeles, California, United States
Appointment

Anthony Olheiser has been named Director of Food and Beverage at The Ritz Carlton Los Angeles and the JW Marriott L.A. LIVE

The Ritz Carlton, Los Angeles and JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE are pleased to announce the appointment of Anthony Olheiser as Director of Food and Beverage for the L.A. LIVE adjacent properties. With a vast knowledge of the hospitality industry and experience within the Las Vegas hotel and restaurant sectors, Olheiser is excited to have the opportunity to contribute to the ongoing development of the downtown L.A. and L.A. LIVE areas as food and beverage destinations. Olheiser brings with him an extensive background in hospitality, in which he has experience directing and managing major food and beverage programs at several noteworthy hotels and resorts in Las Vegas. Olheiser’s career began in 2003 at Fusia Restaurant at the Luxor Hotel and Casino, where he served as General Manager. He then had the opportunity to work as the Ultra Lounge Operations Manager of Food and Beverage at Mix at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. In 2005, Olheiser was named Assistant General Manager at Tao at the Venetian Resort and Casino. Since 2006, Olheiser served as the Director of Entertainment and Development at the MGM Grand Resort and Casino.

Ritz-Carlton
Los Angeles, California, United States
Appointment

Ralph Scatena has been appointed as General Manager at JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa

Scatena has over thirty years of diversified experience within the hospitality industry in a variety of disciplines, starting his career in senior management as the Regional Director, Revenue Management for the Midwest Region of Marriott Hotels & Resorts. Most recently, Scatena was the Regional Vice President of Sales & Marketing on Marriott Hotels & Resorts’ Western Regional Team where he was responsible for overseeing the largest region in Marriott’s sales organization. Scatena has extensive hospitality managerial experience and has served as general manager and hotel manager at a variety of properties in the Marriott Hotels & Resorts family including JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa, where he was awarded Marriott’s JW Marriott General Manager of the Year, JW Desert Ridge Resort, and Atlanta Marriott Marquis. Scatena earned a Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management at the California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, CA. He enjoys playing golf and tennis, when time permits. Scatena currently resides in Palm Desert, CA, with his wife, Nancy, and their daughter, Lauren, and looks forward to being an active member of the business community.

Marriott
Palm Desert, California, United States
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Appointment

Joe Garciaros has been appointed as Director of Human Resources at SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills (The Luxury Collection)

Joe joins the SLS from the Viceroy Hotel Group where he has spent the past 9 years in various positions within the Company. Joe began his hospitality career at the Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Airport as the Director of Human Resources. Joe was promoted to work for Corporate as VP of Human Resources before realizing that working in the field was his true passion. Most recently, he was the Regional Director of Human Resources overseeing hotels in Los Angeles and Palm Springs. Joe has been based at the Sheraton Delfina Santa Monica for the past 5 years and is familiar with Starwood Hotels and Resorts as a Property Service Culture Trainer.

Starwood
Los Angeles, California, United States
Appointment

Michael Platt has been appointed as General Manager at Viceroy Santa Monica

Michael’s previous experience includes a vast travel and client services background. He has held executive level operational positions at hotel groups such as St. Regis Beverly Hills and the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. In the past, Michael has lent his expertise to rebrand luxury properties and streamline operations, while simultaneously increasing revenue and guest satisfaction.

Viceroy
Los Angeles, California, United States
Appointment

Xavier Moulin has been appointed as General Manager at SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills

Moulin brings more than 15 years of international hospitality management experience to SLS Hotels. Most recently, Moulin served as Director of Operations at sbe, managing hotel assets, developing new projects and continuing to contribute to the expansion of the company’s hotel brands SLS Hotels and The Redbury. Just prior, Moulin joined sbe in September of 2010 as opening General Manager of The Redbury @ Hollywood and Vine. In the first year, Moulin and his team collected prestigious awards such as Conde Nast Traveler "Hot List" and Travel + Leisure "It List," in addition to bringing the property into seven months of 90% occupancy and record-breaking revenues. Prior to his tenure with sbe, Moulin created and operated his own restaurant in Sonoma in 2006, followed by various management positions with companies such as Raffles (L'Ermitage Beverly-Hills), Sonoma Spa Resorts, Monte Carlo based Société des Bains de Mer as well as Starwood (The St. Regis Los Angeles),

sbe
Los Angeles, California, United States
Appointment

Brent Duncan has been appointed as Director of Catering and Conference Services at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village

With 15 years of experience in hospitality, Brent Duncan is the new Director of Catering and Conference Services at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, California near Los Angeles. This new position marks a “coming home” for the graduate of Newbury Park High School, located just 10 miles from the AAA Five Diamond-rated Hotel. During his formative years in the Conejo Valley, Duncan was inspired to pursue a career in hospitality at an early age, thanks to his father’s career in the cruise industry. Previously, he was Executive Director of Catering and Conference Services at Four Seasons Resort Whistler in British Columbia, Canada prior to returning to California. There, he had the unique opportunity to oversee catering, conference services and banquets. This provided an additional level of insight regarding how to create a seamless experience from the planning phases of an event through the execution of the function itself, including off-site catering events.

Four Seasons
Westlake Village, California, United States
Appointment

Christian Schmidt has been promoted to Director of Food and Beverage and Culinary Operations at Terranea Resort

Executive Chef Christian Schmidt has been named director of food and beverage and culinary operations and will now oversee both front and back of the house food and beverage operations in addition to his role as executive chef and corporate culinary director for Destination Hotels & Resorts. Chef Schmidt has been a leader in America’s dining scene for more than 25 years. He has mentored celebrated chefs such as Michelle Bernstein (Azul, Miami), Jason Weaver (Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas) and Jason Stoops (Mandarin Oriental, DC) and has held culinary positions at acclaimed luxury hotel brands like the Ritz Carlton, Mandarin Oriental and Fairmont Hotels.

Destination Hotels
Rancho Palos Verdes, California, United States
Appointment

Shawn Jervis has been promoted to General Manager at Terranea Resort

As general manager, Jervis will report directly to Haack and will be responsible for all aspects of Terranea’s operations and guest services. Jervis brings more than 20 years of experience in the hotel and hospitality industry to the role. He joined the resort as director of operations and food and beverage, in advance of the $450 million property’s opening in June 2009, and successfully launched and developed the resort’s food and beverage landscape. Prior to his role at Terranea, Jervis spent nine years at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua in Maui, and has also held leadership positions at prestigious properties such as the Grand Wilea, Maui; The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Dearborn, MI; Adams Mark Hotel, CO; and Renaissance in Washington, DC.

Destination Hotels
Rancho Palos Verdes, California, United States
Appointment

Swietlana Cahill has been appointed as General Manager at Embassy Suites Irvine

Hostmark-managed hotel Embassy Suites Irvine–Orange County Airport has appointed a new General Manager, Swietlana Cahill, CHS, CHA, effective immediately. Ms. Cahill brings an array of upscale hotel management experience to her new position, including executive roles at The Peabody Hotel in Memphis, TN; the boutique Andrew Hotel in Great Neck, NY; Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Los Angeles, CA; and most recently as General Manager of the iconic Millennium Biltmore Hotel Downtown in Los Angeles. Her leadership helped the hotels achieve increased revenues, higher ADR and better guest and associate satisfaction scores. In addition, Swietlana has worked closely with local community organizations in each of her locations and is currently an active member of the Central City Association Executive Board and the Los Angeles Parks and Recreation Board of Directors.

Hostmark Hospitality
Irvine, California, United States
Appointment

James DeLuca has been appointed as Director of Front Office Operations at Bardessono

James DeLuca brings an extensive hospitality background and Napa Valley market experience to his new role with Bardessono. He was previously general manager of District 4, the large tasting lounge and wine bar in Napa, which collaborates with the region’s most exclusive wineries. Mr. DeLuca has also served as general manager for La Residence and for the North Block Hotel in Napa Valley.

Pyramid Global Hospitality
Yountville, California, United States
Appointment

Chris Bradford has been appointed as Wine Director at Culina, Modern Italian at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills

As a third-generation Angeleno, Bradford has cultivated more than ten years of experience working in various avenues of the Los Angeles hospitality industry. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts Degrees in both history and political science from Claremont McKenna College, and completing the Wine Professional Certificate Program from Irvine Valley College, Bradford began his professional wine endeavours as area sales manager with Fairest Cape Beverage Company in Irvine. Since then, he has developed diverse wine programs at venues such as Bouchée Restaurant and Wine Merchants in Carmel, Cetrella in Half Moon Bay and AnQi by Crustacean in Costa Mesa – racking up accolades such as multiple Wine Spectator “Best of Award of Excellence” and Wine Enthusiast “Ultimate Award of Distinction.” Bradford honourably serves as a member of the Society of Wine Educators and a judge at the Los Angeles International Wine Competition.

Four Seasons
Los Angeles, California, United States