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Appointment

Kathleen Cochran has been appointed as General Manager at Bacara Resort & Spa

Cochran, who worked for the prestigious Plaza Hotel and the historic Hotel del Coronado, also completed a 24-year tenure with Loews Hotels, most recently as general manager of Loews Coronado Bay Resort, where she received numerous accolades for her management success, industry innovations and community collaborations. Among her career accomplishments, Cochran orchestrated a landmark partnership with the California State Parks, generating $750,000 for preservation, enhancement, education, and ecological/historic interpretation of the Silver Strand State Beach, for which the agency bestowed Cochran its coveted “Hero Award.” Cochran also spearheaded a variety of guest programs that have become standard throughout Loews Hotels, including nationally recognized kids’ activities and an open-door policy for pets. In addition, under Cochran’s leadership, the resort won a string of management awards: San Diego’s “Best Place to Work” (San Diego Magazine and San Diego Business Journal), “Workplace Excellence” (Society of Human Resource Management), and “General Manager of the Year” (California Hotel & Lodging Association). Cochran served on the board of the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau and was president of the Coronado Convention & Visitors Bureau. She is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration General Manager program.

Bacara Resort & Spa
Santa Barbara, California, United States
Appointment

Hector Moreno has been appointed as General Manager at Hilton San Diego Mission Valley

HEI Hotels & Resorts (HEI), the nation’s fastest growing private owner/operator of hotel real estate, today announced several general manager promotions, transitions and appointments resulting from the acquisition of four hotels earlier this year. Hector Moreno joined HEI as General Manager of the Hilton Mission Valley. Prior to joining HEI, Moreno was the senior director of hotel operations for the Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, responsible for $63 million in annual room revenues for the 1,500-room complex. While there, he oversaw the opening of two hotel towers and a $1.3 million soft goods renovation. With nearly 20 years in the hospitality business, Moreno has held senior management positions with some of the industry’s leading brands, including Hilton, Wyndham, Sheraton and W hotels.

HEI Hotels
Mission Valley, California, United States
Appointment

Gordon Luster has been appointed as General Manager at San Diego Marriott La Jolla

HEI Hotels & Resorts (HEI), the nation’s fastest growing private owner/operator of hotel real estate, today announced several general manager promotions, transitions and appointments resulting from the acquisition of four hotels earlier this year. Gordon Luster was appointed General Manager of the Marriott La Jolla, a 360-room hotel acquired in July, 2011. Prior to this assignment, Luster was the General Manager of the Hilton Mission Valley.

HEI Hotels
La Jolla, California, United States
Appointment

Timothy Lusher has been appointed as General Manager at Westin Pasadena

HEI Hotels & Resorts (HEI), the nation’s fastest growing private owner/operator of hotel real estate, today announced several general manager promotions, transitions and appointments resulting from the acquisition of four hotels earlier this year. Tim Lusher joined HEI as the General Manager for the Westin Pasadena, a 350-room hotel acquired in June, 2011. Lusher joined HEI from Starwood Hotels and Resorts where he capped off his 13-year tenure as general manager of the Westin Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego, CA. There he managed the property through a complicated restructuring and prepared for a $25 million renovation, while maintaining service levels and financial performance. Throughout his 27-year hospitality career, Lusher’s hallmark has been complex assignments, including simultaneously managing Westin and Clarion properties during the recent economic downturn.

HEI Hotels
Pasadena, California, United States
Appointment

Jordan Kaye has been appointed as Marketing and Communications Manager at Andaz West Hollywood

With experience working on top-tier luxury and lifestyle accounts, Kaye joins the Andaz team from The Rose Group, a boutique PR and marketing firm. As an Account Supervisor he worked with account such as The SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills, Tyra Banks, SKYY Vodka and Showtime’s EliteXC. Prior to his role at The Rose Group, Kaye was a PR and marketing consultant where he launched The Rundown, a daily men’s e-newsletter and a local beer company, Fireman’s Brew. He also spent time at Fingerprint Communications where he led a team to launch the Polaroid Malibu Beach House, Bacardi’s 42 Below Vodka, and Maxim Magazine’s Super Bowl and Hot 100 parties. Kaye graduated with a BA in Public Relations and Advertising from Chapman University.

Andaz West Hollywood
Los Angeles, California, United States
Appointment

Tobias Gessner has been appointed as Director of Food & Beverage at InterContinental San Francisco

Gessner was first introduced to the InterContinental Hotels Group in 2001 at the InterContinental Dallas where he was the Conference and Meeting Coordinator, helping to oversee daily operations and all banquet functions. His time at the InterContinental Dallas also included a position as the Director of Purchasing/Food & Beverage Cost Controller. Previous to this experience, Gessner honed his hospitality skills as a Management Trainee at the Queens Hotel Siegen and as the Banquet Assistant at Queens Hotel Luedenscheid, both located in Germany. Gessner then relocated to the Westbury Hotel Mayfair, in London, UK, where he provided exceptional customer service at the Front Desk Reception. In early 2004, Gessner was appointed Restaurant Manager at the Willard InterContinental in Washington D.C. and later assumed the role of Private Dining & Bar Manager. In 2005, he became the In-Room Dining & Honor Bar Manager at the Mandarin Oriental in Washington D.C.

InterContinental San Francisco
San Francisco, California, United States
Appointment

Dan Shaughnessy has been appointed as Director of Sales & Marketing at the Anaheim Marriott

Prior to joining the Anaheim Marriott, Mr. Shaughnessy was director of sales and marketing at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa. With a total of 23 years in the hospitality industry, Mr. Shaughnessy has spent the past 19 years with Marriott Hotels & Resorts at various properties throughout Southern California and Arizona. In his new role, Mr. Shaughnessy will be responsible for the property sales, profits, booking pace, market positioning, advertising, marketing, public relations, and e-commerce.

the Anaheim Marriott
Anaheim, California, United States
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Appointment

Ben Trodd has been appointed as General Manager at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel

A sixteen-year veteran of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, he joins the celebrated property from Four Seasons Hotel Seattle. A native of England, Trodd comes to Beverly Wilshire from Seattle where he opened the Hotel in November 2008. Along with a strong management team, he led the Hotel to become the city’s undisputed market leader and gained widespread acclaim from publications such as Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler.

Four Seasons
Beverly Hills, California, United States
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Appointment

Thomas Meding has been appointed as General Manager at SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills

Meding brings more than 10 years of management experience in the luxury hospitality sector to SLS. Most recently, Meding served as General Manager of Palm Springs, California, for six years. Under Meding’s leadership, the hotel became an undisputed market leader. As Le Parker Meridian is a brand under the Starwood umbrella, Meding has also been well versed with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.Prior to his tenure at Le Parker Meridien, Meding worked in a variety of Senior Executive positions within the Ritz Carlton, Fairmont and Four Seasons portfolios, The Waldorf–Astoria and the St Regis Hotel in New York. Meding began his career with Intercontinental Hotels in Germany before relocating to San Francisco, where he attended Golden Gate University and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel, Restaurant & Institutional Management. Thomas will be moving to Los Angeles with his wife, Alisa and their 2 boys, Tristan and Tanner.

SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills, California, United States
Appointment

Daniela Koch has been appointed as Rooms Division Manager at InterContinental Mark Hopkins

With more than 10 years of management experience in the hospitality industry, Koch brings a unique international perspective to the InterContinental Mark Hopkins. She began her career working at The Westin Grand, a Starwood hotel in Berlin, Germany and later moved to San Francisco to work at another Starwood hotel, The Westin St. Francis, working in a number of positions from Front Desk Agent to Guest Services Manager before taking the position of Front Office Manager at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort & Spa in Dana Point, California. After seven years with Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Koch, moved to Dubai, UAE to work as the Guest Services Manager at the Madinat Jumeirah destination resort and then found herself in New York City at the Jumeirah Essex House working as the Assistant Director of Front Office Operations before her promotion to Director of Front Office Operations. Koch joined her first InterContinental Hotels Group property in 2008 upon moving to the InterContinental Hong Kong as the Director of Rooms. In this new role, Koch was responsible for all front office operations including reception, guest relations, club lounge, concierge, bell and door departments as well as Airport and PBX operator teams.

InterContinental Mark Hopkins
San Francisco, California, United States
Appointment

John Carter has been appointed as Director of Leisure Sales at Resort at Squaw Creek™

Carter brings a wealth of luxury hospitality experience to his new position. Prior to moving to Lake Tahoe for the opportunity with Resort at Squaw Creek, Carter served as a specialty travel consultant with tour operator Alpine Adventures. He has also served as director of sales and marketing at several mountain destination properties including The Sky Hotel in Aspen, Colorado, and The Hotel Telluride in Telluride, Colorado.

Destination Hotels
Lake Tahoe, California, United States
Appointment

Shannon Gilbert has been appointed as Director of Sales at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel

With more than 16 years of experience in the hospitality industry, she most recently served as director of sales and marketing at The Ritz-Carlton, Denver. Prior to her appointment in Colorado, she served as associate director of sales at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel and Half Moon Bay. Previously, Ms. Gilbert served as a national sales manager for The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage and director of Northwest sales at La Quinta Resort & Club. Ms. Gilbert holds a degree in Business Administration from College of the Desert, and is a member of Meeting Planners International (MPI) and Insurance Conference Planner Association (ICPA).

The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel
Dana Point, California, United States
Appointment

Keith Butz has been appointed as General Manager at Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport

Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport - Burlingame recently announced the appointment of Keith Butz as General Manager. Returning to the Bay Area for his third General Manager position with Hyatt Hotels, Butz was most recently General Manager of Hyatt Regency Calgary in Alberta, Canada. Prior to his assignment north of the border, Butz was General Manager of Hyatt at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. Butz will be replacing former General Manager Scott Vandenberg who has been transferred to Hyatt Regency Sacramento, California as General Manager. Butz started his career with Hyatt in 1993 at Hyatt Regency New Orleans as a Corporate Management Trainee. During his six years in New Orleans, Butz held various management positions in the Rooms and Food & Beverage divisions. Butz, then held positions at Hyatt Regency Chicago, Park Hyatt San Francisco, Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego and was part of the opening team for Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa. In November 2005, Butz was promoted to General Manager of Hyatt at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. Keith Butz and wife, Amanda, return to the Bay Area with great excitement and look forward to reuniting with their many friends and colleagues in the community.

Hyatt
San Francisco, California, United States
Appointment

Kevin Anawati has been appointed as Director of Sales at Hotel Hanford

Prior to joining The Hotel Hanford, Anawati was director of sales for the Avalon Hotel in Beverly Hills where he booked many wrap-up and screening parties for major studios and entertainment companies. Over the last 15 years, Anawati has served in various sales and marketing leadership roles in high-end hotels throughout Southern California. After earning his bachelor’s of science in business administration—management from California State University, Long Beach, Anawati began his career in the hotel industry as a manager for the Laguna Brisas Spa Hotel in Laguna Beach.

Hotel Hanford
Costa Mesa, California, United States
Appointment

Rob Adams has been appointed as General Manager at Marriott Suites Anaheim

Prior to joining the Marriott Suites Anaheim, Adams was general manager of the 238-room Denver Airport Marriott. He also held a number of increasingly important positions within Marriott, including area director of operations over five hotels and corporate director of guest services for seven hotels. Adams received his Bachelor of Science in Strategic Communications and English Literature from The University of Kansas.

Dow
Garden Grove, California, United States
Appointment

Alina Wade has been appointed as Director of Sales at Joie de Vivre's Custom Hotel

Alina Wade, newly appointed director of sales at Custom Hotel, started her professional career in advertising and public relations before moving into sales in the hospitality industry. In the last few years, Wade led the Sales Team at Sportsmen’s Lodge Hotel in Studio City. Since joining Joie de Vivre, Wade participated in the opening of Hotel Angeleno in Brentwood, the first Joie de Vivre property in Southern California. Prior to joining Joie de Vivre, Wade worked with the Hilton Corporation, which presented her with the Highest Sales Excellence Award in 2004 for outstanding results.

Commune
Los Angeles, California, United States
Appointment

Chan Jin has been appointed as General Manager at Joie de Vivre's Custom Hotel

With over 20 years of experience in executive management, Custom Hotel General Manager Chan Jin is a seasoned veteran in the hospitality industry. He began his career serving Ian Schrager Hotels in New York, working with Brand Development & Performance at the pre-opening of five luxury lifestyle hotels. He then moved onto a successful career with Hilton Worldwide, working in executive leadership positions in Rooms and Food & Beverage divisions for key Southern California properties such as Fess Parker's Doubletree Resort in Santa Barbara, Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines in La Jolla, Hilton Los Angeles Airport and, most recently, at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills.

Commune
Los Angeles, California, United States
Appointment

Michael Collins has been appointed as Executive Chef at The Meritage Resort and Spa

Chef Mike grew up in Sacramento, California, and learned to cook by watching his Sicilian mother and grandmother dish up spectacular Christmas Eve dinners and nightly meals that were just as tasty. When he was 12 his mother took a traveling sales job. With a father whose idea of cooking was making a sandwich, Chef Mike was determined to make meals just like his mother and grandmother had. By age 16 he was helping at local restaurants, and at age 18 he became a professional chef and completed a culinary apprenticeship at the Greenbrier Hotel in West Virginia. In his nearly 25-year career he has taken various chef positions at four and five star resorts in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Arizona, Louisiana, Maui, Utah and throughout California.

The Meritage Resort and Spa
Napa, California, United States
Appointment

Jorge Tostado has been named Corporate Director of HR at the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa

An accomplished human resources executive, Tostado brings more than 22 years of relevant experience in counsel and improving processes to the historic Mission Inn. Tostado’s responsibilities will consist of planning and directing programs for all human resources areas – recruiting new talent, workplace safety and risk management, employee relations, compensation and benefits, and training and leadership development. Tostado’s professional experience includes property-level and regional roles in human resources at AAA Four Diamond Hotels including the Hilton San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf; the Claremont Hotel Club & Spa in Berkeley, Calif., Houston Marriott Westchase; Hilton Sonoma Wine Country; Sheraton San Diego, New Orleans Marriott Metairie, and more

the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa
Riverside, California, United States