Noble House Hotels & Resorts, Ltd., a hotel ownership and management group with an upscale portfolio of distinct and visually captivating properties spanning the US, is pleased to announce the appointment of Amelia Hill as Area Spa Director of its two Florida Keys properties – Little Palm Island Resort & Spa and Ocean Key Resort & Spa.
As director of rooms, Christopher Jennings plans and manages day-to-day operations in the rooms division and related areas to achieve guest satisfaction and quality service. Jennings brings several years of front office management experience at iconic, luxury resorts including The St. Regis Princeville Resort on Kauai, Baha Mar Casino in the Bahamas and The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Ariz.
A 20-plus-year veteran of the hospitality industry, Todd Gehrke brings a wealth of industry knowledge and luxury sales & marketing experience to The Don CeSar. In his new position, Gehrke leads and implements sales & marketing strategies for The Don CeSar while staying ahead of the curve on trends and innovative concepts to create memorable experiences for guests. Gehrke’s previous roles include director of sales & marketing at The Madeline Hotel and Residences in Telluride, Colo. and director of group sales & marketing at The Telluride Tourism Board.
Drawing on more than 30 years of hospitality management experience, a majority of those at resorts throughout Florida, Richard Staley is responsible for overseeing all operations at The Don CeSar in addition to sister property, Beach House Suites by The Don CeSar located half a mile away from the main resort. Before his arrival at The Don CeSar in February 2017, when the property transitioned to an independent hotel, Staley served as general manager of Innisbrook, A Salamander Golf & Spa Resort in Palm Harbor, Fla.
TownePlace Suites by Marriott Orlando at SeaWorld, managed by LBA Hospitality and owned by Mandala Holdings, is now open in the heart of the city"s magical attractions. Located across the street from SeaWorld® Orlando and right around the corner from Discovery Cove, Aquatica Orlando, Orange County Convention Center, Universal Studios and Walt Disney World, the hotel will serve travelers the utmost in hospitality in the city known as the number one meeting destination in the U.S. and the location for a record of 68 million visitors last year.
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) and Epelboim Development Group announced today a new development deal to build an all-new Tru by Hilton in Orlando, Florida, bringing the innovative, midscale hotel brand to a new market. The eight-story, 259-room hotel will be the largest Tru by Hilton property to date and will be located just south of the Orange County Convention Center.
The Don CeSar, the landmark property on the white sand beaches of St. Pete Beach, Fla., announces the appointment of Michael Molloy as Executive Chef. Molloy, who began his career at The Don CeSar 15 years ago, comes full circle to lead the culinary team of the 277-room historic hotel. In his new role, Molloy oversees all aspects of The Don CeSar’s food & beverage program, ensuring culinary excellence across the hotel’s restaurants, including the award-winning Maritana Grille, as well as the property’s lounges, in-room dining and banquet offerings. He will also lead the reinvention of the culinary program of sister property, Beach House Suites by The Don CeSar. Prior to his return to The Don CeSar, Molloy served as executive chef of the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. His resume also includes positions at the AAA Four Diamond Wyndham Grand Jupiter at Harbourside Place in Jupiter, Fla. and Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek in Orlando, Fla. where he helped oversee the renowned deep blu seafood grille, focused on local produce and sustainable seafood, at both properties.
BEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts, known for its luxurious four and five-star properties located in the most spectacular destinations around the world, has opened the doors of its second U.S. hotel in Miami Beach, Fla. The historic building, now renamed IBEROSTAR Berkeley, was fully renovated under a $43 million investment and is situated at 1610 Collins Avenue, right at the heart of South Beach. The four-star hotel provides a high-quality alternative for the business and leisure traveler.
A Miami native, Almirall is a graduate of Florida International University where she earned a degree in communications, studying public relations and business communication. She will bring her experience in building and cultivating brands and enhancing the guest experience to the Hotel Colonnade.
With over a decade in sales, Tyndale, a New Orleans native, has held positions in sales with hotels including TPG Hotels and Resorts, where she worked her way up from sales manager to regional sales manager, overseeing sales at multiple Starwood and Marriott hotels.
A Seattle native, McClendon was inspired by hospitality at an early age by his mother who was fond of hosting over-the-top dinner parties for friends and family. McClendon got his start more than a decade ago and has held GM positions for hospitality groups such as sbe Entertainment Group (Los Angeles, Miami, and New York) and Kimpton Hotels and Resorts (Santa Barbara and Goleta, Calif.), as well as director of rooms at Benchmark Resorts and Hotels (Santa Fe, N.M., and Woodinville, Wash.), among others.
Art Ovation Hotel will be the newest addition to downtown Sarasota when it debuts this Winter. The 162-room boutique hotel will be an Autograph Collection Hotel, and plans to make its mark as Sarasota"s signature hotel of the arts – embracing and celebrating the city"s diverse range of visual and performing arts.
Keith Butz has been appointed GM of The Confidante Miami Beach, effective immediately. In his new position, Butz oversees the day-to-day operations at one of the Miami Beach hotel.
Officials of a joint venture comprised of Peachtree Hotel Group (PHG), one of the nation"s fastest-growing hotel investment and management platforms, and Celebration Pointe Holdings (CPH) today broke ground on the 140-room Hotel Indigo® property in Gainesville, Fla. The hotel, which will be operated by PHG, is expected to open in August 2018.
At Magnuson Hotels, America"s fastest growing hotel brand, we are proud to announce the branding of the Magnuson Grand at Oak Plantation Resort, located in Kissimmee, Florida.
Kolter Hospitality, a division of The Kolter Group, proudly announced that it has opened the doors of The Westin Sarasota Hotel in downtown Sarasota to guests. The highly anticipated hotel is located at 1175 N. Gulfstream Avenue in the heart of Sarasota's lively Arts District. www.westinsarasota.com
BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has named Kevin Rosa director of sales & marketing for the Forbes Four Star-rated Villas of Grand Cypress, a Gemstone Collection property located in Orlando, Florida. Mark Cox, BENCHMARK's general manager at the resort, made the announcement. Kevin Rosa brings nearly three decades of experience to his new position at Villas of Grand Cypress. He was most recently director of sales and marketing for the Loews Don Cesar Hotel and the Beach House Suites by Loews Don Cesar of St. Petersburg, Florida. He has served in the same position for such signature properties as Turnberry Isle Miami and The Sagamore, Bolton Landing, New York. Mr. Rosa was associate director of sales for The Cloister and The Lodge at Sea Island in Georgia. Earlier in his career he worked with the landmark Greenbrier of White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, and The Breakers, in Palm Beach, Florida. Mr. Rosa earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the College of Hotel, Restaurant and Travel Administration at Georgia State University. He has been honored by serving on numerous Chamber and CVB Boards throughout his career.
Courtyard Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruise Port recently unveiled its $1.6 million room renovation. Vacationers and business travelers alike can now enjoy reimagined décor, new furnishings and upgraded TVs. The hotel has also named Dace Stewart, who has over 13 years of experience with Marriott, as the hotel's new general manager.
Key International – a prominent real estate investment and development company specializing in hospitality – announced today that it has topped off Phase I of construction of its highly-anticipated Embassy Suites by Hilton St. Augustine Beach Oceanfront Resort in Florida. The resort, which will serve as a preeminent business, leisure and event destination, is scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2018.
Atlanta-based Hotel Equities announced the hiring of Arthur Holman as the new General Manager of the 175-room Residence Inn by Marriott Miami Beach/Surfside, FL located at 92nd Street and Collins Avenue in the Surfside area of Miami Beach. Hotel Equities manages the property for Hotel Development Partners (HDP) of Atlanta, their JV partner.Mr. Holman came to Hotel Equities from Lodging Dynamics Hospitality Group (LDHG) in Provo, Utah, where he served as the Vice President of Operations and helped to grow the company from three hotels to 20, representing 13 brands within a period of eight years. He began his hospitality career in accounting at the Provo Park Hotel (currently the Provo Marriott). After Mr. Holman earned a promotion to Controller, Sunstone Hotels tapped him as the opening General Manager of the Residence Inn by Marriott in Provo, Utah. Under his watch, the hotel became a consistent RevPAR leader and Mr. Holman captured the firm’s Rising Star and Chairman’s Circle awards for his leadership skills and financial success. In 2000, Lodging Dynamics Hospitality Group hired Mr. Holman as General Manager for the Residence Inn by Marriott in Salt Lake City, Utah. During his tenure, he spearheaded a complete renovation of the property including the conversion and addition of a 60-room independent hotel as an extension of the Residence Inn. He enhanced guest and associate satisfaction, increased the hotel’s profitability and hosted the U.S. Olympic Committee during the 2002 Winter Olympic Games before his promotion to VP of Operations for the firm. Mr. Holman earned a B.S. in Business Management with an emphasis in finance from Brigham Young University. He also holds a Certificate in Advanced Hospitality Revenue Management from Cornell University. An avid supporter of the nonprofit Operation Underground Railroad, he has also participated in numerous Marriott Spirit to Serve activities, including Habitat for Humanity. In his free time, he enjoys scuba diving, traveling and using his smoker to cook for his family. Mr. Holman and his wife Meredith are the parents of three daughters.