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Stephane Mercier has been named General Manager at Conrad Miami

Hilton Worldwide announces the appointment of Stephane Mercier, as the general manager of the distinctive 36-story glass tower luxury Conrad Miami in downtown Miami’s financial district. In his new role, Mercier will oversee the day-to-day operations and management of the 203 rooms and 103 residence suites hotel, effective immediately. Mercier replaces Martin Wormull who has been promoted to senior director brand performance management, Americas for Hilton Worldwide Luxury brands. Mercier will report directly to Ted Ratcliff, senior vice president, operations, eastern North America, Hilton Worldwide.

Armel Santens has been appointed as General Manager at Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort

Meridian hotels in Paris and then Four Seasons in Ontario and the Ritz Carlton in Dallas. In 1983, he became general manager with Metro Hotels at Hilton DFW Lakes Executive Conference Center. From 1989 to 2001, he held key management positions with Quorum Hotels and Resorts, Sheraton and Millennium Biltmore before taking over as managing director of the Brown Palace Hotel and Complex in Denver and The BelAge in West Hollywood, California.

Jim Curtis has been appointed as Director of Sales & Marketing at The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa

After three years overseeing sales and marketing efforts for Starwood Caribbean, Jim Curtis has returned to The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa to take on the role of director of sales & marketing for the second time. With over 26 years of hospitality experience including 21 years with Starwood, Curtis will be responsible for continuing to drive occupancy at the Hollywood, FL resort by targeting groups of all sizes.

Katharine Anderson has been appointed as Marketing Manager at Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek

Having been a part of the Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek’s marketing team prior to its opening in Sept. 2011, Anderson possesses a key understanding of the resort and its hospitality positioning. Her new role will involve handling a larger scope of marketing, advertising and branding related activities for the family-friendly, Mediterranean-inspired property which also has a large focus on the meetings market in Orlando.

Char Thian Miller has been appointed as Marketing Manager at Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa

Char Miller manages Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa's day-to-day implementation of marketing and communications initiatives. Miller arrived at the resort from The Big Easy where she spent 12 years as Director of Public Relations for The Ritz-Carlton Hotels of New Orleans, the city's premier luxury hotel complex. Along the way, she also acted as Area Director of Public Relations for The Ritz-Carlton and Marriott Hotels of New Orleans where she oversaw marketing and communication initiatives for 17 properties immediately following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

Chris Bracken has been appointed as Director of Sales and Marketing at Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa

With over 30 years of experience at upscale hotels and resorts - including more than a decade at Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa - Chris Bracken oversees all sales and marketing efforts including creating strategies for increasing business from the group clientele and leveraging the resort's incomparable golf experience to draw leisure and business travelers alike.

Kevin Edmunds has been appointed as Vice President, Meetings & Incentive Sales at All Inclusive Collection (AIC)

All Inclusive Collection (AIC), the company that’s shifting the sands of the all-inclusive vacation experience, proudly announces the promotion of Kevin Edmunds to Vice President, Meetings & Incentive Sales. In this role, Edmunds will lead AIC’s national sales team, creating and implementing innovative strategies that generate business across the corporate spectrum, while continuing to elevate the AIC brand and its Hard Rock Hotels in Mexico and the Dominican Republic, the first and only all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotels in the world. Edmunds previously served as West Coast Regional Sales Director for the luxury brand. Prior to assuming his current role, Edmunds was responsible for selling AIC’s Hard Rock Hotel properties in the incentive, meetings, convention and group markets as West Coast Regional Sales Director. He also spearheaded lead generation and various other group marketing initiatives for his region and beyond. Additional brands lead by Edmunds include Palace Resorts, where he served in a similar capacity, and Edmunds Direct, a media and hotel marketing representation firm where he served as Regional Director.

Frank A. Corzo has been appointed as Vice President of U.S. Field Sales at Palace Resorts

Palace Resorts - the company that sets the standard in five-star, all-inclusive resort accommodations - proudly announces the addition of Frank A. Corzo as the new Vice President of U.S. Field Sales. Corzo will lead the U.S.-based sales team and develop effective strategies with a focus on the U.S. market. In this role, Corzo will oversee sales initiatives for the brand’s seven oceanfront resort properties in Cancun, Cozumel, Isla Mujeres and Riviera Maya, Mexico, as well as Le Blanc Spa Resort in Cancun. Corzo will oversee the Palace Resorts team of Business Development Managers that are strategically placed throughout the U.S. among the travel agency community in key markets throughout the country.With more than 16 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry, Corzo brings sales experience, a deep familiarization within the market and great enthusiasm to his new position.

Michele Frank has been appointed as Director of Sales & Marketing at The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village

With over 20 years of hospitality experience, Michele Frank will oversee all sales and marketing activities, including group and leisure sales, food and beverage, catering and public relations for the property. Before joining the Cape Coral resort, Frank was director of sales and marketing at The Westin Resort & Casino, Aruba and also held the same role at The Westin Diplomat Golf Resort & Spa in Hollywood, FL where she was responsible for driving occupancy at both resorts through a mix of group and leisure business, as well as the weddings market.

Eric Ashton has been named General Manager at The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village

Eric Ashton is an eight-year veteran of Starwood Hotels & Resorts. He previously served as the hotel manager at The Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto where he was responsible for leading a team of over 400 associates, two division leaders and seven department heads as well as initiated multiple renovation and refurbishment projects. Prior to that position, Ashton was the regional director of food and beverage for Canada, where he oversaw food and beverage for multiple Starwood properties, and previously served as the director of food and beverage at The Westin Calgary helping to bring guest satisfaction scores to the highest in the country.

Michelle Shulman has been appointed as Marketing Director at Bonaventure Resort & Spa

Benchmark Hospitality International, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company, has appointed Michelle Shulman marketing director for Bonaventure Resort & Spa, located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Jim Mauer, general manager, made the announcement.Michelle Shulman was previously president of PRcoverage, LLC, a Fort Lauderdale-based public relations firm she founded and led. Prior to this, she was director of marketing & public relations for The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa, located in Hollywood, Florida.

Kelli Sprague has been appointed as Wedding and Special Events Manager at Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa

Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa announces the appointment of Kelli Sprague as Wedding and Special Events Manager. In her new role, Sprague will be responsible for managing weddings and local special events. She will provide all clients with a professional and friendly contact throughout their experience with Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa.

Ricardo Echeverri has been appointed as Director of Sales and Marketing at Aloft Orlando Downtown

Mr. Echeverri brings over seven years of hospitality sales and marketing experience to the Aloft Orlando Downtown. Prior to joining the team, he was with the parent company of the Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando where he served as Corporate Transient Sales Manager. He is a graduate of the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality Management.

Craig Leicester has been appointed as General Manager at Aloft Orlando Downtown

Having over 17 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Leicester brings extensive lodging expertise to the Aloft Orlando Downtown. Prior to joining the hotel, he served in positions as General Manager, Director of Guest Services and Director of Food & Beverage Outlets at various boutique/luxury hotels in Florida and New Mexico. Leicester has also spent time as the Assistant Food & Beverage Outlets Manager at the Hilton in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is a graduate of the Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, NH with a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Hotel Administration.

Kari Dehn has been named Director Sales, Meetings & Incentives - Midwest at All Inclusive Collection

All Inclusive Collection – the brand that is shifting the sands of the all-inclusive resort experience – proudly announces Kari Dehn as regional director of sales, meetings & incentives covering the Midwest. In her new position, Kari is responsible for servicing and developing meeting, incentive and convention business for the All Inclusive Collection’s Hard Rock Hotels in Mexico and the Dominican Republic throughout the Midwest region. With more than 20 years of experience in the meetings and sales industry, Dehn has held numerous positions prior to her role at All Inclusive Collection in addition to completing a two year term as vice president of membership for the travel and event networking community, Site Minnesota. Her extensive resume includes BI Worldwide, Wyndham Hotel Group, Marriott Resorts Hawaii, as well as Melia Hotels International.

Tom Haines has been appointed as General Manager at Epicurean Hotel (a Autograph Collection® Hotel)

The Epicurean Hotel announced today the appointment of Tom Haines as the General Manager of the 137-room boutique hotel scheduled to open in November 2013. With nearly 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Haines comes to the Epicurean from the Loews Hotels at Universal Orlando, where he worked for nine years. Most recently, he was the Executive Assistant Manager at the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, where he worked with the General Manager to direct daily operations at the 750-room resort. While at Loews, Haines held a variety of positions, including Director of Food and Beverage and Director of Conference Management. He began his 20 year career with Hyatt Hotels at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans, where he spent four years in various food and beverage positions. He then moved to Tampa to work at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay and the Hyatt Regency Tampa.

Jim Mauer has been appointed as General Manager at Bonaventure Resort & Spa

Jim Mauer brings significant experience within the Fort Lauderdale and southern Florida markets to his new position. He was previously general manager of the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa in Fort Lauderdale. During this time, he simultaneously served as executive liaison to the company’s franchised properties throughout the Fort Lauderdale area. Mr. Mauer, who began his hospitality career working within food & beverage, has also held general manager positions for hotels and resorts in Ohio and Michigan. Mauer and his family reside in Fort Lauderdale.

Kathy Botero has been appointed as Southeast Regional Director of Meeting and Incentive Sales at The All Inclusive Collection

All Inclusive Collection – the brand that is shifting the sands of the all-inclusive resort experience – proudly names Kathy Botero Frantz, CMP as regional director of meeting & incentive sales covering the southeast. In her new position, Kathy is responsible for servicing and developing meeting, incentive and convention business for the All Inclusive Collection’s Hard Rock Hotels in Mexico and the Dominican Republic. With more than 17 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Kathy has held numerous positions prior to her role at All Inclusive Collection. Kathy’s extensive resume includes the Don CeSar Beach Resort, Grand Hayatt Tampa Bay, Melia Hotels International, Renaissance Hotels & Resorts/Marriott International, as well as the Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club.

Michelle Duquette has been appointed as Director of Sales at Courtyard by Marriott Stuart

Michelle Duquette has been named Director of Sales for the Courtyard by Marriott located in Stuart, FL. The 120-room Marriott Courtyard is managed by Waterford Hotel Group, a national hotel and convention center management firm. With nearly a decade of sales experience, Duquette joins the Marriott Courtyard Stuart team from her most recent position as Area Account Executive for Marriott International, where she covered the Hartford-Springfield market in Connecticut. Previously, she served as Senior Sales Manager for the Rocky Hill Marriott in CT and Market Account Executive for the Peabody Marriott, Springhill Suites, and Courtyard Marriott all in Peabody, MA.

Brian Lee has been appointed as Regional Sales Manager at Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa

A native of the Southwest, Lee has worked in hospitality and tourism sales industry for nearly 15 years, with much of that time spent as part of the Hilton Family. Most recently he worked as the regional director of sales for Guoman & Thistle Hotels, the largest portfolio of hotels in the UK. In addition, he has been in Chicago for 10 years where he was a national and senior sales manager for Hilton Hotels of Chicago, Starwood Hotels of Chicago and Kokua Hospitality, LLC. He is certified by Hilton’s Customer Focused Selling program and has completed the Hilton Revenue Management University.