Hotel Duval, a style icon and the first and only boutique hotel in Tallahassee, proudly announces the addition of Amanda Morrison as manager of conference services and events. Responsible for facilitating events, weddings and groups of 10 to 250 people among more than 7,500 square feet of meeting space at Hotel Duval, Morrison brings a fresh events planning perspective.
Prior to joining the B Ocean Fort Lauderdale team, Gebhardt was co-owner of Luxury Travel Solutions, a hospitality company concentrating on group travel and meeting planner development for luxury tradeshows. Previously, he was complex director of sales and marketing for the Westin Grand Bahama Island & Sheraton Grand Bahama Island at Our Lucaya Resort on Grand Bahama Island. Gebhardt holds a Hotel Administration Degree from the University of Nevada and a Master of Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix.
Benchmark Hospitality International, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company, has appointed Ana Fonseca director of sales & marketing for the luxurious ONE Bal Harbour Resort & Spa in Miami Beach, Florida. Rikki Boparai, general manager, made the announcement. Ana Fonseca was previously global sales manager for Aman Resorts in Turks and Caicos. She has served in sales leadership positions for major hotel brands at properties in Bal Harbour, Florida, as well as in South Carolina, California, in the British Virgin Islands and Belize. A former resident of exclusive Bal Harbour, her family connection to the Village has remained throughout Ana’s career.
Salamander Hotels & Resorts has appointed Mary Hutchcraft as the new director of sales and marketing at Reunion Resort. Hutchcraft joins Reunion from her former position as director of sales at The Shores Resort & Spa in Daytona Beach Shores. She has previously directed group sales efforts at Reunion when the resort opened in 2006, and also served as director of group sales for Innisbrook Resort.
Laclé’s expertise in Sales and Marketing has allowed John to be recognized with several accolades, recognizing him for his hard work and commitment to excellence. In 2005, Laclé received the Hilton’s Chairman Recognition reward for Excellence in Sales and in 2006 he received the President’s Recognition reward. John has consistently exceeded team group quotas and individual revenue goals as well as improved year-over-year RevPar Index at the Hilton Bentley. In 2010, he received national exposure for the Hilton Bentley on the televised show, “Kourtney & Khloe Take Miami” on E! Network. In that same year, John Laclé received Manager of the Year Award for Hilton Bentley followed by the AAA Four Diamond Award. John continues to move forward in his career, taking with him the prestige in the hospitality industry that he has earned over the years. In his previous position as the director of sales and marketing, John set and monitored sales team’s personal and financial goals and oversaw the catering and wedding sales. His skills, contacts, and industry reputation is expected to bring even further success to the Hilton Bentley and DeRodriguez Cuba on Ocean.
sbe Hotel Group has assembled an impressive team of hospitality industry experts to the executive team of SLS Hotel South Beach, including general manager Albert Mertz, director of sales & marketing Gregg Karasik and drector of food and beverage C. Luke Mathot. Mertz, who will oversee operation of the hotel, brings more than 15 years of management experience in the luxury hospitality sector to SLS. In his new role, he is committed to establishing SLS Hotel South Beach as the undisputed market leader by implementing unsurpassed levels of service.
Earning a bachelor’s degree in hospitality from Florida State University and a Masters in International Business Administration from University of Miami, Laclé has worked with many top hospitality brands such as Hyatt Regency, LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort, Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort, as well as many other Hilton properties. Laclé has been involved with the Hilton over 9 years and most recently served as Area Director of Sales and Marketing for the Hilton Bentley. Having risen through the ranks from front desk supervisor to Sales and Marketing Director, Laclé has a proven track record of outstanding results.
Benchmark Hospitality International, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company, has appointed Kanwaljeet 'Rikki' Boparai general manager for ONE Bal Harbour Resort & Spa, the landmark luxury property located in Miami Beach, Florida. ONE Bal Harbour Resort & Spa is part of Benchmark Hospitality’s new collection of Personal Luxury Resorts & Hotels SM. Greg Champion, Benchmark’s chief operating officer, made the announcement.Rikki Boparai was most recently general manager of Benchmark’s Four Diamond Naples Bay Resort, located in Naples, Florida. He has served in leadership positions at other Benchmark Hospitality resorts including Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs, Colorado, as well as at previous Benchmark properties such as Glen Cove Mansion, Long Island, New York; Bedford Springs Resort in Bedford, Pennsylvania; and Berry Hill Plantation Resort of South Boston, Virginia.
Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa is pleased to announce Kimberly Wilson as the new general manager. With over 24 years of hospitality experience with Marriott International, Inc., nearly a decade within Florida, Wilson will oversee and direct all aspects of the day-to-day management and operations for the 650-room South Florida resort. “I’m very excited to join the Harbor Beach team,” said Wilson. “This beachfront resort has always been one of South’s Florida’s premier properties and I look forward to being part of its continued success.”
The AAA Four Diamond Westin Imagine Orlando is pleased to announce that Elaine Driscoll, Lead Concierge, has been named “2011 Concierge of the Year” by the Central Florida Concierge Association (CFCA). The nomination is based upon a Concierge who has been actively involved with CFCA, demonstrates leadership, knowledge, career passion, a positive attitude, has an outgoing personality and is a person of influence.
Following a stellar twenty-year career with the Shelborne – South Beach, Crescent Heights properties and the Menin Hotels group as General Manager and Director of Sales & Marketing, Stuart Weintraub has recently joined the oceanfront, deco classic Richmond Hotel on South Beach as it’s General Manager. Stuart grew up on Miami Beach and worked at his family’s property, the Netherland, prior to his graduation from the University of Miami with a Master’s degree. Mr. Weintraub is active in the local community, serves on the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Executive Board and is involved with the local Hotel Association and Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Benchmark Hospitality International, a leading US-based hospitality management company, has named Miguel Diaz director of sales and marketing for Marenas Resort, located in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, north of Miami. Marenas Resort is part of Benchmark Hospitality’s new collection of Personal Luxury Resorts & HotelsSM properties. Jim Franklin, Benchmark’s general manager at the resort, made the announcement.
Derin came to Turnberry Isle Miami from the Flagship Ritz Carlton Resorts of Naples were he maintained Mobil Five Star and AAA Five Diamond status for four seasons. These two neighboring luxury hotels, the award winning Beach Resort and Golf Resort continued to enhance their legendary culinary reputation under the guidance and direction of Chef Moore. In his role of executive chef, Chef Moore oversaw the culinary vision of 12 individual dining outlets to ensure that each offers and unique and diverse experience as well as 50,000 square feet of banquet space. Chef Moore is responsible for the direction and development of a 173-member culinary team, and sat on the regional board offering benchmark solutions for the iconic brands domestic portfolio.
At its recent Annual General Meeting (AGM), held prior to Caribbean Travel Marketplace, members of the Caribbean Society of Hotel Association Executives (CSHAE) elected its leadership and Board of Directors to guide the region's association executives during the 2012-13 term. CSHAE executives also hammered out a strategic plan for the region's hotel associations and agreed to renew financial support for the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association Education Foundation's (CHTAEF) Haiti Relief Fund which provides training programs to help rebuild the nation's tourism talent base, much of which was lost as a result of the devastating earthquake two years ago.
General manager of the Omni Amelia Island Plantation, Paul Eckert, was appointed president of the 2012 executive board of the North Florida Hotel and Lodging Association, according to Omni Hotels. Eckert was brought on as general manager in 2010 after Omni’s acquisition of the property.Eckert brings more than 20 years of tourism experience to the board. A tenured member of the Omni Hotels & Resorts group, he has served at Omni properties in Colorado, Dallas and most recently, Jacksonville.
Mr. Andre Mros has been named the new Director of IT for Longboat Key Club & Resort and will manage the oversight of all IT related acquisitions, system controls, network communications and security solutions at the Resort.
Ms. Dearin joins Crestline Hotels & Resorts from Fairfield Inn and Suites Jacksonville West. She brings more than 13 years of hospitality operations and management experience to her new role, having also held positions with the Renaissance Resort World Golf Village, St. Augustine, FL and the Courtyard by Marriott Little Rock, AR.
Chef Ash’s diverse background includes training at L’Ecole Du Grand Chocolat in France and the International School of Confectionary Art in Maryland. His 17 years of experience include, Executive Chef of Milwaukee’s historic Preferred Hotel The Pfister, as well as Executive Chef/Director of Food and Beverage of the InterContinental Milwaukee and Executive Outlet Chef at the esteemed Wynn Resort in Las Vegas, rated Five-Star by Forbes and Five Diamond by AAA. Prior to that, Chef Ash worked at Parian Restaurant in the Regent International Hotel and for three-star Michelin Chef Jean Louis Palladin at Napa Restaurant in the Rio Suites Hotel of Las Vegas. Known for his culinary excellence and openness to innovation, Chef Ash has also consulted for the Harmon Nicolas Restaurant Group through the company Elements of Design – a company with an ultra modern twist on dining concepts.
Roberts comes to Hotel Duval from the Emerald Grande at HarborWalk Village in Destin, Fla., where he served as Rooms Division Manager and acting General Manager in the absence of the Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining the Emerald Grande team, Roberts worked on the resort operations team for Wyndham Vacation Resorts. During his time with Wyndham, Roberts assisted in the opening of a newly-acquired 260-unit property, training and developing the guest services department.
Buffalo Lodging Associates is proud to announce the promotion of Steffi Snelling to the general manager position for the Homewood Suites UCF Area – Orlando hotel, located at 3028 N. Alafaya Trail in Orlando, Florida.