A longtime general manager at the JW Marriott Indianapolis is stepping down as a new leader joins the team. A number of other hotels have also appointed new GMs in recent weeks. Here are some names to know.
JW Marriott Indianapolis
The JW Marriott Indianapolis is set to change leaders as longtime general manager Phil Ray steps down, concluding a 40-year career in hospitality. Upon his retirement, Fernando Estala, most recently general manager of Indianapolis Marriott Downtown, will become GM of the hotel.
Ray has been the general manager of JW Marriott Indianapolis since 2014. He first arrived in the Indianapolis market in 2003 as general manager of the Omni Severin Hotel before returning to the Marriott family and joining White Lodging in 2010 as general manager of Indianapolis Marriott Downtown.
Ray began his hospitality career with Marriott International in 1985 at Boston Long Wharf after earning his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Bentley University. Over the course of his career, he held leadership roles across the country, including in Dallas, San Francisco, New York City’s Plaza Hotel, Rhode Island and his hometown of Portland, Maine.
Along the way, Ray held a range of operational and financial leadership positions, including controller, director of finance, director of operations and general manager.
Beyond the hotel, Ray has remained involved in the Indianapolis hospitality community, serving as president of the Greater Indianapolis Hotel Association and chairman of the Indianapolis Restaurant and Lodging Association. Since 2011, he has also been volunteer board president of the Indianapolis chapter of Back on My Feet.
Ray will officially retire on May 31, with Estala assuming the role of general manager on June 1.
Estala joined White Lodging in 2013 as director of sales at JW Marriott Indianapolis and has since held several leadership roles across the company’s portfolio, including opening director of sales & marketing for Austin Marriott Downtown and assistant general manager at JW Marriott Austin. He returned to Indianapolis in 2024 to work as general manager of Indianapolis Marriott Downtown.
His career began as a front desk agent at the El Paso Marriott before graduating from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration. His first management role was as an event manager at the New York Marriott Marquis.
The Albert Hotel
The Albert Hotel, an independent property in Fredericksburg, Texas, appointed Chris Jennings general manager. The property, developed by Austin-based hospitality company New Waterloo, opened in January.
Jennings’ career includes leadership roles at The Don CeSar in St. Pete Beach, The St. Regis Princeville in Hawaii, two tenures at The Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale and the opening of the Baha Mar Casino and Hotel in the Bahamas.
Jennings joined Turnberry in 2018 as part of the opening leadership team for the JW Marriott Nashville after launching premier hospitality destinations, including the Westin Phoenix Downtown. In Nashville, he led a division of more than 200 associates spanning front office, housekeeping, engineering, security, and spa operations, while also lending strategic support to food & beverage.
The Bellevue Hotel
In Philadelphia, the Bellevue Hotel, part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt and a120-year landmark, appointed Firas Ghorab general manager.
Ghorab most recently was general manager of The Sanderling Resort & Spa. Before that, he was corporate director of operations for EOS Hospitality, overseeing a portfolio of 11 properties; and general manager of Embassy Suites Georgetown.
Earlier in his career, Firas worked with Hilton, Hyatt International and IHG.
Hilton Waikoloa Village
Hilton appointed Nicholas Kuhns general manager of the 647‑room Hilton Waikoloa Village on Hawaii Island’s Kohala Coast.
Kuhns joins Hilton Waikoloa Village from Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows, where he had been general manager since 2024. Before that, Kuhns was resort manager at Montage Kapalua Bay. He previously was general manager of Embassy Suites Seattle Downtown Pioneer Square. Kuhns’ earlier career includes more than a decade at Hilton, including leadership roles at Hilton Salt Lake City Center and Hilton Clearwater Beach, among others.
Kuhns holds a bachelor’s degree in Hotel Administration from University of Nevada.
Le Méridien and AC Hotel Denver Downtown
Owner and operator White Lodging has appointed Stan Iliev dual general manager of Le Méridien and AC Hotel Denver Downtown.
Iliev’s tenure with White Lodging began in 2011 when he was assistant general manager and front desk manager at Hilton Garden Inn, Chicago Midway. He has since held general manager roles at five White Lodging properties in Chicago, Valparaiso, Louisville and Nashville, gaining leadership experience across full- and select-service hotels within Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt portfolios. Most recently, Iliev was the general manager of the Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University, where he successfully repositioned the property as one of the top full-service hotels in the market. Before joining White Lodging, Iliev spent 10 years in the food and beverage industry.
Mailena
Mailena—a wellness resort set to debut later this year in Loreto, Mexico—appointed Alejandro Santander Habif general manager.
Most recently, Habif was managing director at the Royal Isabela in Puerto Rico. He also held general manager positions across prominent properties throughout Mexico and the United States, including Villa La Valencia Resort, Villa del Palmar Puerto Vallarta and Congress Hall Hotel. In addition, he was director of the Mexico Tourism Board in San Diego,
The Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel
Kristen Hammac is the new general manager of the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel, marking her return to the brand.
Most recently, she was market vice president, overseeing Marriott Select Brand properties across six states. She previously was general manager at the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld. She spent three years as general manager at Marriott Stanton South Beach.
Hammac’s career began in the rooms department before transitioning into sales and marketing. Since joining Marriott International in 2013, she has held high-profile leadership positions, including director of sales & marketing at the JW Marriott Washington D.C. and the Renaissance Washington, D.C. Downtown.