A number of hotels, including many under Hilton and Marriott flags, have announced new leadership in the past few days.
Conrad Washington, D.C.
Conrad Washington, D.C. appointed Dale MacPhee the new general manager. MacPhee joins the property from Cairo, Egypt, where she most recently led the opening of Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis – the first Waldorf Astoria opening on the African continent.
Originally from Halifax, Canada, MacPhee began her Hilton career 33 years ago as a receptionist in Halifax. In addition to leading the pre-opening and opening team of Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis, MacPhee has held various leadership positions across the portfolio, including general manager of Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh - The Caledonian and general manager of the former Waldorf Astoria Collection London Syon Park. Her tenure as general manager includes additional roles at Hilton and London Hilton on Park Lane.
Dream Downtown
The Dream Downtown in New York City appointed Sean Olmstead as the new general manager. Olmstead began his career in the industry as a pot washer and a cook, working his way into leadership roles at leading lifestyle hotels and brands. In 2000, he began working as the executive chef at the InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco, where he quickly moved into the role of director of food and beverage. There, he managed 150 staff members.
Olmstead then transitioned into the regional director of food and beverage for IHG before moving into roles as executive assistant manager and hotel manager at various InterContinental properties. Before his current role, he was the vice president and director of operations for Public, an Ian Schrager Hotel in New York City; general manager at L’Auberge de Sedona (Ariz.) & Orchards Inn; and general manager the Standard High Line in New York, where he remained for three years.
Hilton Burlington Lake Champlain
Aimbridge Hospitality has appointed Justin Chapman the new general manager of the Hilton Burlington Lake Champlain, soon to be the Hotel Champlain. He previously was general manager of the Embassy Suites by Hilton at Destiny USA in Syracuse, N.Y., another Aimbridge Hospitality property.
The hotel is set to transition into a Curio Collection by Hilton property over the summer. Chapman will be leading the rebranding of the hotel and the recently opened, regionally inspired all-day restaurant, Lily May’s Coffee & Cafe, as well as the soon-to-launch signature restaurant Original Skiff Fish + Oyster.
Hollywood Roosevelt
The Hollywood Roosevelt in California appointed Andrew Jay as the new general manager. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Jay has managed restaurants and hotels across the U.S.
Jay began his career at the original California Pizza Kitchen in Beverly Hills and went on to work with chef Bradley Ogden as a sommelier. Jay then went on to manage numerous properties including The Ryland Inn in New Jersey, Castle Hill in Rhode Island, Encantado Resort in Santa Fe, The Inn at Dos Brisas in Texas Ojai Valley Inn and Ace Hotels in New Orleans and Los Angeles.
The Knoll Hotel Napa Valley, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
Following a recent hotel rebranding and design refresh, The Knoll Hotel Napa Valley, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, appointed Ken Murakami as its new general manager, overseeing daily operations and programming for the 90-room hotel and its food and beverage offerings.
Murakami joins The Knoll Hotel Napa Valley team from Aimbridge Hospitality, where he most recently was opening general manager at Home2 Suites Petaluma. He also was general manager at several California hotels, including FountainGrove Inn in Santa Rosa, Hilton Sonoma Wine Country in Sonoma, Sheraton San Diego in Mission Valley and Embassy Suites in Walnut Creek. Before his experience as general manager, Murakami was assistant general manager at several properties, including Sheraton Anaheim in Anaheim, Calif., and Sheraton Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco.
JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa
Doug Gennardo joins the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa as general manager, following the retirement of Doug Ridge. Gennardo previously was Hotel Manager at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center. He has worked at at several of Marriott’s luxury brands such as The Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott and Edition Hotels,
Most recently achieved record-setting results at the Gaylord Texan with events and catering revenue exceeding $100 million and record-breaking ticket sales for ICE!, the Resort’s signature holiday experience. He is a graduate of Cornell University and has worked on Project SEARCH, a workforce program for children with intellectual disabilities, which he championed and helped establish during his previous role.
Naples Grande Beach Resort
Naples Grande Beach Resort appointed David Cesario as general manager. Most recently, Cesario was the vice president and opening general manager of Margaritaville Beach Resort in Fort Myers Beach, Fla., where he oversaw the construction of the property, operational planning, budget development and staff hiring.
Before joining Margaritaville Beach Resort, Cesario spent a 36-year career with Marriott International, serving multiple leadership positions in Miami, Orlando, Boston and Detroit. Cesario's last Marriott position was hotel manager at the Orlando World Center Marriott.
TownePlace Suites Hattiesburg
Germantown, Tenn.- based McNeill Hotel Company appointed Irene Nelson as general manager at its TownePlace Suites Hattiesburg, Miss.
Nelson began her hospitality career with McNeill Hotel Company in 2018 in housekeeping. Successive positions have included laundry attendant, houseperson, breakfast, front desk agent, executive housekeeper and, most recently, assistant general manager at TownePlace Suites in Hattiesburg. In her new position, Nelson will be a direct report to MHC Regional Director of Operations Matt McAtee.
Pendry Park City
Pendry Hotels & Resorts appointed John Rolfs general manager of Pendry Park City in Canyons Village, Utah.
Rolfs joins the Pendry Hotels & Resorts family with more than 28 years of experience in hospitality, including over two decades with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, most recently as general manager of St. Regis Bal Harbour Hotel. In his new role as general manager, Rolfs will oversee all aspects of resort operations for Pendry Park City. Rolfs held managerial roles in Shanghai, China, Osaka and Tokyo, as well as multiple cities in the United States including New Orleans; Las Vegas; Palm Beach, Fla.; and Aspen, Colo.
Prince Kitano
The Prince Kitano New York appointed Peter Yeung as general manager. Following a multiyear renovation, The Prince Kitano New York officially reopened in December within the Seibu Prince Hotels & Resorts portfolio, marking the first property in the continental U.S. for Japanese hospitality company Seibu Prince Hotels Worldwide Inc.
Yeung has held managerial positions at W Hotels and Westin. Most recently he was general manager of The Spiral in New York, where he spearheaded operations within the 66-story office tower in Manhattan’s Hudson Yards. Before that, Yeung was also general manager of Walker Hotels and Gramercy Park Hotel.
Residence Inn by Marriott Kenwood
Commonwealth Hotels appoints Latrina Wright the general manager of the Residence Inn by Marriott Kenwood (Ohio).
Before joining the Residence Inn Kenwood, Wright held multiple leadership roles with Courtyard, Four Points and TownePlace Suites.
The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco
The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco appointed Nicholas McDermott its new general manager.
McDermott joins the property from The St. Regis Houston, where he was general manager for the past four years. He began his career at the Fairmont Château Lake Louise Hotel in Canada before assuming leadership roles at The Westin Calgary and The Westin Boston Waterfront. He was director of food and beverage at the Westin Book Cadillac and director of operations at The Westin Houston Memorial City.
McDermott also was director of hotel operations at the JW Marriott Houston by the Galleria, overseeing a major renovation.
Zemi Miches All-Inclusive Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton
Hilton appointed Manuela Fahringer as general manager of Zemi Miches All-Inclusive Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton, representing the Curio Collection by Hilton brand’s first all-inclusive property in the Dominican Republic. In her new role, Fahringer will steer operations of the new-build resort.
Fahringer previously was the general manager of The Excellence Punta Cana. Other properties include Hotel Riu Bambu Punta Cana, Bahia Principe Bavaro Punta Cana, Luxury Bouganville La Romana, Luxury Bahia Principe Samana and more.