A number of hotels in the Caribbean and Latin America region as well as the U.S. have announced new sales and marketing leaders in recent weeks. Here are some names to know.
Andaz Mayakoba
The Andaz Mayakoba in Mexico’s Riviera Maya appointed Susan Williams director of sales and marketing. Williams has more than 20 years of experience across sales and revenue marketing both at Hyatt and numerous other resorts throughout Mexico.
The appointment marks Williams' return to Hyatt after most recently working as the director of sales and marketing at Viceroy Los Cabos in San Jose del Cabo. During her previous tenure with Hyatt, Williams held numerous positions, including director of global sales, where she represented 900 hotels globally and oversight of group and transient sales. She previously managed sales and marketing for individual hotels including Thompson Zihuatanejo and Hyatt Regency properties in Boston and Boston Harbor.
Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club
In the Caribbean, the Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club appointed Sally Glen the new director of sales and marketing.
In her most recent role, Glen spearheaded the opening of a new resort in the Caribbean and ascertained its position within key luxury markets across the U.S. and Europe. Her career also includes a four-year sales and marketing post with Gleneagles in Scotland.
Born in Scotland, and a graduate of Glasgow Caledonian University with a B.A. in Hospitality Management, Glen previously held executive roles with Marriott, Hilton and Golden Rock across Australia, Scotland and the Caribbean.
Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico
The Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico appointed Crystal Resto director of sales and marketing. She takes on the role responsible for sales strategy development, customer relationships, monitoring market trends, achieving KPIs and meeting budgets for the 579-room resort.
Originally from El Paso, Texas, Crystal began her career as a front desk clerk, soon graduating to the sales department. Moving to San Antonio in 2015, she joined Aimbridge Hospitality. Holding several director positions since 2016, Resto developed sales teams, set standard operating procedures and oversaw marketing efforts with world-renowned brands such as Marriott International, Winston Hospitality, Spire Hospitality, and eventually back to Aimbridge through Evolution Hospitality.
Before joining Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico, Crystal was director of sales and marketing at The Gunter Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk and was a part of the opening team at AC Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk.
Loews Nashville Hotel
Loews Nashville Hotel at Vanderbilt Plaza promoted Katelyn Goins to associate director of sales.
Goins brings more than 12 years of experience in the hospitality industry to her new position. In her elevated role, her primary responsibility is to secure meetings and events. She will be the point of contact for national accounts, work in partnership with third-party meeting planners and support opportunities in collaboration with the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation. Additionally, Goins will represent Loews Nashville Hotel at industry trade shows and meetings.
Goins was event manager for Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University, sales coordinator for Hyatt Place Nashville Downtown and a guest service agent at the Union Station Hotel. She joined Loews Hotels in May 2018 as sales manager before accelerating within the sales department to support group bookings based in the midwest and West Coast.
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Jacksonville Beach Oceanfront
Real estate investment and development company Key International and hotel owner, operator and developer Shaner Hotels have appointed Samantha Pritchard director of sales of the new 156-suite SpringHill Suites by Marriott Jacksonville Beach (Fla.) Oceanfront. Pritchard joins Michael Weihs, who recently joined Shaner as general manager last fall.
Pritchard joined Shaner Hotels as the dual director of sales for the Courtyard by Marriott Jacksonville Beach Oceanfront and the Fairfield Inn Jacksonville Beach in spring 2023 before assuming her promotion to area director of sales in January. Her background is in hotel renovations and new construction—leading the efforts as director of sales of the Residence Inn Jacksonville, where she led the pre-opening sales efforts for the first extended-stay hotel in the Brooklyn Riverside market. Pritchard’s career began at Visit Jacksonville where she was tasked with bringing in convention groups to the city’s hotels and attractions.
Viceroy Snowmass
Katie de Besche has been appointed director of sales at the Viceroy Snowmass, Colo.
Her journey in hospitality began in Breckenridge, where she was the catering and conference services manager at Beaver Run Resort for four years. She then relocated to the Roaring Fork Valley and joined Hotel Jerome for four years, where she advanced from catering sales manager to national group sales manager.
De Besche joined Viceroy Snowmass in August 2009 as the opening sales manager. Following the grand opening in November of that year, she became director of catering.