Charlestowne Hotels appoints Robert “Ed” Manning as director of operations, Kimber Lakes as director of sales and Mark Buot as director of food & beverage. These leaders join recent executive additions Tom Roman, VP of food & beverage and Alicia Carr, VP of finance.
Manning will oversee day-to-day operations across Charlestowne's portfolio, focusing on performance optimization that balances the short and long-term needs of the company’s diverse collection of independent and soft-branded properties. He has experience across resort, lifestyle, urban and residential hotels, with time spent in senior leadership roles at Two Roads Hospitality and Interstate Hotels & Resorts.
Lakes will lead portfolio-wide sales strategy and support property teams in driving revenue and market share. Her background spans senior revenue and operations roles, where she partnered closely with ownership groups, supported multiple openings, and oversaw performance across a growing hotel portfolio. Known for a data-driven, highly collaborative approach, Lakes will work closely with Charlestowne’s in-house marketing, food & beverage, and operations teams to drive revenue growth while preserving each property’s unique positioning.
Buot will advance Charlestowne’s culinary and beverage programs with a focus on profitability, execution, and experience-driven differentiation. He brings more than 15 years of F&B leadership experience, including senior roles with Park Hyatt Chicago, Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago, and several Marriott- and Hilton-branded properties, where he led multi-outlet operations, developed high-performing teams, and executed concepts that elevated both guest experience and financial performance.
In 2025, Charlestowne further strengthened its executive leadership team with the appointments of Roman and Carr, reinforcing the company’s commitment to operational rigor, culinary excellence, and financial discipline while maintaining its independent, owner-first approach, according to the company. Roman leads the strategic vision and performance of Charlestowne’s food and beverage platform, while Carr oversees financial strategy, capital planning, and portfolio-wide performance analysis, supporting scalable growth tailored to each property and ownership group.
“Charlestowne’s ability to remain agile was central to our evolution in 2025,” CEO Kyle Hughey said in a statement. “That flexibility allowed us to take on strategic takeovers and new development, and as we move into 2026, this expanded leadership team positions us to continue growing organically, provide our owners with personalized guidance, and deliver distinctive hospitality experiences that keep guests returning again and again.”
Over the past year, Charlestowne has taken over operations of properties including the Granville Inn and the Inn at Patrick Square, while also securing new development projects across Utah, North Carolina, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Wisconsin.