Properties across the country, including two resorts in Hawaii, have named new leaders in recent weeks. Here are some names to know.
The Crawford Hotel
The Crawford Hotel in Denver appointed Hector Karim Gaona hotel manager.
Gaona has worked at luxury resorts across the United States, Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa. He previously was the Area general manager for ÀNI Private Resorts in Anguilla and the Dominican Republic and the director of rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Club in Aspen, Colorado. He also held leadership positions at the One&Only Le Saint Géran in Mauritius, The St. Regis Chicago and The St. Regis New York. Most recently, he was the managing director for Wynterbrook, a hospitality consulting firm based in Colorado for boutique and resort clients.
Gaona earned an Executive MBA from Hult International Business School in Boston.
Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina
Jason de Vries is the new general manager of the Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina, Hawaii.
De Vries returns to Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina following his tenure as resort manager from 2021 to 2023. Most recently, he was general manager of Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero.
Joining Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in 2006, de Vries has worked across several U.S. destinations, including Boston, Los Angeles at Beverly Hills and Washington, DC, steadily rising through senior leadership roles across guest services, rooms operations and hotel management. De Vries is a graduate of Johnson & Wales University with a bachelor’s degree in international hospitality management.
Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa
Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa appointed Erick Noh hotel manager.
With nearly two decades of experience, Noh has held senior leadership hospitality roles ranging from restaurants to event planning. He has worked with Park Hyatt Aviara, Hyatt Regency Maui and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.
Hilton Madison Monona Terrace
Hotel owner and management company Marcus Hotels & Resorts, a division of Marcus Corp., appointed Matt Karow general manager of Hilton Madison (Wis.) Monona Terrace.
Karow joins Marcus Hotels & Resorts after most recently working as general manager at Hotel Heron, Curio Collection by Hilton, in Alexandria, Va,, where he led the hotel’s transition from an independent property to the Curio Collection in four months. Before that, Karow held several notable general manager and management positions at properties across the United States, including general manager of Art Ovation Hotel, Autograph Collection in Sarasota, Fla.; The Daytona, Autograph Collection in Daytona Beach, Fla.; and Hyatt Centric Old Town in Alexandria, Va.
A Wisconsin native, Karow holds a bachelor’s degree in communication and media studies from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.
Laguna Surf Lodge by SCP Hotels and SCP Seven4One Hotel
Soul Community Planet Hotels appointed Katie Cahill as general manager of its two hotels in Laguna Beach, Calif.: the Laguna Surf Lodge by SCP Hotels and SCP Seven4One Hotel.
Most recently, Cahill was general manager of Hotel Joaquin in Laguna Beach. Before that, she worked with other properties and hospitality brands throughout Los Angeles including AKA Hotels + Hotel Residences, Sunset Tower Hotel and Proper Hospitality.
Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club
The Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club on Cape Cod, Mass., has appointed Kyung Lee as its new general manager.
Most recently, Lee was hotel manager at Hard Rock Hotel in New York City, where he achieved strong occupancy and revenue results. Before that, he was general manager of Gurney's Resort & Seawater Spa in Montauk, N.Y.
Lee was part of the opening team at The Langham Boston, where he helped relaunch the culinary program. From 2017 to 2020, he was director of food & beverage at Chatham Bars Inn, where he launched an organic farm and developed the resort's wedding and leisure programming. Earlier in his career, he held culinary and leadership roles at Wylie Hotel & Conference Center, InterContinental Boston and The Charles Hotel, among others.
Moxy Boulder University Hill
Vision Hospitality Group has appointed Chris Feaster general manager of Moxy Boulder University Hill near the University of Colorado Boulder campus.
Feaster most recently was general manager of Moxy Cherry Creek in Denver. He previously was general manager at the Marriott SpringHill Suites in Longmont, where he led operations and team development.