A number of hotels and resorts across several branded portfolios have appointed new leaders in recent weeks. Here are some names to know.
AC Hotel Dallas Uptown and Moxy Dallas Uptown
Ahead of the opening of AC Hotel Dallas Uptown and Moxy Dallas Uptown, ownership and management appointed Brandon Cantrell as general manager. Cantrell brings more than 20 years of hospitality leadership experience across lifestyle, boutique, limited-service, extended-stay and full-service hotel operations.
Cantrell spent more than a decade with Crestline Hotels & Resorts, advancing through multiple leadership positions and eventually becoming Austin area general manager. Most recently, he led the Central Station Hotel, part of Hilton’s Curio Collection, in Memphis, Tenn. His background includes experience with hotel renovations, brand transitions and property operations.
Baker’s Cay Resort
Baker’s Cay Resort Key Largo (Fla.), Curio Collection by Hilton, appointed David Lurie general manager. Lurie has more than four decades of hospitality experience spanning luxury, independent, and branded properties across the United States.
Lurie’s hospitality career began at Florida International University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in hospitality administration. He then spent two years in professional kitchens outside Lausanne, Switzerland, before returning to Florida and joining the team at Miami Airport Hilton. He spent 15 years with Hilton, holding a leadership role at The Beverly Hilton & Towers, and then went on to Carmel Mission Inn in Carmel, Calif.; the former Givenchy Hotel & Spa in Palm Springs, Calif.; La Mansion del Rio Hotel and Watermark Hotel & Spa in San Antonio; and St. Julien Hotel & Spa in Boulder, Colo. Most recently, he served as general manager of Hotel Amarano in Burbank, where he was brought in to lead the property through a significant operational turnaround.
Courtyard Gainesville, Ga.
McKibbon Hospitality has named Jason Caughron general manager of the Courtyard Gainesville, Ga.
Most recently, Caughron was dual general manager of Courtyard & Element Atlanta Midtown. His experience overseeing multiple hotels within the portfolio positioned him for the leadership role at the Gainesville property.
Courtyard Tampa Downtown
McKibbon Hospitality has promoted Chris Bryant to general manager of Courtyard Tampa Downtown as part of a series of leadership appointments across its portfolio.
Bryant has been with McKibbon for several years and most recently was operations support manager on the corporate team. In that role, he worked with various properties throughout the company’s portfolio, gaining broad operational experience before moving into the general manager position.
Embassy Suites by Hilton Atlanta Buckhead
Embassy Suites by Hilton Atlanta Buckhead has named Mohamed Eldardiry general manager. Eldardiry brings more than 25 years of hospitality experience, including a career with Hilton that began in 1999 as a sales coordinator.
Eldardiry joins the Atlanta hotel from Hilton Garden Inn Bel Air and Homewood Suites by Hilton Bel Air, where he was complex general manager. Before that, he led the pre-opening of a hotel near Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and was general manager of Hampton Inn Baltimore/Glen Burnie. Earlier in his career, he held leadership positions with DoubleTree by Hilton Washington D.C. Silver Spring, Hilton Newark Airport and Washington Hilton, as well as roles at Hilton properties in Egypt.
Hyatt House Chicago West Loop-Fulton Market
McKibbon Hospitality appointed Nabeel Toubayly general manager of Hyatt House Chicago West Loop-Fulton Market. The move is part of a broader series of leadership appointments made as the company marks its 100th anniversary.
While additional career details were not included in the announcement, Toubayly joins a group of leaders selected to guide properties throughout McKibbon’s portfolio as the company continues its focus on talent development and operational excellence.
Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa
Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa has appointed Sid Ramani general manager. Ramani brings more than 25 years of experience with Hyatt Hotels Corp., having held leadership positions across multiple brands, including Hyatt Regency, Grand Hyatt, Andaz, Hyatt Centric and Hyatt House.
Most recently, Ramani was area general manager of Hyatt Regency Irvine and Hyatt House Irvine, where he oversaw the repositioning and transformation of the Irvine property. Throughout his Hyatt career, he has led hotels in markets including Newport Beach, Long Beach and Irvine, building a reputation for operational excellence and team development. In 2026, he was recognized by the Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce as executive of the year.
Inn at Perry Cabin
Kurt Berman has been appointed general manager of Inn at Perry Cabin in St. Michaels, Md. A luxury hospitality veteran with nearly three decades of experience, Berman has an international background spanning four continents and leadership roles across some of the industry’s most distinctive resorts and adventure destinations.
Before joining Inn at Perry Cabin, Berman was general manager of Eleven Deplar Farm in Iceland. Earlier, he was vice president of hospitality for Sundance Mountain Resort in Utah and chief executive officer of Ropeswing Hospitality Group in Arkansas. His career also includes leadership positions with Samujana in Thailand, Six Senses Maldives, Frégate Island Private in the Seychelles and Rosewood properties in the Caribbean.
Magnolia Hotel Omaha
Magnolia Hotel Omaha, a historic boutique hotel in Omaha’s Old Market District, appointed Ernesto Rivera general manager.
Rivera first entered the hospitality industry in college as an airport greeter for the El Conquistador Resort in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. Before joining Magnolia Hotel Omaha, Rivera was director of operations at The Woodlands Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton and The Westin at The Woodlands, and he has held previous general manager and hotel manager roles in Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
Tru by Hilton Charleston Airport
McKibbon Hospitality appointed Shashank Katdare general manager of Tru by Hilton Charleston Airport. The appointment was announced alongside several other leadership moves across the company’s Southeast and Midwest portfolio.
Katdare joins McKibbon’s roster of property leaders as the company continues investing in internal growth and hotel operations talent. The announcement did not provide additional career background.