A number of hotels in North America have appointed general managers over the past two weeks. Here are just a few.
Alexander Hotel
The Alexander Hotel, a boutique property in Mexico City’s Torre Virreyes skyscraper, appointed Alejandro Gallegos the new general manager. Gallegos has held leadership roles at hotels across Mexico, Argentina and Uruguay during his 20-year career.
With a background that includes overseeing the operations of properties such as Presidente InterContinental, Sofitel and Grace Hotels, Gallegos has played a key role in hotel openings, renovations and the implementation of planning and service standardization processes. His international experience includes hotel openings in Buenos Aires, Montevideo and Miami.
Avanti International Resort
Paramount Hospitality Management has appointed Ricardo Merchant general manager of the Avanti International Resort in Orlando.
Merchant has more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, starting as a phone bank supervisor and progressing through various leadership positions. He previously was part of the PHM team at both Avanti Palms Resort and Conference Center in Orlando and The Grove Resort & Water Park in Winter Garden.
B Ocean Resort
The B Ocean Resort in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., appointed Sabrina Graves general manager.
In her role as general manager of B Ocean Resort, Graves will oversee all aspects of the resort’s operations, including guest services, staff management and strategic planning. Most recently, Graves was the general manager of Grand Naniloa Hotel & Resort by Hilton in Hilo, Hawaii, where she planned and executed extensive capital improvements at the 381-room resort. She also oversaw construction of a full-service luxury hotel in Hollywood, Fla., where she developed pre-opening sales and marketing efforts resulting in 100 revenue-generating indexes in its first full month of operations.
The Barnett and Maison Métier
Shawn McWhorter is the new complex general manager of both The Barnett and Maison Métier hotels in New Orleans.
With 30 years of experience as a people-first hotelier, McWhorter joins The Barnett and Maison Métier from the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Salt Lake City Downtown where he was director of operations and area director of food & beverage. Before that, McWhorter held multiple management positions across properties including general manager at Radisson Salt Lake City Downtown and Hilton Salt Lake City Center, where he worked his way up across 16 years from various sales and marketing positions to director of operations.
Carter Creek Winery Resort & Spa
Carter Hospitality has appointed Derek Stutz general manager of the Carter Creek Winery Resort & Spa in Texas’ Hill Country.
Stutz previously was general manager at Remington Hotels in Corpus Christi, Texas. Before that, he led operations at Sequoia Development’s Hyatt House in Pleasant Grove, Utah. He also held leadership roles with Marriott Hotels and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts across Texas. He spent 10 years as a senior medical noncommissioned officer and operations supervisor/senior trainer in the United States Army and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in construction project management from Boise State University and Master of Science degree in civil engineering from the University of Iowa.
El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel
El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel in the foothills of California’s Santa Ynez Mountains, appointed Pedro Dias general manager. Dias will oversee all aspects of hotel operations in his new role.
Dias joins El Encanto with more than 25 years of luxury hospitality experience. Most recently, he co-founded the boutique consulting firm Forty-One North, where he advised hospitality partners on best practices surrounding business strategy, customer experience design, operational optimization and sustainability. Throughout his career, Dias has worked with brands like Leading Hotels of the World, The Luxury Collection, and St. Regis across the U.S., Europe and the Caribbean.
Great Oak Manor
In Maryland, Great Oak Manor appointed Calin Taralunga the new GM. Calin has more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry having started his career at JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel in Romania. In 2008, he relocated to the United States and assumed various management positions in hotel operations, both in rooms and food & beverage departments at Ritz Carlton Los Angeles and Marriott International Hotels in Kansas City, Mo., and Phoenix. He continued his career development and joined La Cantera Resort & Spa in San Antonio as director of restaurants, director of performance optimization and director of operations Villas.
He also worked as director of operations at Wildflower Farms, an Auberge Resorts Collection in Gardiner, N.Y.; director of operations at Austin Proper Hotel & Residences in Austin, Texas; and director of rooms operations at Equinox Resort & Spa, A Luxury Collection in Manchester, Vt. His most recent role was resort manager at Inn at Perry Cabin in St. Michaels, Md.
Keswick Hall
Keswick Hall in Charlottesville, Va., appointed Louis Shapazian general manager.
Most recently, Shapazian was resort manager at the Ocean House in Watch Hill, R.I., where he directed operations across multiple luxury venues including the Ocean & Harvest Spa, extensive residence and cottage program and private club. Before his role at Ocean House, Shapazian held key positions within the Four Seasons portfolio including at the Four Seasons Hotel in Las Vegas and the Four Seasons Hotel in Vail, Colo.
The Maven
Sage Hospitality Group appointed Jennifer Cottgias GM of The Maven in downtown Denver. Cottgias joins The Maven from the Courtyard Portland City Center, where she was general manager.
She previously spent more than six years at The Nines, A Luxury Collection Hotel in Portland, Ore., rising to serve as the Hotel Director. While there, Cottgias co-chaired the Women’s Leadership Development pillar for the Marriott Business Council. She is a graduate of California State University, Fullerton and previously held sales and management positions at several California hotels managed by Interstate Hotels & Resorts.
Oceanpoint Ranch
Pacifica Hotels has appointed Nicole Childs assistant general manager at Oceanpoint Ranch. Before her recent appointment, she was front office manager at Fogcatcher Inn. Childs’ professional experience also includes positions at Flags RV Resort and Cava Robles RV Resort.
Sagamore Pendry Baltimore
Pendry Hotels & Resorts appointed Parag Athavale general manager of Sagamore Pendry Baltimore.
Athavale joins Sagamore Pendry Baltimore from his most recent role as Hotel manager at Pendry Washington, D.C. - The Wharf, where he helped oversee the hotel's opening and led various innovative initiatives. Before his role in D.C., Athavale held several leadership positions in hotels across the country, including the W New Orleans - French Quarter, The Ritz-Carlton New Orleans and The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island.
The Resort at Pelican Hill
The Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach, Calif., appointed Kevin Kelly general manager. Kelly, who has more than 25 years of experience, began his career as general manager at Shire Hotels in the U.K. Kelly also was director of food & beverage and then director of sales & marketing at London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square, general manager at the London Marriott Hotel Marble Arch, the London Marriott Grosvenor Square and later St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel.
Following his time in London, Kelly moved to the United States and worked as Market general manager at The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach and The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour; The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, and his most recent assignment at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain.