Several hotels in urban hubs (and some more remote properties) have appointed general managers in recent weeks. Here are some names to know.
Balfour Miami Beach
Balfour Miami Beach, now a Registry Collection hotel in Miami Beach’s South of Fifth neighborhood, appointed Taylor Hart general manager.
Hart began his career as a bellman at the Louisville Marriott Downtown. Most recently, as assistant general manager at The Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, he improved guest satisfaction, strengthened cross-departmental collaboration and successfully led multiple brand audits within a short timeframe. Throughout his career, Hart has played a key role in elevating property performance and delivering measurable improvements in service and revenue performance.
Callaway Resort & Gardens
In West Georgia’s Pine Mountain region, Callaway Resort & Gardens appointed Neal Thurman vice president and general manager.
Thurman, a Georgia native and industry veteran with more than three decades of leadership in hospitality and attractions, joins Callaway Resort & Gardens from Dollywood Parks & Resorts, where he was senior vice president.
Historic Hotel Bethlehem
Kelly Ronalds has been promoted to general manager of the historic Hotel Bethlehem, Pa. Ronalds has held various roles at the hotel since 2010, most recently as director of room sales and guest experience.
Ronalds first started working at hotels while a sophomore in college. Early in her career, she was director of sales and marketing for the Allentown Hilton, and later as director of sales for Discover Lehigh Valley. In 2010, Ronalds joined the Historic Hotel Bethlehem team as director of sales. She was promoted to director of room sales and guest experience in 2021. That role included overseeing the front desk, bellstaff and housekeeping. In 2022, marketing and public relations also came under her purview.
Hyatt Centric Downtown Denver
Hyatt Centric Downtown Denver appointed Deacon Cottrell assistant general manager.
Cottrell began his career in Las Vegas as a guest services agent at Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, followed by a role as assistant front desk manager at Wynn Las Vegas. His professional journey includes quality assurance positions with airlines and hotels. Before joining Hyatt Centric Downtown Denver, Cottrell was general manager at Residence Inn Denver-Gateway Park, Hyatt House Denver-Aurora and Courtyard Denver Tech Center.
Kimpton Everly Hollywood
The Kimpton Everly Hollywood in Los Angeles appointed Robert Boyd general manager.
Boyd’s career includes working as general manager at Hotel Greystone in Miami Beach. He also was opening general manager of The Brant in Nantucket, guiding a multimillion-dollar transformation, and has held senior leadership positions at Chateau Marmont, Terranea Resort, Fairmont El San Juan Hotel and Canyon Ranch.
Margaritaville Beach House Key West
On the Florida Keys’ Smathers Beach, Margaritaville Beach House Key West appointed Alin Bodea general manager.
Bodea has more than 15 years of hospitality experience spanning resort operations, guest experience and team development. Most recently, he was general manager of the Kimpton Shorebreak Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort. Previously, Bodea held senior leadership roles with HEI Hotels, including hotel manager and director of front office at the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort. Earlier in his career, he held front office leadership positions with Starwood Hotels & Resorts.
The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad
The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad appointed Rick Corcoran general manager. Corcoran has worked throughout the U.S., Canada and the Middle East, and has held leadership positions with The Ritz-Carlton, Baccarat Hotels, 1 Hotels and Fairmont Hotels. Most recently, he was general manager of Baccarat Hotel New York and general manager of the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge
Corcoran previously was general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco. His career also includes leadership roles at Fairmont properties, including food and beverage director at Fairmont San Francisco and Fairmont Le Château Frontenac in Québec, as well as hotel manager at Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.
South Bank
Grace Bay Resorts has appointed Tracey Oliver as general manager of South Bank, the brand’s newest development in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands.
Before joining South Bank, Oliver most recently was general manager of Raffles Maldives Meradhoo. Following her time at the Institute Hotelier Cesar Ritz in Switzerland, Oliver’s career includes senior leadership roles with The Ritz Carlton as well as several positions across the Middle East, Asia, United States and Caribbean.
W Philadelphia and Element Philadelphia Downtown
Marriott International has appointed George Adel area general manager for the dual-branded W Philadelphia and Element Philadelphia Downtown. He joins the properties from the W South Beach.
With more than 22 years of international hospitality experience, Adel began his career at Sheraton Soma Bay in Egypt, where he advanced from guest services agent to assistant revenue manager within four years. He later was director of revenue for Marriott’s lifestyle brands, including Le Méridien Seychelles and W Doha, before continuing to grow within the W Hotels brand.