A number of hotels and resorts, including two within the Salamander Collection, have appointed sales and marketing leaders in recent weeks. Here are some names to know.
Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club
Sarah Crisafulli is the new executive director of marketing at the Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club, bringing more than 15 years of hospitality marketing experience spanning luxury resorts, lifestyle hotels, destinations, restaurants and hospitality organizations. Most recently, she was complex director of marketing for Davidson Hospitality Group’s Islamorada Resort Collection, overseeing marketing for three oceanfront resorts and 12 food-and-beverage venues, as well as the collection’s marina and resort programming.
Before Davidson Hospitality Group, Crisafulli was vice president of brand strategy at GKA, a creative agency, where she led brand development and marketing strategy for more than 10 hospitality, real estate and lifestyle companies. Earlier in her career, she spent nearly five years with Two Roads Hospitality/Destination Hotels, now part of Hyatt, where she rose to area director of marketing and led B2B and B2C marketing initiatives across a portfolio of lifestyle hotels and resorts.
Hāna-Maui Resort
Kiana Jepsen has been appointed director of sales, marketing and events at Hāna-Maui Resort, A Destination by Hyatt. A Maui native, Jepsen brings more than a decade of hospitality experience to the East Maui property and has built her career within the Hyatt organization.
Jepsen began at Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa in 2012 and advanced through a series of positions that included event sales manager, meeting connections sales manager and major market sales manager. She also was interim director of marketing in 2023, helping expand the resort’s social and digital presence while supporting key programming initiatives. Her work earned Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa’s manager of the year recognition in 2024.
Innisbrook Resort
Robyn Cooper has joined Innisbrook Resort, part of the Salamander Collection, as director of sales and marketing. Cooper brings more than 25 years of hospitality leadership experience and a background spanning sales, marketing and commercial strategy across a variety of hotel platforms.
Most recently, Cooper was regional vice president of commercial strategy for Aimbridge Hospitality, where she oversaw a 55-hotel portfolio generating more than $325 million in annual revenue. Before that position, she held sales and marketing roles with GF Management, Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Marshall Hotels & Resorts and Hampton Inn.
JW Marriott Costa Elena Resort & Spa
Kimberly Cover has been appointed director of sales and marketing at JW Marriott Costa Elena Resort & Spa ahead of the property's opening in Costa Rica. Cover brings more than 25 years of luxury hospitality experience to the role and will help position the resort within the meetings, incentives, weddings and luxury events markets.
Her career has spanned more than two decades in luxury hospitality sales and marketing, giving her extensive experience in commercial strategy and business development. The appointment places an established hospitality executive in a leadership role at what is being positioned as the first all-inclusive JW Marriott property.
Lotte Hotel Seattle
Rainell Mano has been named director of sales, marketing and events at Lotte Hotel Seattle. Mano brings more than 25 years of experience across luxury hospitality, with expertise in commercial strategy, business development, sales, marketing, events and destination management.
Born and raised in Hawaii, Mano has held senior leadership positions with The Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Outrigger Hospitality Group, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International and PRA Business Events. Throughout her career, she has worked across revenue growth, integrated commercial strategy and team development.
Salamander Middleburg
Brian Colan Jr. has joined Salamander Middleburg as associate director of sales. A Loudoun County, Va., native, Colan brings experience in hospitality sales, marketing leadership and hotel operations to the resort.
Colan joins the property from B. F. Saul Hospitality, where he was area director of sales and marketing for the Dulles Region, overseeing sales strategy for seven hotels and a conference center. Before that, he held sales and marketing leadership positions with Hilton, Hyatt and The Ritz-Carlton. His background spans luxury hospitality, regional sales management and commercial strategy across multiple hotel brands.