A number of hotels and resorts—including properties in prime vacation destinations—have appointed general managers in recent weeks. Here are some names to know.
Bernardus Lodge & Spa
In California’s Carmel Valley, Bernardus Lodge & Spa appointed Benjamin Duverge general manager.
He joins the property from Hotel Nia, a sister Ensemble property and has held senior roles across the United States, Europe and the Middle East, including leadership roles across The Clift Royal Sonesta; The Liberty, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Boston; Hotel Zetta; and The Marker San Francisco.
The Benson Hotel & Faculty Club
The Benson Hotel & Faculty Club, a 106-room hotel on the CU Anschutz medical campus in Aurora, Colo., appointed Cian McClafferty general manager.
McClafferty has spent much of his 21 years in the industry with QT Hotels and Resorts in Australia, where he rose from front office management to director of rooms and ultimately general manager, leading operations at flagship properties including QT Sydney, QT Bondi and QT Queenstown. He also was general manager of Rydges Cronulla before moving to the United States, most recently as hotel manager of the Ritz-Carlton Denver.
Cayo Levantado Resort
In the Dominican Republic, Cayo Levantado Resort has appointed Maria Lamarche general manager. Lamarche has overseen resorts across the Caribbean, Middle East, Europe and Asia over her nearly four decades in the industry.
Most recently, Lamarche oversaw the pre-opening of Hyatt Vivid Punta Cana, also in the Dominican Republic. Before joining Hyatt, she was general manager of Hilton Hurghada Plaza in Egypt. Throughout her career, she has overseen luxury resorts, hotel openings, repositionings and complex operations for Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Millennium Hotels & Resorts, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, Karisma Hotels & Resorts, Rotana Hotels, InterContinental Hotels Group, Le Méridien and Sheraton.
Margaritaville Resort Lake Tahoe
Thomas Mauman is the new general manager of the Margaritaville Resort Lake Tahoe, Calif. Most recently, he was general manager of the Montrose at Beverly Hills, following director of hotel operations positions at Renaissance Hotels and InterContinental Hotels & Resorts. Previously, he held leadership roles at various Marriott Hotels and was a general manager at Hamptons Inn and Suites.
Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa
Joshua Hargrove has returned to Marriott’s Waikiki Collection in Hawaii as general manager of Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa, Waikiki Beach and Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Waikiki Beach. Most recently, he was general manager of The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Kaanapali.
A native of Washington State, Hargrove has previous general manager experience on Oahu at the Prince Waikiki Hotel; he has also held leadership positions at the Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas, the former Modern Honolulu and at The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort, a member of Marriott’s Waikiki Collection. During the Maui wildfires in August 2023, he helped to ensure the well-being of associates, guests and the local community. He is the current chairman of the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association, and a past chairman of the statewide organization, the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association.
Sonesta White Plains Downtown
Robert Rechtermann is the new general manager of the Sonesta White Plains (N.Y.) Downtown.
Rechtermann has more than 30 years of hospitality leadership experience, primarily in the luxury hotel segment, with an extensive background in hotel operations and management. Most recently, he was general manager of The Crescent Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas. Previously, he worked for six years as general manager of Conrad New York, the flagship property for the Conrad Hotels & Resorts brand in Manhattan, where he led the hotel from its opening.
Prior to Conrad New York, Rechtermann was general manager of The Peninsula New York, overseeing a multimillion dollar renovation and leading the hotel and spa to their first Forbes Five-Star ratings. He joined Peninsula Hotels as resident manager of The Peninsula Chicago before being promoted to New York. Earlier in his career, Rechtermann held leadership positions with The Ritz-Carlton Boston, Hilton Short Hills, the Regency Hotel in New York City, Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica and Long Beach Hilton.
W Punta de Mita
Along Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit, the W Punta de Mita appointed Anna Hill general manager. Most recently, Hill was hotel manager at The Riviera Maya Edition at Kanai. Before this, Hill held senior leadership positions in key international destinations, including Doha, Qatar. She also worked at The Ritz-Carlton Doha and Hotel Arts Barcelona, where she held progressively responsible positions within the rooms division.