A number of hotels—including three Hilton properties, three Hyatts and two Outrigger hotels in Hawaii—have appointed new leaders in recent weeks. Here are some names to know.
Alexandra Resort
Alexandra Resort, the all-inclusive resort occupying 600 feet of frontage on Grace Bay Beach in the Turks and Caicos, appointed Aleisa Musgrove-Walkin as general manager and Hermian Griffith assistant general manager.
In her new role, Musgrove-Walkin oversees the resort’s operations. She sits on the Board of Directors for the Turks and Caicos Hotel & Tourism Association and received the association’s Hotelier of the Year award in 2018.
Hermian Griffith, Alexandra Resort’s new assistant general manager, works alongside Musgrove-Walkin to direct all aspects of resort operations.
Caption by Hyatt Nashville
Brian Kent is the new general manager of the Caption by Hyatt Nashville.
Kent joins the Nashville property from The Dream Hotel by Hyatt, where he most recently was director of front office. Before that, he held managerial positions at Hyatt House Nashville at Vanderbilt and Hyatt Place Nashville/Hendersonville, working as general manager at both properties and overseeing daily operations.
Caribe Hilton
Hilton appointed Mike García as the new general manager of the Caribe Hilton in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Garcia brings more than 25 years of relevant experience to his new role and is the third Puerto Rican general manager to assume leadership of this resort. He began his career in hospitality as a front desk agent and night auditor and has held management roles at various Hilton properties, working in full-service, focused-service and timeshare operations across various Hilton and other branded hotels as well as independent properties.
Hilton Los Cabos
Hilton appointed Antonio Bugarin as general manager of Hilton Los Cabos in Mexico. With nearly 30 years of industry experience, Bugarin will oversee daily operations across the 264-room property.
Bugarin spent more than two decades at resorts in California and Mexico. He joins Hilton Los Cabos following a tenure with Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills and One&Only Palmilla, where he was executive director of rooms before moving into roles including hotel manager and general manager. He was also on the pre-opening team for Paraiso de la Bonita along the Playa del Carmen corridor in Mexico.
Hilton Richmond Downtown
Brian Koenitzer is the new general manager of the Hilton Richmond (Va.) Downtown.
Koenitzer joins the property from the Embassy Suites Hampton Roads Convention Hotel & Spa where he served as general manager. Before that, Koenitzer was general manager with Remington Hotels, overseeing several properties including Embassy Suites by Hilton Dallas Near the Galleria and Courtyard by Marriott Wichita, Kan. Koenitzer has experience in sales and financial management and a background in food, beverage and operations.
Hotel Westland
Lifestyle hospitality company Aparium Hotel Group appointed Rod Lapasin managing director and general manager of Hotel Westland, a boutique hotel, restaurant and rooftop bar opening at RailSpur in Seattle’s Pioneer Square in spring 2025.
As a fifth-generation Seattleite, Lapasin has more than 35 years of industry experience, having held senior leadership roles with Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and the Salish Lodge & Spa.
Hyatt Centric French Quarter
Aaron Osborne is the new general manager of Hyatt Centric French Quarter in New Orleans.
Osborne joins Hyatt Centric French Quarter from Porto Vista Hotel where he most recently was regional VP of operations and general manager.
Previously, Osborne held a leadership role at The Restoration Hotel as general manager where he both designed and opened new additions to the existing boutique property.
Ohana Waikiki East By Outrigger
Kiana Beimes is the new general manager of the Ohana Waikiki East by Outrigger in Honolulu.
Earlier this year, Kiana Beimes was appointed hotel manager of the Ohana Waikiki East by Outrigger; before that she was area director of front services for the property in addition to the Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel. She was also assistant area director for the same hotels and Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort and front office manager at the Beachcomber. Beimes began her hospitality career in 2013 as an intern at Outrigger’s flagship Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort.
Origin Hotel Kansas City
Dustin Weber has joined the management team at the Origin Hotel Kansas City.. Before this role, he held positions at KMG Hotels, glmg | hotels, Hotel Phillips, and Hilton. With a passion for leading a dynamic new team, he is eager to drive success and deliver exceptional results to the new property.
Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel
Ceci Hamao is the new GM at the Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel in Honolulu.
Hamao has been resort manager at the Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort since 2022. Before that, she was area director of front services for Outrigger’s six Waikīkī hotels and began her Outrigger career as front office manager. She came to Outrigger from The Modern where she was director of front services and started her hospitality career at The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort as guest services manager.
Park Hyatt New York
Park Hyatt New York has promoted general manager Laurent Ebzant to area vice president/general manager. In addition to his duties as general manager of Park Hyatt New York, Ebzant will report to Yvette Edwards, senior vice president, field operations at Hyatt, to support operations teams within the ParkHyatt portfolio across the Hyatt Americas region.
Ebzant will lead growth initiatives, ensuring consistency in brand delivery and guest experience at Park Hyatt properties in the Americas, including Park Hyatt Toronto; Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa; Park Hyatt Washington D.C.; Park Hyatt Chicago; Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa; Park Hyatt New York; Park Hyatt Buenos Aires; Park Hyatt Mendoza; and one additional new property set to debut soon: Park Hyatt Los Cabos at Cabo del Sol.
Under the direction of Ebzant, Park Hyatt New York is currently undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation in celebration of its 10th anniversary.