A number of hotels and resorts across the country, including three on Hawaii's Maui Island, have appointed new leaders in recent weeks. Here are some names to know.
Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort
Richard Elliott is the new general manager at the Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort in Hawaii.
Elliott previously was the general manager at Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach and subsequently the general manager of Park Hyatt St. Kitts. Over his 27-year career with Hyatt, Elliott has held various roles across the brand's portfolio of properties, including the Hyatt Regency Chicago; Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort, Spa & Casino; and Grand Hyatt Baha Mar.
He holds an MBA from Capella University and a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from Chicago State University. From 2015 to 2018, Elliott was the Andaz Maui's director of operations.
Bahia Resort
San Diego-based Evans Hotels appointed Stefan Peroutka general manager of the Bahia Resort in San Diego. He replaces Jayne Aston, who has been promoted to general manager of the Catamaran Resort.
Before joining Evans Hotels, Peroutka worked for the Hotel del Coronado, where for the past eight years he successfully led the culinary department as executive chef, overseeing 11 food and beverage outlets and 22 culinary and stewarding leaders. Prior to The Del, he was based in Las Vegas, directing banquet culinary operations at The Venetian from 2010-2017 and working with Chef Charlie Palmer at his restaurant Aureole from 2007-2010.
Peroutka’s earlier culinary career included roles at Portugal’s Vila Vita Parc, Hotel Almhof in Austria, The Ranier’s Club in Seattle and Erna’s Elderberry House in Oakhurst, Calif.
Peroutka holds a degree from the Salzburg Hospitality and Culinary School in Austria.
Home2 Suites by Hilton Destin
Germantown, Tenn.-based McNeill Hotel Company recently promoted Etienne Courchesne from assistant general manager to general manager at its Home2 Suites by Hilton Destin (Fla.) property.
Courchesne joined MHC in 2023 as assistant general manager at Home2 Suites by Hilton Destin.
Before joining MHC, Courchesne was director of housekeeping at Fox River Resort, Ill. for HHS; and held multiple positions for HHS and Diamond Resorts International at the Embarc Sandestin resort hotel in Destin.
Hotel Haya
Hotel Haya, Aparium Hotel Group’s property in Tampa, Fla.’s Ybor City, appointed Laura Maldonado general manager.
Most recently Maldonado was the general manager for the Heathman Hotel and restaurant in downtown Portland, Ore., where she oversaw a complete overhaul of the property including food and beverage and the sales and operating departments.
Maldonado earned her degree in hotel and restaurant management at the University of Puerto Rico and then worked at Wyndham and Hilton hotels, overseeing property initiatives, operations and revenue management.
InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco
Jennifer Dunn has been promoted from director of sales and marketing to hotel manager of the InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco.
Dunn’s career in hospitality began at Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts in 1992, where she started out in accounting. She joined the telecommunications industry in 1995 across Asia, Europe and America. She returned to hospitality in 2001 at the Crowne Plaza in Palo Alto, Calif., and joined the InterContinental Mark Hopkins in 2003. She holds a bachelor’s in accountancy from Polytechnic University of the Philippines and has earned a certificate in hospitality management from eCornell.
She graduated in 2023 from the IHG Rise program, designed to accelerate the career progression of high-potential women leaders within IHG.
The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua
Jon Gersonde is the new general manager at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua in Hawaii.
Gersonde has led numerous sustainability and regenerative tourism initiatives throughout his career. Before joining The Ritz-Carlton Maui, he was vice president and managing director at Oahu’s Turtle Bay Resort, which recently transitioned to a Ritz-Carlton property.
Gersonde has held roles as vice president of operations, managing director and general manager for developments including the 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, The Royal Hawaiian, Kapalua Bay Hotel and The Westin Maui. He also held senior hotel positions in Australia, Asia, California, Florida, the Western Pacific and the Caribbean.
Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows
Real estate and hospitality management company Highgate appointed Nicholas Kuhns general manager of the Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows on Maui.
Kuhns most recently was the resort manager at Montage Kapalua Bay. Before that, he spent more than a decade in leadership roles with Hilton. Kuhns also has food and beverage management expertise, including as director of restaurants at theWit in downtown Chicago and restaurant general manager at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
Viewline Resort Snowmass
Viewline Resort Snowmass, an Autograph Collection Hotel and mid-mountain resort in Colorado’s Snowmass Village, appointed Gregg Fracassa general manager. With more than 25 years of experience, Fracassa will lead the strategic implementation of key business initiatives for the property, along with forthcoming operational updates.
Fracassa began his career with Destination Hotels & Resorts serving in several executive and operational roles. Before his general manager appointment, Fracassa held general manager roles at Snow King Resort in Jackson Hole, Wyo. and Hotel Viking in Newport, R.I. Along with several managing director roles with Noble House Hotels & Resorts, he was director of operations at Paradise Point Resort & Spa in San Diego.