TWENTY FOUR SEVEN HOTELS EXPANDS LEADERSHIP TEAM
Twenty Four Seven Hotels, a third-party hospitality management company for premium-branded, select-service and lifestyle hotel segments, has expanded its leadership team as part of the group’s strategic plan to venture into new markets and segments.
Brian Hughes has been named executive vice president of business development. With around 30 years of experience in hospitality, Hughes most recently served as managing director of JLL, where he was led hospitality transactions in Texas. Prior to that, he held several roles with Ashford Hospitality Inc.
Damien Abrams has been promoted to vice president of lifestyle brands to accommodate business growth. He joined Twenty Four Seven as a general manager to open The Steward, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel in Santa Barbara, Calif. Bringing nearly two decades’ of experience to his new position, Abrams previously served as regional director of operations for the company with a key focus on food & beverage operations.
CRESCENT HOTELS’ NEW CCO
Crescent Hotels & Resorts has appointed Vanessa Claspill as its chief commercial officer. Claspill will lead the company’s commercial division, which includes sales, marketing and digital and revenue strategies.
She brings in more than 20 years of leadership experience across a range of hotel categories from luxury and lifestyle to big convention centers. Most recently, she served as senior vice president of sales at Pivot Hotels & Resorts, where she led the top-line revenue strategy for the lifestyle division in the Davidson Hospitality Group. She has also held senior leadership positions at W Austin, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, and Sydell Group.
JOHN PARKER RETURNS TO GF HOTELS & RESORTS
GF Hotels & Resorts has announced the return of John Parker to its senior leadership team. Parker earlier served as the regional vice president of operations from 2009 to 2012 and has joined GF Hotels & Resorts as the new chief operating officer. He will oversee daily operations alongside Vineet Nayyar, president and COO, Owned Division and the senior leadership team. He will create and execute strategic initiatives and leverage marketing to achieve operational and administrative targets to generate increased revenue and enhance guest satisfaction. Prior to his new role, Parker served as the COO at Real Hospitality Group.
The Philadelphia-based company also announced the appointment of Marcus Marshall as vice president of food and beverage. With more than 30 years of experience in hospitality and restaurant management, Marshall will be responsible for all F&B operations at GF Hotels & Resorts. Before his new role, he held operational roles for restaurant and hospitality groups throughout the industry.
MORE MOVES
MGM Resorts International has appointed former IHG Hotels & Resorts CEO Keith Barr to the company’s board of directors, becoming the 12th member to join the board. With more than 30 years of experience in hospitality leadership, Barr served as the CEO of IHG Hotels & Resorts between 2017 and 2023 and as IHG’s chief commercial officer between 2013 and 2017.
“Keith’s tremendous career is a testament to his leadership skills and eye for innovation,” said Paul Salem, chair of the MGM Resorts board of directors. “His experience in hotel operations, technology, sales and marketing will be an incredible asset as he offers valuable guidance to MGM Resorts.”
Hard Rock Hotel San Diego has named Mat Greene as the new managing director. Greene’s new role marks his return to the Hard Rock Team, where he served as general manager from 2008 to 2011.
Greene will leverage his historical knowledge and strategic experience to guide the hotel through upcoming renovations, new dining concepts, enhanced programming and more. With a career spanning over 30 years, Greene has held significant roles at Highgate Hotels, Evolution Hospitality and W Hotels. Prior to his return to the Hard Rock team, he was executive vice president of luxury and lifestyle residences at Highgate Hotels.
NEW GMs
Highgate has appointed Nicholas Kuhns as general manager of Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows. He will oversee all operations, while maintaining the resort’s legacy on the Ka’anapali Beach.
Kuhns brings more than 24 years of leadership in luxury and destination resorts, casinos, conventions and urban lifestyle hotels. Prior to his new role, Kuhns served as the resort manager at Montage Kapalua Bay. Before that, he spent more than 10 years in leadership roles with Hilton Hotels & Resorts.
Andaz Maui at Wailea has named Richard Elliott as the resort’s general manager. Elliott’s career spans more than two decades and he has extensive experience with the Hyatt brand.
Most recently, Elliott served as the general manager at Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach and subsequently as the general manager of Park Hyatt St. Kitts. Over his 27-year career with Hyatt, he has held several roles across the brand’s portfolio of properties.
Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel has named Ludo de Jong as general manager. De Jong brings 20 years of experience operating at the top of the Netherlands’ luxury hospitality industry and most recently served as the cluster general manager at NH Collection Barbizon Palace Amsterdam and Tivoli Doelen Amsterdam.
Previously, de Jong led the team to open NH Collection Eindhoven Centre and, prior to that, served as assistant hotel director at the former NH Collection Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky. Formerly, de Jong was on Marriott International’s event management advisory board while he served in a senior F&B and events position at Renaissance Amsterdam Hotel.
AC Hotel Columbus Dublin has welcomed Deniz Akyuz as the general manager. He will helm daily hotel operations and enhance guest experiences at the hotel.
With more than two decades of experience in the hospitality industry, Akyuz formerly served as the regional director of F&B for Life House Hotel Group in Miami.
