LEE PALASCHAK’S NEW ROLE AT STONEBRIDGE COMPANIES
Stonebridge Companies has appointed Lee Palaschak as executive vice president of operations. He will oversee all aspects of Stonebridge’s operations and work with the senior leadership to drive operational excellence. He will report directly to Rob Smith, CEO and president of Stonebridge Companies.
As part of his responsibilities, Palaschak will open a new Stonebridge Companies office in Dallas, positioning the company for growth and further expanding its operational footprint. Palaschak brings 35 years of operational expertise to Stonebridge and has led teams and driven growth across multiple hospitality portfolios. Prior to joining Stonebridge, he served as senior vice president at Remington Hospitality.
“Lee shares our vision of operational excellence and delivering value to ownership and brings strong relationships with our brand partners,” said Smith. “We are confident he will build upon the robust infrastructure we have in place and continue to elevate Stonebridge as the market leader for third-party management contracts.”
KEY HIRES, PROMOTIONS AT HOTEL EQUITIES
Hotel Equities has started the new year with the addition of a new leadership and several key promotions within the organization. The new hires and promotions include:
- Clint DeLee appointed as vice president of operations. DeLee brings over two decades of hospitality operations expertise to Hotel Equites. He will leverage his leadership experience to drive operational excellence.
- Karen Mendez promoted to vice president of operations. She will be overseeing Hotel Equites’ new Postcard Cabins portfolio.
- Lindsay Meadows promoted to senior vice president of accounting and procurement. Meadows will oversee accounting and procurement operations, ensuring financial health and operational efficiency.
- Brad Read promoted to senior vice president of finance. With over 20 years of experience in domestic and international financial leadership, Read will continue to lead innovative financial strategies.
- Michaelanne Colarelli appointed as procurement manager. She steps into the role after showcasing her creative and strategic leadership in marketing.
- Angela Phillips promoted to regional director of sales. With over 20 years of experience in sales and operations, Phillips’ strategic vision and commitment to excellence have been instrumental in driving sales performance and fostering success for the organization.
“We are focused on building a strong infrastructure and fostering a culture that prioritizes continuous improvement,” said Brad Rahinsky, president and CEO of Hotel Equities. “When we do that right — when we invest in our people and our processes — the growth part takes care of itself. These announcements represent our focus on getting better every day as we position Hotel Equities for sustainable success.”
MORE MOVES
Hotel Indigo Jabal Akhdar Resort & Spa in Oman has welcomed Anoop Joseph as director of sales and marketing. He will spearhead the commercial strategy for the new mountain resort.
Joseph will drive leisure and corporate business from key GCC markets, while expanding the resort’s reach into European source markets. With more than 18 years of experience, Joseph has previously led commercial strategies for several international brands. His journey with IHG began at Crowne Plaza Kochi in 2012 and he most recently served as director of sales and marketing at Crowne Plaza Resort Salalah.
Kelsey Jones has been named area director of sales and marketing for Kimpton Hotel Monaco DC and Kimpton George in Washington, D.C. Kelsey began her hospitality career at The Carlyle in NYC and brings over 12 years of experience in sales and marketing to her new position.
In this new role, Kelsey will lead her team of 12 employees ensuring the group continues to exceed the upcoming crossover revenue for both hotels.
Hotel Irvine has appointed Stewart Arevalo as its new director of operations. He has previously served as assistant general manager at Hilton properties in Anaheim and Los Angeles.
With over a decade of experience at Hilton properties across Southern California, Arevalo’s expertise in guest services, team building and operational excellence equips him to elevate the hotel’s performance and guest experiences through effective communication and property activations.
The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village has promoted Sandra Keneven to senior sales executive. She will oversee sales initiatives for the waterfront resort, refine the hotel’s profile, expand business opportunities, identify prospective partners and secure contracts with partners.
With almost 20 years of experience, Keneven has held sales and operations positions in many hotel brands, predominantly with Marriott.
Silverado Resort has appointed Len Dumas, PGA, CCM as director of club operations. He will oversee all club operations, including golf, membership, the Pro Shop and Agronomy.
Dumas is the president of the California Alliance for Golf and most recently served as the executive director/COO of the Northern California PGA, as well as chairman of the board for the Northern California PGA Foundation. Prior to this, he spent 14 years at Contra Costa Country Club in Pleasant Hill.
NEW GMs
Marcus Hotels & Resorts has appointed Kay Washington as general manager of the AC Hotel Chicago Downtown. She will oversee all aspects of the 226-key hotel located in Chicago’s River North area.
Bringing over 25 years of experience to her new role, Washington recently served as general manager of the Ivy Hotel Chicago, where she oversaw operations, brand implementation and sales strategy. Prior to that, she served in management and operations roles at several Marriott International properties.
Atlantis Paradise Island in Paradise Island, Bahamas, has named Eric Segreti as general manager of The Cove. Segreti will oversee the resort’s luxury rooms and services, manage operations and implement initiatives to upgrade the property’s reputation as a premier destination.
Segreti brings more than 15 years of hospitality experience. Most recently, he served as vice president of rooms at Fontainebleau in Miami Beach. His career includes key roles at hotels such as The Peninsula New York, Mandarin Oriental New York, The Setai Miami Beach and 1 Hotel South Beach.
The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain has appointed Brian McHugh as general manager. With more than two decades of leadership experience, McHugh has held key roles across multiple Ritz-Carlton properties and Marriott International’s corporate offices.
McHugh first joined the resort’s F&B leadership team in 2009, returning in 2014 as director of operations. Most recently, he served as vice president of luxury brand operations for Marriott International’s MILUX Group.
Stephane Vogel has been named area general manager for Kimpton Hotel Monaco DC and Kimpton George in Washington, D.C. He brings more than 20 years of luxury hotel experience and a people-focused leadership approach to building inclusive and collaborative teams.
Stephane will oversee the operations and management of the two properties — Kimpton Hotel Monaco DC, a National Historic Landmark building in Penn Quarter, and the Kimpton George, located in Capitol Hill capturing the congressional set. He will work along with the on-property teams to drive hotel performance and growth.
