THE STAFFORD COLLECTION NAMES MANAGING DIRECTOR
The Stafford Collection has promoted John McLean to the role of managing director, following his appointment as general manager in May 2024. In his new role, McLean will helm the entire portfolio, which includes The Stafford London, Northcote and Norma.
Bringing more than 20 years of experience in the luxury hospitality industry, McLean has held several leadership roles, including interim general manager at The Cadogan Hotel in Chelsea, hotel manager and interim general manager of Brown’s Hotel London and executive head of F&B at The Lanesborough.
PROMOTIONS AT PRACTICE HOSPITALITY
Practice Hospitality has announced the promotion of three team members to leadership roles.
- Holly Landry has been promoted to vice president of accounting. Bringing over 20 years of experience in financial management in the hospitality industry, Landry previously served as corporate director of finance. Prior to her tenure at Practice Hospitality, she held the position of corporate controller at Provenance Hotels.
- Jillian Loughlin has been elevated to director of commercial services. With experience in sales, marketing and revenue management, Loughlin earlier served as corporate director of sales.
- Ana Connolly has been appointed regional director of revenue management. She joined Practice Hospitality as area director of revenue management and prior to that, served as complex director of revenue for Hilton Hotels.
JOSE CORRALIZA JOINS UMUSIC HOTELS
UMusic Hotels has welcomed Jose Corraliza as senior vice president of entertainment, bringing decades of expertise in live entertainment, production and hospitality to this transformative brand.
His career highlights include over 10 years with Cirque du Soleil, where he held key leadership roles, including vice president of touring shows and vice president of technical operations. Corraliza also co-created Heart Ibiza, a fusion of gastronomy, music and art.
MORE MOVES
Marriott International has named Carolina Voullieme as multi-property director of sales and marketing, overseeing both the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino and the Grand Cayman Marriott Resort. She will lead the development and implementation of innovative sales and marketing strategies to drive revenue growth, enhance the guest experience and expand the market share of both properties.
Voullieme has over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry and her most recent achievements at the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino include managing the team through a property-wide makeover and guestrooms renovation, as well as spearheading efforts that led to several accolades.
The Ocean Club, a Luxury Collection Resort, Costa Norte has appointed Enna Hernández as director of sales. Hernández will oversee revenue generation for the resort’s exclusive collection of suites, along with its 8,600 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space.
With experience in spearheading sales plans, building strong client relationships and creating exceptional experiences for luxury travelers, Hernández will elevate the resort’s offerings. Prior to her new role, she served as account sales executive for a portfolio of properties, including The Westin Puntacana Resort & Club and the Four Points by Sheraton Puntacana Village.
Hotel Maverick has appointed Ernest Brown as director of food, beverage and culinary. With more than three decades of experience in the hospitality industry, Brown will oversee all aspects of the hotel’s culinary operations, including banquets; onsite coffee shop, Bettys; and rooftop restaurant, Devil’s Kitchen.
Brown most recently served as director of food and beverage at Grand Hyatt Vail. Prior to this he held many culinary director and chef roles at hotels, resorts, casinos and restaurants in Las Vegas, New Orleans, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Chicago and more.
Peachtree Group has appointed Michael Brunner as executive vice president, credit investments. He will be critical in elevating Peachtree’s credit platform and driving its strategic growth initiatives.
Brunner has more than 25 years of experience at financial institutions, including ATLAS SP Partners, where he was instrumental in the warehouse finance and securitized products business. He also held leadership roles at Credit Suisse, where he contributed to the securitized products asset finance division, focusing on commercial real estate finance and commercial mortgage-backed securities.
NEW GMs
Park Hyatt Los Cabos at Cabo Del Sol, set to open in the second quarter as the Park Hyatt brand’s debut in Mexico, has appointed Adam Zilber as general manager. Zilber will oversee the launch and operations of Park Hyatt Los Cabos, shaping the resort’s vision, driving its exceptional guest experience and positioning the property as a premier destination.
With a 25-year career in hospitality, Zilber brings international experience in repositioning luxury resorts. Most recently, he served as general manager of Andaz Costa Rica.
Dominique Lorent has joined Canopy by Hilton Cancun La Isla as its new general manager. With more than two decades of experience, she brings a deep passion for innovation, sustainability and creating authentic guest experiences.
Before joining Canopy by Hilton Cancun La Isla, Lorent led the opening of Canopy by Hilton Paris Trocadéro, the brand’s first hotel in France, where she cultivated strong connections with the local community and championed environmentally driven initiatives. Her career also includes time at Conrad Bora Bora Nui, where she honed her expertise in luxury hospitality and guest satisfaction.
Rosewood Le Guanahani St. Barth has welcomed Thibaut Asso as resort manager, marking his return to the iconic property. In this role, he will oversee the resort’s daily operations, ensuring guest experiences while driving strategic initiatives to enhance service excellence and operational efficiency.
Asso’s journey comes full circle as he returns to Rosewood Le Guanahani St. Barth, building on his previous tenure as director of sales and marketing from 2020 to 2023. Following his time at the resort, he joined Marriott International as complex director of sales and marketing. He also served as cluster director of sales and marketing, Americas for COMO Hotels and Resorts in Miami Beach.
Javier Gimeno has been named general manager at Meliá Pattaya. The 234-room and suite hotel is slated to open in the first quarter.
Bringing in three decades of industry experience in Asia and Europe, Gimeno joins Meliá Pattaya Hotel after working in senior management roles with Marriott International for more than a decade. Most recently, he was the cluster general manager with Marriott & Four Points by Sheraton Tianjin National Convention and Exhibition Centre in Tianjin, China.
Ascendant Capital Partners in partnership with global hotel management firm Highgate and global investment manager Centerbridge Partners have appointed Brock Taylor as general manager at Monterey Beach Hotel, a Marriott Tribute Portfolio Hotel.
Taylor will oversee strategic and daily operations at the oceanfront property, including on-site management, team member engagement and ensuring guest experiences amongst the hotel and its three dining venues.
