MIKE METCALF’S NEW ROLE AT HQ HOTELS
HQ Hotels & Residences, the new lifestyle hospitality brand led by sbe Chairman and CEO Sam Nazarian, has named Mike Metcalf as president.
“Mike joins HQ Hotels at a pivotal stage of its launch ahead of the first HQ hotel openings in Montreux, Switzerland and Detroit, Mich. His extensive background in hospitality at every level and his business acumen makes him the ideal choice for HQ and we are delighted to have him at the brand’s helm,” said Nazarian.
Metcalf brings more than 40 years of hospitality experience and joins the HQ Hotels team from Crescent Hotels & Resorts, where he served as COO, executive vice president, senior vice president, operations and vice president business development over his 18 years with Crescent.
HARRY DONG TO LEAD BWH IN CHINA
BWH Hotels has named Harry Dong as the president and CEO of BWH Hotels China (Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan), Mongolia and Nepal.
Part of the BWH team for more than 16 years, he steps into the role that was earlier held by his father, William Dong. Harry Dong has earlier managed procurement, quality analysis and project development for property hotels in the region.
“I am excited for Harry to take the leadership role for BWH Hotels China. His experience and knowledge will be tremendously helpful as we continue to grow in this region. I look forward to supporting him as we work together to leverage the power of the BWH Hotels global distribution system, loyalty program and quality assurance,” said Ron Pohl, president of WorldHotels and International Operations for BWH Hotels.
LEADERSHIP CHANGES AT L+R HOTELS
London + Regional (L+R) has announced senior leadership changes to accelerate its growth and global diversification.
Cody Bradshaw has joined as group CEO of L+R Hotels, with overall responsibility for global strategy, growth, asset management and performance. The three business units — Americas, Europe and the U.K. — will report directly to Bradshaw. With 25 years of experience in hospitality real estate investing, he joins from Starwood Capital Group where he served for more than 13 years.
Charles Macon will continue to lead the U.S. and Caribbean hotel business, with his NYC team supporting expansion opportunities in those territories.
Neil Kirk will lead L+R Hotels in Europe, covering asset management and operating hotel acquisitions.
Sean Lowe will grow select service hotels in the U.K. as well as in the overseas.
Andy Fish will join L+R Hotels on October 21 to helm the finance function across the company’s investment and hotel groups.
Desmond Taljaard will serve as deputy chair and act as an advisor to the affiliated family office.
APPOINTMENTS AT SH HOTELS
SH Hotels & Resorts, the hotel brand management company that operates 1 Hotels & Homes, Baccarat Hotels & Residences, and Treehouse Hotels, has announced the promotion of the following leaders in the company:
- Shadi Omeish has been appointed vice president of operations in North America. Bringing two decades of international experience, Omeish will lead and collaborate with general managers and VP at SH Hotels’ properties across the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Since joining the company in 2016, Omeish has served as general manager at 1 Hotel South Beach and 1 Hotel West Hollywood, area managing director west coast and most recently regional vice president west coast.
- Milton Sgarbi has assumed the role of regional vice president of operations and special projects at 1 Hotel South Beach. With experience in hotel operations and new openings, Sgarbi will serve in a regional capacity over the immediate openings in Miami, including the upcoming Treehouse Hotel and Baccarat Hotel in Brickell, as well as other select hotels and projects in the future. He will report directly to the CEO in his new role. Sgarbi joined the company in 2016 and has since collaborated on several projects in three continents and most recently served as VP of operations at 1 Hotel South Beach.
MORE MOVES
Omni Hotels & Resorts has named Annette Bales as the vice president of sales. She will be leading and coordinating global and property-based sales for Omni. Bales will lead the development and execution of strategic sales plans. Her key responsibilities include increasing revenues through enhanced market penetration, optimizing revenue performance at all Omni-operated properties, and ensuring all strategic sales practices align with the brand’s overall business objectives.
Prior to her new position, she served as executive director of sales, service and experience at Sunseeker Resort in Charlotte Harbor, Fla. She also held leadership roles during her 15-year tenure at Marriott International, where she oversaw strategic and result-driven sales management, specializing in hotel openings, strategic planning, high-performing team creation and retention, brand management and more.
Shangri-La Group has appointed Christian Pertl as the new vice president of commercial for the Middle East, India, Indian Ocean, Europe and the Americas (MEIA) region. He will be leading Shangri-La’s commercial strategy, with a focus on driving growth and enhancing the financial results of properties across the region, particularly those that need additional support in the existing market conditions.
Pertl brings 30 years of experience in luxury hospitality across Europe, the Middle East and the Indian Ocean. He has held pivotal roles at several hospitality brands, where his strategic insights have contributed to the financial success of those organizations.
NEW GMs
The Resort at Pelican Hill has appointed Kevin Kelly as general manager. Kelly brings more than 25 years of hospitality experience to his new role and will lead daily operations of the luxury hotel as well as enhance the service and curate guest experiences. As of July 1, Marriott International assumed management of the hotel, which will be transitioning to the St. Regis flag in the coming months.
Recognized for his dedication to service and attention to detail and guest satisfaction, he was been recognized as ‘General Manager of the Year’ three times in his career, twice in the last two years. Most recently, Kelly served as the general manager at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain.
Parag Athavale has been named the new general manager of Sagamore Pendry Baltimore. With more than 20 years of experience, Athavale joins from his most recent role as hotel manager at Pendry Washington DC-The Wharf, where he helmed the hotel’s opening and led innovative initiatives.
Before his new role, he held leadership positions in luxury hotels across the country, including the W New Orleans – French Quarter, The Ritz-Carlton New Orleans and The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island.
Minor Hotels has appointed Simon Beaumont as the general manager of Avani+ Khao Lak Resort. He will lead operations at the resort and leverage his experience and strategic vision to enhance guest experience and boost business growth.
With a career spanning 35 years, Beaumont has held several F&B senior leadership roles in his native Australia, the Middle East, Asia and Europe. Prior to his new position, he served as interim CEO at Azerbaijan’s Absheron Hotel Group, where he helmed 14 internationally-branded properties, spearheading strategic growth and operational excellence.
Francisco García has been appointed general manager of The Maybourne Riviera, the first property in France from Maybourne, operators of Claridge’s, The Connaught, The Berkeley and The Emory in London as well as The Maybourne Beverly Hills in Los Angeles. García brings in more than 20 years of luxury hospitality experience to the property, which is located on a peninsula above the town of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin.
Prior to his new role, García served as general manager at the Cheval Blanc Courchevel in the French Alps. He previously held senior positions across the Four Seasons hotel group and other properties, including Rosewood’s Hotel de Crillon and the Mandarin Oriental in Madrid.
Holger Flory has been named the new general manager of Europäischer Hof Baden-Baden, which will open in summer 2025. The grand hotel is considered an icon and cradle of the Steigenberger brand.
Flory has served in several roles in the luxury hotel industry. He opened The Charles Hotel Rocco Forte in Munich as director of sales and marketing and the Roomers Hotel Baden-Baden as general manager before finding his long-standing responsibility at Steigenberger. He also served as general manager of the Steigenberger Graf Zeppelin Stuttgart and director commercial at the Steigenberger Icon Frankfurter Hof.
Great Oak Manor in Chestertown, Md., has welcomed Calin Taralunga as its new general manager.
With more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Taralunga started his career at JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel in Romania. His most recent role was resort manager at Inn at Perry Cabin in St. Michaels, Md.
