HOTELS Editors

🏨 Robert Rouleau has been promoted to general manager at The Newbury Boston, a luxury hotel managed by Highgate, as of 2023. Previously, he was the hotel manager and joined in 2021 as director of food & beverage, with over 20 years of experience, including roles at The Beverly Hills Hotel. The Newbury, located in Back Bay, across from Boston’s Public Garden, first opened in 1927 as a Ritz-Carlton. It now has 286 guest rooms and features The Street Bar and Contessa.

💰 Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG) appoints Gary Kunesh as CFO, tasked with overseeing accounting, financial reporting, tax, risk management, and tech functions. With 30+ years in hospitality, Kunesh previously held VP roles at White Lodging Services and was Finance Director of the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort, a $150M operation. Hilton names Randy Morton as GM of Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas, with a history including COO of Bellagio Resort & Casino and roles at Four Seasons. W Punta Cana, the first all-inclusive W Hotels resort, appoints Omar Rivera as GM. The St. Regis Washington, D.C. promotes Alaina Sweeney to GM post-renovation in 2024. InterContinental New York Barclay Hotel appoints Savannah Seaman as marketing director; The Westin Cape Coral Resort promotes Susan Cecere David to senior sales executive. Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront appoints Rocco LaFronza as operations director. Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center, opening May 15 near San Diego, introduces Scott Siebert as GM, Joy Lynch as group sales director, and Russ Mitchell as sales and marketing director.

🏨 Hotel Equities named Greg O’Stean as chief development officer and promoted Joe Reardon to vice chairman. Eric Habermann, COO of Pyramid Global Hospitality, retires after seven years; Isaac Hicks succeeds him. Resolute Road Hospitality added Doug Ableman as regional VP of operations and Kent Duncan as VP of revenue management. Rosewood Mandarina, opening May 15th in Mexico, announces leadership team with Juan Carlos Cardona Aquino as managing director. Schulte Hospitality Group appointed Anne Fischer as chief marketing officer, and Wayfinder Waikiki named Scott Kawasaki as director of sales & marketing. Remington Hospitality hired Charlene Nigaglioni-Gang as VP of sales, CALA. The Hythe in Vail appointed Tracy Stoltz as general manager, and The Roosevelt New Orleans selected Sebastian Stutz as general manager.

📢 Omni Hotels & Resorts appoints Adam Hayashi as chief revenue officer, with over 20 years of hospitality experience, reporting to Jeff Doane. Aimbridge Hospitality promotes Michael Murray to vice president of operations for Evolution Hospitality. Thomas Kochs returns to Maybourne as managing director of Claridge’s. Raffles Boston names Carlos Bueno general manager, who has 25 years of experience and holds positions with local associations. Belmond appoints Tiago Sarmento area managing director, Mexico, previously featured in HOTELS Magazine’s “Top 25 Hotels of the World” in 2023. NoMad London appoints Serena Lightner general manager with 30 years of experience. Rosewood Mayakoba’s new managing director is Edouard Grosmangin, also regional VP overseeing properties in Mexico and South America. The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas appoints Chris Lee as general manager, previously with IHG Hotels & Resorts.

🏡 Rosy Merlino appointed as director of sales and marketing at The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad, with 20+ years experience including at Four Seasons and GrandLife Hotels. Thompson Miami Beach names Karan Kakar, with 20+ years experience, as general manager and Iris Acosta-Zobel, with 25+ years experience, as director of sales and marketing. Mark George is Island Hospitality Management’s new senior VP of commercial strategy, Kathy Heneghan becomes general manager of the upcoming 800-room Signia by Hilton Indianapolis, opening in 2026. Yann Gillet appointed area general manager for Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa and Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman, Lucia Aguilar rejoins Ace Hotel Palm Springs as general manager, Dannialle Neville promoted to regional VP of operations at Concord Hospitality, and Nikki Severson becomes director of 11,500-square-foot Spa Montage at Montage Healdsburg.