Posts by author

Tatiana Valenzuela

130 posts

Bespoke banquet business: How modern day banqueting is exceeding expectations

🏨 Weddings and corporate events increasingly demand personalized experiences, noted Patrick Berwald of EOS Hospitality. Hotels like Isla Bella Beach Resort in Florida partner with organizations like Conch Republic Marine Army for unique excursions. Alex Polidoros from IHS Design highlights luxury hotels investing in customized banquet furniture. Linen-free setups and live cooking stations are trending. Hilton Barbados Resort uses tech for efficient booking and planning. Staff training and strategic partnerships address industry challenges in maintaining service quality.
View Post
Share

Andaz 5th Avenue appoints new general manager

📍 Andaz 5th Avenue in New York City has named Marshneil Bharadwaj as its new general manager. A nearly 20-year Hyatt veteran, Bharadwaj moved to NYC in 2022 from the Bahamas. She will lead operations, strategic planning, and guest experience at the 184-room hotel, which includes 47 suites and six terrace rooms near Bryant Park and the New York Public Library.
View Post
Share
View Post
  • 2 min

Marco Tabet named GM of Hilton’s Hotel del Coronado

🏨 Marco Tabet appointed as new general manager of Hotel del Coronado, California. With 20+ years of experience, previously general manager at Conrad Punta de Mita for six years. Will manage post-renovation operations following a $550 million project adding dining, spa, fitness, and accommodations upgrades. Tabet has led various Hilton properties including in Los Cabos, Lima, and Panama. Hotel del Coronado features five neighborhoods, with Shore House and Beach Village as part of LXR Hotels & Resorts and others in Hilton's Curio Collection. Victorian neighborhood undergoing $160 million restoration.
View Post
Share
View Post
  • 2 min

Dorchester Collection appoints new GM of Le Meurice, Paris

🏠 Pascal Billard appointed general manager of Le Meurice in Paris, starts August 1, 2025. He succeeds Franka Holtmann, who retired in February after 18+ years. Billard has over 35 years in hospitality, including 12 years at Majestic Hotel & Spa Barcelona and previous experience at Hôtel Plaza Athénée (2009-2013), part of Dorchester Collection. Le Meurice, opened since 1835, houses the two-Michelin-starred Le Meurice Alain Ducasse and pastry chef Cedric Grolet's patisserie. Dorchester Collection's Christopher Cowdray praises Billard's luxury hospitality expertise.
View Post
Share

Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort promotes Sebastien Dental as managing director

🏨 Sebastien Dental was appointed as managing director of Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort, in Los Cabos, Mexico, in 2025. Dental joined the resort in 2020, transitioned to resort manager in 2022, and has over 15 years of hospitality experience. The resort boasts 84 accommodations, including 66 rooms and suites, five villas, 12 Signature Beach Villas, and the 28,000-square-foot Ty Warner Mansion. 🏝️
View Post
Share

Moxy Boulder appoints Humberto Fermo as general manager

📋 Vision Hospitality Group appointed Humberto Fermo as the new general manager of Moxy Boulder, which opened last June near the University of Colorado Boulder. Fermo brings over 20 years of experience from roles including general manager at Kimpton’s Hotel Monaco in Denver and Indigo Hotels in Austin and Rochester. Moxy Boulder, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio, is managed by Vision Hospitality Group, headquartered in Chattanooga, Tenn.
View Post
Share

Fernando Flores appointed general manager of Esperanza, Auberge Resorts Collection

🏝️ Fernando Flores was appointed as general manager of Esperanza, Auberge Resorts Collection in Los Cabos, Mexico. With over 20 years in luxury hospitality, he aims to enhance the renowned property's legacy. Formerly from Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal, Flores introduced notable culinary programs. Esperanza features 44 casitas, 45 villas, nine suites, four haciendas, six restaurants, and diverse amenities including pools, sports courts, and a spa.
View Post
Share

White Lodging announces promotions to its executive team

📈 Chris Anderson, with White Lodging since 2015, and Joe Pagone, who joined in 2022, were promoted to executive VP/COO and senior VP of operations, respectively. Anderson previously worked with Marcus Hotels & Resorts and Marriott International, while Pagone spent 14 years at Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants. These changes, announced by CEO Jean-Luc Barone, aim to enhance leadership in navigating the dynamic hospitality industry landscape.
View Post
Share
View Post
  • 5 min

Sweet Smell of Success: How scent marketing captures not only hotel guests’ noses, but hearts.

😍 Marcel Proust, a novelist known for exploring "involuntary memory," believed simple cues like food or smell can trigger complex memories. Scent marketing, aligning a brand with a signature fragrance, is used by companies to strengthen consumer relationships. For example, Langham Hotels & Resorts' Ginger Flower fragrance embodies its luxury motif. Integra Fragrances CEO Lorenzo Cotti emphasizes staying current with perfumery trends for relevancy. HD Fragrances, partnering with luxury French hotels, created four unique scents for Anantara Plaza Nice over six months. Maison 21G, collaborating with hotels, believes in scent variety for different spaces and local ingredient use. Integra's seasonal scents at Rome Cavalieri and a Christmas fragrance enhance guest experiences. Scent marketing can increase on-site spending and create additional revenue through retail offerings of branded products like candles or perfumes. Integra also designs diffusion systems with air quality sensors, offering guests take-home fragrance collections to extend their experience. Scent marketing allows hotels to establish memorable connections with guests.
View Post
Share