Human Resources

🎓 Keisha Smith appointed as Executive Vice President and Chief People and Culture Officer at Four Seasons on January 6, 2025. Based in Miami, she reports to President and CEO Alejandro Reynal. Smith's 20+ years of leadership experience includes roles at Tory Burch, News Corp, and Morgan Stanley, and as an Independent Director at Unity Software. Her role focuses on HR, Internal Communications, and ESG, pivotal to Four Seasons' culture and team empowerment. The company has over 50,000 global employees and prioritizes sustainable growth and social responsibility.

📌 Andrew Casperson promoted from COO to president of Coury Hospitality in spring 2023, overseeing operational strategies for its hotels, bars, and restaurants, including the new Concert Hospitality arm. Extreme Hospitality named Ryan M. Alpert, with 25 years of experience, as CCO. KSL Resorts rebranded as Peregrine Hospitality, led by CEO Greg Kennealey and an experienced team. Westgate Resorts announced leadership changes, promoting long-standing executives like Mitch Less (COO) and John Willman (CFO). Hospitality industry veterans like RJ Cooper and Alexandre Ariel appointed to lead culinary and hotel management at luxury destinations Kohler, Wisconsin, and Fairmont Monte Carlo, respectively.

🍴 Bret Thorn, Senior Food & Beverage Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News since 1999 and Restaurant Hospitality since 2016, is known for his coverage of food and beverage trends. He hosted the podcast "In the Kitchen with Bret Thorn" and wrote for The New York Sun from 2005 to 2008. A Tufts University magna cum laude graduate, he also studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. Thorn won the 2006 Neal Award, served as IFEC president in 2005, and has written for notable food encyclopedias. He resides in Brooklyn, N.Y.

📌 Cycas Hospitality appoints Philip Steiner as COO for UK, Ireland, Netherlands, and Portugal. Steiner previously improved Bankside Hotel to top 10 on TripAdvisor, earning “Best of the Best” 2024 title with an 87% guest recommendation score. Since 2018 at Cycas, he's progressed through roles and led a complex with 244 rooms. His extensive career includes working at Rome Cavalieri and with Hilton and Starwood, and he serves on the Institute of Hospitality board and as an Ambassador for Hospitality Action. CEO Matt Luscombe commends Steiner’s results and leadership as he takes on the new executive role to support Cycas's European expansion.

📋 Temp-to-hire models gain traction in the foodservice industry, particularly in quick-serve and fast-casual segments, due to their growth in 2024 and expected expansion in 2025. This hiring method allows employers to assess potential permanent staff in a low-employment environment without long-term commitments. Temporary postings typically range from three to six months, after which employers may pay a conversion fee to make the temp a permanent employee. The method offers a solution to adapt to increased labor demands despite the introduction of automated systems. Employers are advised to invest in committed training and intentional onboarding to improve hiring success.

🏡 Sage Hospitality Group now manages Hilton Denver City Center, the first partnership with Park Hotels & Resorts. The hotel, featuring 613 rooms and 35,000 square feet of meeting space, joins Sage's 18-property Denver portfolio including The Crawford and The Oxford. Located near Larimer Square, the hotel provides mountain and city skyline views and Sage Restaurant Concepts oversees its dining venue. Sage's four companies offer comprehensive hospitality services in Denver.

🍴 Bret Thorn, Senior Food & Beverage Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality since 1999, has been spotlighting F&B trends. Host of "In the Kitchen with Bret Thorn," he wrote for The New York Sun (2005-2008), and earlier, covered business in Thailand for Manager magazine and Asia Times (1992-1997). A Tufts University magna cum laude graduate and Phi Beta Kappa member, Thorn also attended Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and studied Chinese in China. He won the 2006 Neal Award and was inducted into the Disciples d’Escoffier in 2014.