Human Resources

👨️ SH Hotels & Resorts promoted Shadi Omeish to Vice President of Operations in North America and Milton Sgarbi to Regional Vice President of Operations at 1 Hotel South Beach. Omeish, with over 20 years of experience, joined the company in 2016, and has managed West Coast properties. Sgarbi, also with vast industry experience, oversees the 1 Hotel South Beach with 425 rooms and various amenities. The brand is expanding with upcoming projects in North America, Europe, Middle East, and Asia Pacific, including new Baccarat Hotels in Rome, Florence, Dubai, and more.

🏨 SH Hotels & Resorts promoted two executives: Shadi Omeish as Vice President of Operations in North America, and Milton Sgarbi as Regional Vice President of Operations and Special Projects at 1 Hotel South Beach. Omeish, with over 20 years in the industry, oversees the company's properties in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, including eight 1 Hotels, Baccarat Hotel & Residences New York, the upcoming Treehouse Hotel Silicon Valley, and future projects like 1 Hotel Austin and Seattle. Sgarbi, a veteran in hotel operations, manages 1 Hotel South Beach's 425 rooms, eight dining outlets, and other amenities. SH Hotels & Resorts is expanding globally with new projects in Melbourne, Copenhagen, Paris, and more.

💲 Mo Chaar, after joining Givex in 2007, advanced from Business Development Manager to Vice President of Sales for North America, and now serves as Chief Commercial Officer. In his current role, he guides global commercial strategy and oversees North American sales teams, instrumental in the growth of Givex partnerships. His expertise spans gift cards, loyalty, and POS systems, aligning teams on pricing, products, and sales approaches, while also supporting Global Managing Directors to fulfill strategic commercial objectives.

🏨 SH Hotels & Resorts announced the promotion of Shadi Omeish to Vice President of Operations in North America and Milton Sgarbi to Regional Vice President of Operations and Special Projects at 1 Hotel South Beach. Omeish, with over 20 years in hospitality, previously served as General Manager and Regional Vice President West Coast since joining the company in 2016. Sgarbi, also joining in 2016, oversees 1 Hotel South Beach's 425 rooms, 8 dining outlets, and more. The company is expanding with new projects in cities like Austin, Seattle, and Silicon Valley set to open this year, and developments in Melbourne, Copenhagen, and others underway. Baccarat Hotels & Residences is opening in locations such as Rome and Dubai, while Treehouse Hotels is launching in Silicon Valley and Manchester this year.

🏠 Chef Brad Carter steps away from the Undercroft project in the crypt of Mayfair’s St George’s Church, London. The 107-cover restaurant, created by music industry entrepreneur Martin Priestnall, was set for a summer launch. Carter, who previously earned a Michelin star at Carters of Moseley in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter, cited no reason for the decision. The project, first seen by Carter in 2022, has been significantly delayed and may be canceled. Carter remains focused on bringing his food to London.

📍 In August, the U.S. restaurant industry added nearly 30,000 jobs, marking a 21% share of the 142,000 total new positions in the economy. Unemployment dipped to 4.2%. The sector now employs 12.4 million, slightly above February 2020's 12.3 million. Full-service still lags 4% behind pre-pandemic levels, while limited-service is up 3%. Despite this growth, 82% of restaurant operators are hiring, seeking chefs (30%), dishwashers (12%), cashiers (7%). Operating costs and labor shortages are top challenges, with 27% of respondents citing costs and 23% labor issues. Toast found 30% of restaurant workers might leave within two years, though the quit rate is below the pre-pandemic average.

📅 Accor appointed Benoît Racle as global brand president-premium and Jean-Yves Minet as global brand president-midscale and economy. Atlantis Resorts named Paul Baker as the president of Atlantis, The Palm, and Atlantis The Royal. SH Hotels & Resorts appointed Jonathan Heath as executive VP of F&B and hotel operations. Rosewood Hotels & Resorts announced Juan Carlos Cardona Aquino as managing director of Rosewood Mandarina, opening in early 2025. The Kimpton Sawyer Hotel welcomed Claire Johnsen as director of sales and marketing. Zeal Hotels appointed John Wagner as a non-executive director, ahead of voco Zeal Exeter Science Park's opening in January 2025. Penta Hotels promoted Riccardo Calà to director of marketing. The InterContinental Mark Hopkins promoted Jennifer Dunn to hotel manager. Rosewood London hired Fernando Corona Burch as executive chef. YOTEL Washington DC appointed Robert Weland as executive chef. JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa named Damien Hirsch as general manager. Terry Buchholz became GM of The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills. Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection in Costa Rica, appointed Koen Masschelein as GM, and Keswick Hall welcomed Louis Shapazian as GM.

🍴 Alexandre Laforce Reynolds, former head chef at Eline in Shoreditch, joins Bistro Freddie in October 2023. Reynolds, aged 31, has over a decade of experience in London's fine dining, including Hide, Fenchurch, and Seven Park Place, and opened Eline in summer 2022, which closed in May. Bistro Freddie, part of HAM Restaurants, launched in October 2023 on Luke Street, Shoreditch. Reynolds introduces new dishes like Loch Duart salmon, beef tartare, and a French île flottante dessert.

🍴 Fernando Corona Burch appointed to oversee food and drink at Rosewood London's Holborn Dining Room, Mirror Room, Scarfes Bar, in-room dining, and banqueting. With over 20 years' experience in the hospitality industry, his background includes Michelin-starred restaurants and leadership roles within Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, such as executive chef at Rosewood Hong Kong and Beijing, director of culinary operations at Rosewood Phnom Penh and Beijing. Recently, executive chef at the pre-opening of Park Hyatt Los Cabos, Mexico. Rosewood London's Managing Director, Tessa Gorman, praises his expertise and vision for their culinary team.

🍽 Bret Thorn, Senior Food & Beverage Editor for Nation's Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality, reports on food and beverage trends and has been with NRN since 1999. He hosted a podcast, wrote for The New York Sun from 2005-2008, lived in Thailand writing about business and food for Manager magazine and Asia Times (1992-1997), and worked for ABC News during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. Thorn, a magna cum laude Tufts University graduate and Phi Beta Kappa member, also studied French cooking at Le Cordon Bleu Paris. He joined the Restaurant Hospitality staff in 2016, won a 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award, was an IFEC president in 2005, and authored entries in food encyclopedias. Inducted into Disciples d'Escoffier in 2014, Thorn resides in Brooklyn, NY.