Human Resources

🏦 Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants opened Kimpton BEM Budapest, a 127-room boutique hotel, in Budapest's Buda side near the Castle District. Meliá Hotels International introduced Meliá Pattaya City (234 rooms) and Paradisus Jomtien Resort (698 rooms) in Thailand, expanding its local portfolio to six. Smith Hill Capital and Bain Capital provided a $72 million refinancing for the 208-room Hotel Viking in Newport, R.I. Crescent Hotels & Resorts will manage Virginia's first JW Marriott at Reston Station, opening in 2025 with 243 rooms and 94 luxury condos.

🍹 Lima Shoreditch, set to open in late September, will take over Quercus restaurant in a Shoreditch hotel. It follows the original Lima restaurant in Fitzrovia, launched in 2012 as Europe's first Michelin-starred Peruvian restaurant. Executive Chef Roberto Sihuay will introduce new Peruvian dishes with Japanese and Chinese influences. The venue will feature a Peru-inspired décor, private dining rooms (PDRs), and an outdoor terrace. Lima Floral in Covent Garden, after a 2021 rebrand, is now Lima Cantana.

📈 After 40 years at Hilton, Phil Cordell retires, transitioning to an advisor role in July. He started as a bellman in high school and became the general manager of the second Hampton Hotel in 1983. Cordell led the growth of Hampton by Hilton, which expanded to over 2,300 hotels in 29 countries. He also played a key role in developing Hilton brands like Hilton Garden Inn, Embassy Suites, and Homewood Suites. Cordell launched new brands like Home2 Suites, Tru, Motto, Tempo, and Spark, with Spark being Hilton's fastest announcement-to-market brand.

🔔 Phil Cordell, after 40 years at Hilton, will retire and become an advisor from July. Kevin Osterhaus succeeds him, overseeing Canopy, Curio Collection, Graduate, Motto, Tapestry Collection, and Tempo brands after Hilton's acquisition of Graduate Hotels in March. Cordell started as a bellman, became general manager of the second Hampton Hotel in 1983, and grew the brand to over 2,300 hotels in 29 countries. This year, Hampton celebrates its 40th anniversary and opens its 3,000th hotel. Spark, launched in January 2023, opened its first hotel in October in Mystic, Conn. Cordell also helped create Hilton CleanStay during the pandemic.

📈 Brittain Resorts & Hotels appointed Brittney Jones as chief development officer. PM Hotel Group named Paul Sacco with 30+ years in hospitality as chief growth and development officer. RMS Cloud's new chief product officer is Cameron Gough. Ron Fader became senior vice president at Hospitality Ventures Management Group. Frank Solano is now senior vice president at Dreamscape Hospitality. Marci Jacobs is McNeill Hotel Company's VP of sales and revenue. Dania Duke appointed managing director at Margaritaville Resort Lake Tahoe. Nick Solomon became general manager of The Scottsdale Resort & Spa. Glenda Rivera, with 25 years experience, is the general manager at Zachari Dunes on Mandalay Beach. Montage Deer Valley's new director of sales and marketing is Gretchen Walker. Chris Halbauer is Beach Enclave Turks & Caicos' director of leisure sales. Kimpton Everly Hollywood welcomed Ashley Thompson as executive chef, and Kimpton The Forum Hotel appointed Ryan Collins in the same role. Ari Miller joined Rosewood Washington, D.C. as executive chef. Sebastian Mena became director of food and beverage at JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa. The San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino announced Mariano Formariz as general manager, Javier Escola as food and beverage director, and Romeo Penacino as executive chef. Hilton Minneapolis/Bloomington promoted Aaron Slattery to general manager, and Hilton Madison Monona Terrace hired

🍴 After a seven-year partnership with Harry Handelsman, Patrick Powell is leaving The Midland Grand Dining Room and Allegra to pursue new culinary ventures. Final service at The Midland Grand Dining Room is complete, and Powell's last service at Allegra is scheduled for 14 July. Allegra was listed in the UK's Top 100 Restaurants, and The Midland Grand Dining Room was named One to Watch at the National Restaurant Awards, currently ranking at number 58 in the Top 100 list.

📣 Scott Alboni appointed as global chief marketing officer for FCM Travel and Corporate Traveller. Alboni, previously senior vice president of marketing for FCM Travel, succeeds Frits de Kok, who transitions to lead FCM Meetings & Events in EMEA after global expansion. Alboni led a company-wide rebrand during the pandemic and the rollout of the FCM Platform. Flight Centre Travel Group's Global Corporate CEO, Chris Galanty, commends the internal promotion as a pathway to continue the firms' growth.

💻 Avantio, a short-term rental property management software company, appoints Mohit Jagawat as head of innovation and Sandra Álvarez Mollá as head of customer care. Jagawat, previously with OYO Vacation Homes and De Vere hotels, will focus on product strategy, team building, and implementing AI and data in decision-making. Álvarez Mollá, formerly with Happydonia, Zendesk, and Wix, will enhance customer success with technology and AI. Avantio aims to incorporate human-focused technology to drive client growth and maintain its values of collaboration and forward-thinking.

🏠 Michael Davern appointed as General Manager of five-star Seaton House, St Andrews, set to reopen early 2025 after restoration. Seaton House, operated by Valor Hospitality Partners, plans to hire 70 staff. Davern, awarded 'World General Manager of the Year' in 2016 by Preferred Hotels and Resorts, previously managed Marker Hotel, Dublin since October 2021. Seaton House to feature 42 luxury bedrooms, including five suites and three junior suites.

🍳 Bundobust, an Indian street food group, will close its Birmingham restaurant located in a Grade II listed building on Bennetts Hill on 14 July. Founded in 2013 by Mayur Patel and Marko Husak, the Birmingham location opened in summer 2023 and is their fifth site. The closure comes despite community support due to insufficient consistent trade. A third of the Birmingham staff will be relocated to Leeds, Manchester, and Liverpool venues, ensuring job security for teams across other locations.