Human Resources

📅 Pacifica Hotels appoints Shalon Hopkins as SVP of accounting and finance, leveraging 20+ years of experience. The Kessler Collection names Brian McCormick as VP of people and culture to update workplace culture through corporate recruitment experience. Jason Raimondi joins Horwath HTL after founding JOR Hospitality Solutions. Hilton's Chintan Dadhich becomes complex GM of Tempo by Hilton Times Square and maintains his role at Conrad New York Downtown since 2022. Hotel Commonwealth welcomes back Shane McWeeny as GM with 20+ years of experience. Park Hyatt Los Cabos at Cabo Del Sol sets Adam Zilber as GM for Q2 2025 property launch, backed by his 25-year hospitality career. The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort appoints Carlo Javakhia as GM; he brings 25 years of experience. Rosewood Le Guanahani St. Barth designates Thibaut Asso as resort manager. Claudio Togo becomes managing director at Chatham Bars Inn, after roles at luxury properties like Shangri-La Manila. The Stafford London names John McLean as managing director, touting a global hotel career over two decades. The Ocean Club appoints Emma Hernández as director of sales. W Algarve's new executive chef Andrea Ciuccio to manage multiple restaurants. Hotel Maverick’s Ernest Brown takes on director of food, beverage, and culinary role after 30+ years in

📌 John McLean appointed as Managing Director of The Stafford Collection after serving as General Manager since May 2024. Holly Landry, VP of Accounting at Practice Hospitality, has over 20 years' financial experience including a prior role at Provenance Hotels. Jillian Loughlin elevated to Director of Commercial Services, and Ana Connolly to Regional Director of Revenue Management at Practice Hospitality. Jose Corraliza joins UMusic Hotels as SVP of Entertainment, with over a decade at Cirque du Soleil. Carolina Voullieme is now Multi-property Director of Sales and Marketing for Marriott International's Aruba and Grand Cayman resorts. Enna Hernández appointed Director of Sales at The Ocean Club, Costa Norte. Ernest Brown becomes Director of Food, Beverage, and Culinary at Hotel Maverick. Michael Brunner named EVP, Credit Investments at Peachtree Group. Adam Zilber to lead as GM at Park Hyatt Los Cabos, opening Q2 in Mexico. Dominique Lorent is the new GM at Canopy by Hilton Cancun La Isla. Thibaut Asso rejoins Rosewood Le Guanahani St. Barth as Resort Manager. Javier Gimeno becomes GM of the upcoming Meliá Pattaya. Brock Taylor appointed GM at Monterey Beach Hotel, a Marriott Tribute Portfolio Hotel.

🍴 Bret Thorn, a dedicated food & beverage journalist, has been shaping industry trends since 1999 with Nation’s Restaurant News. He furthered his expertise, joining Restaurant Hospitality in 2016. Thorn's insights won the Jesse H. Neal Award in 2006 and led to his presidency of IFEC in 2005. His academic pursuits include a magna cum laude history degree from Tufts University, a Cordon Bleu culinary certificate, and studies at Peking and Nanjing Universities. Thorn, a native of Denver, now resides in Brooklyn, NY.

🏨 Valerio Duchini appointed CEO of B&B HOTELS for Western Europe, succeeding Marine Charles. Duchini, with 16 years at B&B HOTELS, was instrumental in the brand's international growth and opened the first three American hotels. His mission: consolidate growth and accelerate development in key European markets. Duchini, 52, holds a degree in economics, a master’s in tourism management, and completed Harvard's Advanced Management Program. B&B HOTELS, based in France, is a significant hospitality player.

💼 David Goldstone joins Enseo as President of Hospitality in Plano, Texas. With 20+ years in SaaS sales and leadership roles at WorldVue, Quadriga, SONIFI, and On Command, Goldstone brings extensive industry experience. CEO Brian Gurley highlights Goldstone's customer service passion and influence within hospitality. Goldstone, a board member of AHLA's The Hospitality Show and the International Luxury Hotel Association, is also an advocate against human trafficking. Enseo, known for interactive guestroom entertainment and other tech solutions, is poised for growth in 2025.

🎓 Arundel School in Zimbabwe, founded in May 1955, celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2023. Head of the school since 2021, Kudzayi Shawatu, with over 20 years of leadership experience, seeks to enhance her skills by studying the Executive Master’s in Luxury Management and Guest Experience at Glion. The school, a top academic institution, has 545 pupils, including 230 boarders. Shawatu values the program's flexibility and the opportunity for networking, while advocating for distance education to overcome socio-cultural barriers. She attended a Residential Week in London, considering the 'Implementing a Sustainable Luxury Strategy' module as most valuable.

📌 Candice D'Cruz, Vice President of Luxury Brands at Hilton, was interviewed on the Hospitality Daily Podcast. The interview was published on Feb. 15, 2025, discussing career moves within the hospitality industry.

📆 Makeready appoints Edita Matic as VP of revenue/digital strategy and Dan Paradiso as VP of commercial strategy; Eric Gavin joins as president. Edwardian Hotels London names Declan Lott as VP of sales for North America after his 30-year tenure. Kinseth Hospitality Company promotes Matthew Robinson to corporate F&B director, started in 2014 as chef in Wichita. The Wilde Resort & Spa appoints Tobby Rau as GM with over 30 years of experience. Ascendant Capital Partners' Monterey Beach Hotel welcomes Brock Taylor as GM. Midnight Auteur appoints Frank Savoy as GM of Municipal Grand. The Wigwam's new resort VP of sales/marketing is Jason Bossenberry. The St. Regis Aspen Resort promotes Kim French to director of sales/marketing. Kimpton Claret Hotel names Iona Lee as F&B director. Fairmont Empress introduces Isabel Chung as executive chef, formerly at Fairmont Orchid. The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman appoints Michele Tenzone as Blue's chef de cuisine. The Wall Street Hotel announces Prince A. Sanders as GM and Harrison Lipner as director of sales/marketing. Marriott International fills three B2B roles: Shannon Patterson (SVP, global sales), Andy Kauffman (chief commercial officer, US/Canada), and Gail Frazer (SVP, sales/distribution US/Canada). RMS names Adam Seskis as CEO.