TWENTY FOUR SEVEN HOTELS EXPANDS MANAGEMENT TEAM
Hotels near: Twenty Four Sevenan external hospitality management company for the premium branded, select service and lifestyle hotel segments, has expanded its management team as part of the Group’s strategic plan to expand into new markets and segments.
Brian Hughes was named Executive Vice President of Business Development. Hughes has approximately 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry and was most recently a managing director at JLL, where he was responsible for hospitality transactions in Texas. Prior to that, he held several positions at Ashford Hospitality Inc.
Damien Abrams was promoted to Vice President of Lifestyle Brands to accommodate company growth. He joined Twenty Four Seven as General Manager to open The Steward, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel in Santa Barbara, California. Abrams brings nearly twenty years of experience to his new role and previously served as Regional Director of Operations for the company with a focus on food and beverage operations.
The new CCO of Crescent Hotels
Crescent Hotels & Resorts has appointed Vanessa Claspill as Chief Commercial Officer. Claspill will lead the company’s commercial arm, responsible for sales, marketing, digital and revenue strategies.
She brings more than 20 years of leadership experience across multiple hotel categories, from luxury and lifestyle hotels to large convention centers. Most recently, she was Senior Vice President of Sales at Pivot Hotels & Resorts, where she led revenue strategy for the lifestyle division of Davidson Hospitality Group. She has also held senior leadership roles at W Austin, Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Sydell Group.
JOHN PARKER RETURNS TO GF HOTELS & RESORTS
GF Hotels & Resorts has the return of John Parker to the senior leadership team. Parker previously served as Regional Vice President of Operations from 2009 to 2012 and has now joined GF Hotels & Resorts as the new Chief Operating Officer. He will oversee day-to-day operations alongside Vineet Nayyar, President and COO of the Owned Division, and the senior leadership team. He will develop and implement strategic initiatives and leverage marketing to achieve operational and administrative goals to increase revenue and improve guest satisfaction. Prior to his new role, Parker was COO at Real Hospitality Group.
The Philadelphia-based company also announced the appointment of Marcus Marshall as Vice President of Food and Beverage. With more than 30 years of hospitality and restaurant management experience, Marshall will be responsible for all F&B activities at GF Hotels & Resorts. Prior to his new role, he held operational positions for restaurant and hospitality groups across the industry.
FURTHER MOVEMENTS
MGM Resorts International has appointed the former CEO of IHG Hotels & Resorts Keith Barr to the company’s board of directors, making him the 12thth Member joining the Board. Barr has more than 30 years of hospitality leadership experience and served as CEO of IHG Hotels & Resorts between 2017 and 2023 and as Chief Commercial Officer of IHG between 2013 and 2017.
“Keith’s tremendous career is a testament to his leadership skills and eye for innovation,” said Paul Salem, Chairman of the Board of MGM Resorts. “His experience in hotel operations, technology, sales and marketing will be an incredible asset as he provides valuable guidance to MGM Resorts.”
Hard Rock Hotel San Diego has named Matt Greene as the new General Manager. Greene’s new role marks his return to the Hard Rock team, where he served as General Manager from 2008 to 2011.
Greene will leverage his historical knowledge and strategic experience to lead the hotel through upcoming renovations, new dining concepts, enhanced programming and more. In his 30+ year career, Greene has held significant positions at Highgate Hotels, Evolution Hospitality and W Hotels. Prior to returning to the Hard Rock team, he served as Executive Vice President of Luxury and Lifestyle Residences at Highgate Hotels.
NEW GMs
Highgate has appointed Nicholas Kuhns as General Manager of the Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows. He will oversee all operations while preserving the resort’s heritage on Ka’anapali Beach.
Kuhns brings more than 24 years of leadership experience in luxury and vacation resorts, casinos, convention hotels and urban lifestyle hotels. Prior to his new role, Kuhns was resort manager at Montage Kapalua Bay. Before that, he spent more than 10 years in leadership positions at Hilton Hotels & Resorts.
Andaz Maui at Wailea has named Richard Elliott as General Manager of the resort. Elliott’s career spans more than two decades and he has extensive experience with the Hyatt brand.
Most recently, Elliott served as General Manager of the Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach and subsequently as General Manager of the Park Hyatt St. Kitts. Over the course of his 27-year career with Hyatt, he has held multiple positions across the brand’s property portfolio.
Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel has appointed Ludo de Jong as General Manager. De Jong brings 20 years of experience in the top sector of the Dutch luxury hotel industry and was most recently Cluster General Manager at NH Collection Barbizon Palace Amsterdam and Tivoli Doelen Amsterdam.
Previously, de Jong led the team at the opening of the NH Collection Eindhoven Centre and before that was Deputy Hotel Manager at the former NH Collection Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky. Before that, de Jong was a member of the Event Management Advisory Board of Marriott International and held a senior F&B and Events position at the Renaissance Amsterdam Hotel.
AC Hotel Columbus Dublin has welcomed Deniz Akyuz as General Manager. He will manage the daily hotel operations and enhance the guest experience at the hotel.
Akyuz has over twenty years of experience in the hospitality industry and previously served as Regional Director of F&B at Life House Hotel Group in Miami.
