Execs on the Move: The Marcus Corporation, 21c Museum Hotels and Benchmark Hospitality

NATIONAL REPORT—Hotel Business is tracking appointments in the industry. Several companies have recently made appointments, including The Marcus Corporation, 21c Museum Hotels and Benchmark Hospitality. Here are the details:

The Marcus Corporation Appoints Douglas A. Neis as EVP
The Marcus Corporation has appointed Douglas A. Neis as EVP of The Marcus Corporation. He will also continue to serve as CFO and treasurer.

Neis is a member of company’s executive leadership team and serves on its investment committee. He joined the company in 1986 as controller of the Marcus Theatres division and was  promoted to controller of Marcus Restaurants in 1987, which, at the time, managed the company’s franchised restaurants including Big Boy, Applebee’s and KFC. In 1991, Neis was appointed VP of planning and administration for Marcus Restaurants, and in 1994, was named director of technology for The Marcus Corporation. He was elected corporate controller in 1995 and was promoted to CFO/treasurer in 1996. Prior to joining The Marcus Corporation, he was a manager at the public accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche.

21c Museum Hotels Appoints Sarah Robins as COO
21c Museum Hotels has appointed Sarah Robbins to the position of COO. A founding partner of 21c Museum Hotels, she’s been with 21c Museum Hotels since 2005 having previously served as chief hospitality officer. In her new role, she is responsible for overseeing all hotel operations, in addition to food and beverage operations and human resources.

Robbins began her career working for Myriad Restaurant Group at Tribeca Grill in New York City, where she served in a variety of management positions. She eventually left New York to return to her hometown of Louisville, KY while staying on with Myriad. She continued her role as a project director and lead trainer for opening teams consulting with Noble Hospitality, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Destination Hotels and Interstate Hotels & Resorts and others. She was a part of the team that opened Proof on Main, ultimately accepting a permanent role with 21c in 2006. Robbins is a Captain (Ret.) in the Army Reserves.

Benchmark Appoints Deborah E. Tant Director of Finance
Benchmark Hospitality has named Deborah E. Tant controller for the Doug Pitcock ’49 Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center, which is nearing completion in College Station, TX. The Benchmark Resorts & Hotels property is expected to open this month.

A longtime Benchmark executive, Tant was previously controller for The Chattanoogan Hotel, a property operated by Benchmark in Chattanooga, TN. For three years, she served as corporate controller and also special task force controller for Benchmark, operating out of the company’s home office near Houston. Prior to this she was assistant controller for the Eldorado Hotel & Spa, a property in Santa Fe, NM, that Benchmark operated at the time.