NATIONAL REPORT—Executives are on the move in the hospitality industry. Recent personnel changes have occurred at HMC, Accor, Carlson and Coast Hotels. Here are the details:
O’Connor to Rejoin HMC as COO
John O’Connor will be rejoining HMC as COO. He previously worked more than 10 years with HMC as director of operations and is returning with more than 30 years of hospitality leadership experience. His main responsibilities will include working closely with all corporate department heads, as well as hotel managers focusing on day-to-day operations, training, sales, food & beverage, human resources and accounting. He will also provide guidance and direction for hotel leadership on operational efficiencies, standards and execution of hotel management. Previously, O’Connor served as VP of operations for Harrell Hospitality Group and as VP of operations for Arbor Lodging Management. He also held the position of regional VP for White Lodging overseeing multiple Marriott, Hilton and IHG properties. Earlier in his career, he spent 10 years as a hotel GM and has an in-depth understanding of independent and branded (including Marriott, Hilton, and IHG brand families, among others), full-service, select-service, extended-stay and conference center hotels throughout the country.
Accor Names COO of Luxury Brands, Europe
Accor has appointed Marc Dardenne as COO, luxury brands, Europe. Dardenne, who most recently served as COO of Amaala, an ultra-luxury resort destination project on the Red Sea sponsored by the Public Investment Fund, and former interim CEO and COO at Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts in Dubai, will now oversee the operations of around 50 luxury hotels in Europe and nine properties under development. This includes top-tier brands like Raffles, Fairmont, SO/, Sofitel and others, as well as flagship properties such as Raffles Europejski Warsaw, Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam and The Savoy, A Fairmont Managed Hotel in London.
Gage Appointed Chair of Carlson Inc.
Carlson has appointed Richard “Rick” Gage as its non-executive chair of the board. Appointed vice-chair in 2018, Rick succeeds Diana Nelson, who completes her term as chair of the board of the company after two successive terms, as required by the charter of the board.
Coast Hotels USA Promotes From Within
Coast Hotels has promoted two executives: Nathan Gray as corporate director of revenue strategy and Kerry Ung as area revenue manager. Gray and Ung will work closely with existing team members to drive business and revenue, as well as maintain the top-notch service and exceptional value that guests have come to expect from Coast properties.
