Key appointments support Outrigger’s growth strategy

In the last 10 months, Outrigger Hospitality Group has added five properties throughout the Pacific and Indian Ocean to its global portfolio: Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa on Hawaii Island; Outrigger Khao Lak Beach Resort, Outrigger Surin Beach Resort and Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resort in Thailand; and, most recently, the five-star Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru Resort. To support its long-term growth strategy, the premier beach resort brand has announced several key senior-level appointments:

  • Mike Shaff, SVP operations, The Americas
  • Jenna Villalobos, SVP commercial strategy
  • Tony Pedroni, VP operations – APAC
  • Jason Zvatora, VP commercial strategy – APAC

“As Outrigger continues its strategic expansion, getting our toes in the sand with new beach resorts across the globe, having the right leadership team is imperative,” said Jeff Wagoner, president/CEO Outrigger Hospitality Group. “From operations to revenue management—I have full confidence in the expertise of Mike, Jenna, Tony and Jason to navigate Outrigger towards our mission of being the premier beach resort brand in the world.”

As SVP operations, The Americas, Shaff will lead both the hotels and resorts operations for The Americas region with a focus on creating positive guest experiences through programming, renovations and repositioning, while driving strong financial performance to ownership. Shaff also assumes oversight of the Hawaii Vacation Condos by Outrigger division.

Shaff joined Outrigger in 2017 as VP operations for Waikiki with a resume of nearly 15 years in hospitality with KSL, including director of asset management for KSL Resorts, specifically overseeing four luxury resorts in Southern California and Arizona, each with different ownership and management complexities. He also served as the general manager of major luxury resorts in California, Miami and Arizona.

At Outrigger, Shaff led the repositioning and renovation of Waikiki Beachcomber by Outrigger; the transformation of the Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort; and is currently leading significant renovations at Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa and the OHANA Waikiki East by Outrigger.

As SVP commercial strategy, Villalobos will continue to develop the global commercial strategy for both corporate and property, focusing on the disciplines of revenue strategy, global contact center, CRM (customer relationship management), business intelligence and website technology.

Villalobos joined Outrigger in 2017 as VP, revenue management overseeing the development of the revenue management strategy for all of Outrigger’s properties in Hawaii, Fiji, Thailand, Mauritius and Maldives. With 25 years of experience in total revenue management and reservation sales, Villalobos was corporate director of revenue optimization at KSL Resorts. She also held various revenue management positions with KSL Resorts, including corporate director of reservation sales as well as director of revenue and reservations management where she oversaw revenue strategy during renovations and repositioning.

As VP operations – APAC, Pedroni oversees and directs all hotel operations in the Asia-Pacific region. Pedroni first joined Outrigger in 2013 as general manager of the then Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort. He is an experienced global hospitality professional, having served as general manager for JW Marriott in Thailand; at the Renaissance in South Korea and the Waiohai Beach Club a Marriott Vacation Club Resort in Hawaii, as well as hotel management positions in Kuwait, the U.K. and Washington, DC.

Pedroni rejoined Outrigger last year as area general manager – Thailand when Outrigger became owner and manager of three Outrigger Resorts in Khao Lak, Surin Beach and Koh Samui. Pedroni has led the renovation of all three properties.

As VP commercial strategy – APAC, Zvatora returns to Outrigger and is based in Australia. Zvatora is responsible for driving APAC performance by leading and driving top-line revenue strategies, staying ahead of market trends and directing the property commercial teams to success.

Zvatora is a hotelier at heart, with close to 20 years of operational and commercial leadership. In his short break from Outrigger, he was the COO at Next Story Group, where he spearheaded the hotel operations, sales, marketing and commercial strategy, as well as driving guest experience through highly differentiated brands. While at Outrigger, he was corporate director, revenue management and distribution – APAC.