NATIONAL REPORT—Graduate Hotels, Sonesta, Vail Resorts and Blue Sky Hospitality Solutions have all made some roster changes. Here’s some of the recent promotions across the hotel industry:
Graduate Hotels Promotes Two
Graduate Hotels has expanded its executive team, including the promotion of David Rochefort to president and the addition of Saxton Sharad as COO.
Joining AJ Capital Partners in 2014 to support the launch of Graduate, Rochefort has been instrumental in the continued growth and management of the brand since the beginning. As President, Rochefort will focus on brand and operations as Graduate continues to operate 16 U.S. properties and expand with 16 additional properties in the U.S. and U.K. before the end of 2020. Sharad brings more than a decade of hospitality consulting, asset management and operations management experience to the brand, most recently serving as the founder/present of Post Script Hospitality and SVP at Hotel Asset Value Enhancement (hotelAVE).
Sonesta Appoints Regional Director of Operations
Sonesta International Hotels Corporation has appointed Jane Gomez, regional director of operations of Sonesta ES Suites Northeast Region. In this role, Gomez will be responsible for delivering portfolio results that contribute to the overall mission and success of the company. Gomez will play a role in setting and reinforcing the company and brand culture with regard to marketing and positioning activities throughout the Northeast Region. Gomez has more than 25 years of experience within the hospitality industry. Prior to her role with Sonesta, Gomez most recently served as the VP of hotel operations at Stonebridge Companies, where she held a multi-property regional role accountable for branded hotels from Boston to Seattle.
Vail Resorts Makes Mountain Division Leadership Changes
Vail Resorts Inc. has revealed that EVP Chris Jarnot will step down from his role, following a 34-year career with Vail Resorts.
With Jarnot’s transition, and in anticipation of the closing of the Peak Resorts acquisition, the company has created three new regional leadership roles to support Vail Resorts’ growing global portfolio: Bill Rock, currently COO of Park City Mountain, will relocate to Broomfield and will now oversee the company’s mountain resorts in Colorado and Utah; Pete Sonntag, currently COO of Whistler Blackcomb, will relocate to Broomfield and will now oversee Whistler Blackcomb and Stevens Pass, as well as the company’s three resorts in Lake Tahoe and three resorts in Australia; and Doug Pierini, currently COO of Okemo Mountain Resort, will continue to oversee the company’s three Northeast resorts and will now have oversight of the company’s three Midwest resorts, as well as the 17 Peak Resorts’ ski areas in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest, pending closing of the Peak Resorts transaction.
Blue Sky Hospitality Solutions Names Corporate Revenue Manager
Blue Sky Hospitality (BSHS) has named Logan Jonas corporate revenue manager. In his new role, Jonas will be instrumental in assisting with market studies and identifying revenue opportunities as BSHS focuses on the continued growth of its portfolio. Jonas most recently served as director of revenue management for The Conrad New York Midtown, where he led the commercial operations/strategy as the 562-suite hotel successfully converted from the independent London NYC.
