INTERNATIONAL REPORT—Hospitality companies around the world are making executive moves. Here’s a look at personnel shifts in the industry:
Gonzalez Joins Kasa Hotel Collection
Kasa Hotel Collection has appointed Pablo Gonzalez as chief marketing officer in Mexico.
The company currently operates one hotel located in Aldea Zama, Hotel Kasa Parota Tulum. A second hotel, the Hotel Kasa Riviera Maya, will open in June, followed by a third in September 2019. Two additional hotels are planned for 2020.
Gonzalez brings a wealth of hospitality management expertise to the company, most recently as director of sales and marketing of Colibri Boutique Hotels in Tulum and Little Corn Island, Nicaragua.
He is responsible for the positioning of the Kasa Hotel Collection and for growth through traditional and digital marketing and management. He will manage a staff of 12 people, with responsibilities ranging from content creation to reservations.
Sonesta Appoints Two
Sonesta International Hotels Corporation has appointed Georgia Lobban as senior director, global sales, and Michael Frunin as VP of operations for Sonesta ES Suites.
In this role, Lobban directly manages the global sales team and oversee efforts to improve impact and delivery of Sonesta’s growing portfolio of hotels. She will report directly to Blair McSheffrey, VP of global and hotel sales.
She has been overseeing global sales efforts for the company on an interim basis and will now bring her industry expertise in global sales organizations, sales processes and B2B sales teams to the brand full time. She has more than 20 years of experience in property and B2B sales. Prior to her time at Sonesta, she managed her own firm for 10 years, optimizing several large and small sales organizations, in addition to building sales infrastructure for IHG and implementing IHG’s groups and meetings sales proposition for their portfolio of brands.
As her first major initiative with Sonesta, she will spearhead the development of a “Fit 4 Sonesta” B2B sales organization, improving incremental impact, hotel collaboration and instituting a vertical account management structure.
Fruin will manage and provide leadership for the extended-stay brand, which has grown to 42 hotels nationwide since its introduction in 2012.
He has a long-standing history and experience within the extended-stay brand market, having served as a general manager at several Residence Inns by Marriott, led development, planning and feasibility for Marriott extended-stay and select-service brands. He also served as a VP of owner and franchise services for Marriott, where he was responsible for franchising for the TownePlace Suites brand, working with owners and franchisees to build a strong operating platform.
In addition, he has held several senior leadership roles starting with president/COO for a private management company that developed and operated 15 select-service and extended-stay hotels. He then served as SVP, real estate and development for Extended Stay America, leading the facilities development and asset management efforts as well as several brand design and customer experience projects. Most recently, he served as SVP, franchise services for Choice Hotels International, where his responsibilities included working with hotel owners and operators—across 13 brands in 15 states, comprising nearly 1,300 hotels—to effectively and efficiently increase revenues and profitability, improve product quality and guest satisfaction, as well as generate incremental unit growth opportunities.
Holman Joins Sunridge Hotel Group
Sunridge Hotel Group, an owner and operator of classic upscale and upper-midscale Marriott hotels, has hired Arthur Holman as VP of operations.
He is responsible for executing the company’s operational objectives while driving strong, balanced results and will report directly to President Brian Welker.
A 33-year veteran of the industry, Holman—who started his hotel career as a young cook in a hotel kitchen—has worked across multiple disciplines and brands, including tenure in both management company and GM appointments for multiple companies in Utah and in South Florida.
Benchmark Names Gregg VP of HR
Benchmark has named Christina Gregg VP of human resources.
She brings nearly 25 years of senior human resource leadership experience to her new role with Benchmark. She previously worked with the company on a contractual basis supporting strategic human resource initiatives systemwide. Prior to this, she held leadership positions in human resources for Marriott International, Gaylord Entertainment Company and NBC Universal, Universal Orlando.
Tuskes Joins NeueHouse as VP of Design
NeueHouse, a private cultural and collaborative space for prominent creatives, artists and entrepreneurs has hired Audra Tuskes as VP of design.
This move coincides with NeueHouse’s recent $30-million round of growth funding and commitment to provide members with elevated design-driven spaces. In her new role, she is responsible for reimagining NeueHouse’s design aesthetics both in current houses in New York and Los Angeles as well as new locations as NeueHouse works to expand across North America.
She brings more than 20 years of experience to the role. She previously served as The Lightstone Group’s VP of design/creative director, overseeing the development of the company’s hospitality portfolio, including emergent stateside development of Marriott’s brand, Moxy. Prior to her role at The Lightstone Group, she worked at Commune Hotels and Resorts as VP of design, leading all design-related aspects for the company’s portfolio of 50 hotels. Her other past positions include director of design for Starwood Hotels and design professor at Pratt Institute.
