A number of hotels and resorts have appointed general managers and managing directors in recent weeks. Here are some names to know.
Andaz Miami Beach
In Florida, the Andaz Miami Beach appointed Fernando Rivera as general manager, overseeing the redesign and full transformation of the former Confidante Miami Beach, owned by Sunstone Hotel Investors. The hotel is slated to open in early 2025.
Rivera has spent years in Miami’s hospitality scene as hotel manager at Kimpton EPIC Hotel, pre-opening general manager at Kimpton Palomar South Beach, and general manager at Kimpton Angler's South Beach. Rivera's experience within Hyatt includes leadership commercial services roles at Hyatt Regency Miami and Grand Hyatt New York.
Avila Lighthouse Suites
KSL Resorts appointed Luis Mendoza as the new general manager of Avila Lighthouse Suites in Avila Beach, Calif., part of the group’s Central Coast Collection of hotels.
Mendoza most recently was assistant resort general manager at Vespera Resort, an Autograph Collection property in Pismo Beach, Calif. Before that, he was general manager at the Hotel Indigo in Santa Barbara, Calif. In previous roles with Pacifica Hotel Company, Mendoza managed operations for multiple boutique hotels, including The Wayfarer Hotel in Santa Barbara and Fireside Inn in Cambria.
Mendoza holds an associates degree in sociology from Santa Barbara City College. He has also earned certifications in hotel management, including certified general manager from the Intercontinental Hotel Group and the 3-D Hotel Sales Program through Pacifica Hotel Group.
Biltmore Los Angeles
Millennium Hotels and Resorts appointed Matthias Kaiser the new general manager of The Biltmore Los Angeles.
Kaiser joins the Biltmore from his recent position as hotel manager at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown. He has held roles at the InterContinental New York Barclay; Hilton Beachfront Resort in Santa Barbara, Calif.; Swisstouches Hotels & Resorts in China; and Rosewood Hotels & Resorts in Saudi Arabia.
Kaiser holds an MBA from the HTMi Hotel and Tourism Management Institute in Switzerland, along with a Rooms Division Executive Certificate from the AHLA Educational Institute.
Courtyard Atlanta Midtown and Element Atlanta Midtown
McKibbon Hospitality appointed Jason Caughron dual general manager of Courtyard Atlanta Midtown and Element Atlanta Midtown. Caughron will oversee both properties and their 282 guestrooms, along with the onsite restaurant, The Ponce Room Bar & Kitchen.
Caughron joins McKibbon from MMI Hospitality Group where he most recently was general manager of Fontana Village Resort & Marina. His previous work experience includes on-property leadership roles with Aimbridge Hospitality and Hotel Equities where he led hotel properties throughout the southeastern United States under various brand flags including Hilton Garden Inn, Courtyard by Marriott, Four Points, Hampton Inn & Suites and Westin.
Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows
Simon A. Fricker is the new GM at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica, Calif.
Fricker previously was restaurant manager at Boston’s Westin Copley Place and then advanced to leadership roles at the Baur au Lac Hotel in Zurich, the St. Regis and New York City’s Peninsula Hotel. He helped launch the Le Méridien Hotel Chicago-Oakbrook Center and Mandarin Oriental Hotel Las Vegas. He was managing director of Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club and helped oversee the resort’s rebranding.
Gansevoort Meatpacking
The Gansevoort Meatpacking in New York City appointed Sherrin Thomas general manager.
Thomas has held leadership roles at The James New York - NoMad, Lyle Washington, D.C., and Riggs Washington, D.C. In her most recent role as opening director of sales and marketing at The Wall Street Hotel, she directed all sales, events, marketing and brand development and initiatives.
Islands of Islamorada
The Islands of Islamorada appointed Claudine Williams general manager.
Williams’ career spans several notable properties, including her most recent role as general manager at Ki’ama Bahamas, a part of Elite Alliance Hospitality. As part of the start-up team, Williams oversaw the design of club services, established operational standards and directed an exclusive pre-opening yacht charter program.
In the Florida Keys, Williams previously led the conversion of Marathon’s Marlin Bay Resort & Marina from a private residential community to a vacation rental resort.
Nobu Hotel Palo Alto
Chris Suarez is the new general manager at the Nobu Hotel Palo Alto in California. Suarez previously was director of sales and marketing at the property.
Before joining the Nobu team in 2019, Suarez worked at several notable properties throughout California and Arizona, including Stanford Park Hotel, Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley, La Costa Resort & Spa, Four Seasons Resort Aviara, Estancia La Jolla and the Arizona Biltmore.
The Quail
In California’s Carmel Valley, The Quail resort appointed James Overbaugh managing director.
Overbaugh’s journey with the Peninsula brand began in 2008. He was executive chef at an esteemed collection of hotels for the first 13 years of his career, Overbaugh joined The Peninsula team in 2008 as the executive chef of The Peninsula Beverly Hills. Over the next nine years, he ascended to the role of executive assistant manager of food and beverage operations.
After his tenure at The Peninsula Beverly Hills, Overbaugh was promoted to a global leadership role, most recently as senior vice president of food and beverage operations for The Peninsula Hotels Worldwide at the brand’s head office in Hong Kong.
Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay
The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay in San Francisco appointed Sandeep Kumar hotel manager.
Before joining The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, Kumar held leadership positions at several luxury hotels, including the JW Marriott Grosvenor House in London and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Hong Kong.
The Sebastian-Vail
The Sebastian-Vail, A Timbers Resort in Colorado, appointed Kate Grattan general manager.
Grattan’s career in the hospitality industry spans over 25 years. She has held various general manager positions both at The Lodge at Vail and Austria Haus Hotel and oversaw the opening of several new Vail Resorts development projects in Breckenridge, including the townhomes at Mountain Thunder Lodge, Crystal Peak Lodge and One Ski Hill Place. Most recently, Grattan was managing director of Colorado for CoralTree Hospitality overseeing both the Vail and Snowmass markets.