Hilton Garden Inns, other hotels appoint GMs

A number of hotels, including two Hilton Garden Inns and an Embassy Suites, have appointed general managers in recent weeks. Here are some names to know. 

Americana Motor Hotel

The Americana Motor Hotel in Flagstaff, Ariz., appointed Dominic Nez its new general manager. 

Nez comes to Americana Motor Hotel from Practice Hospitality—the Dallas-based hotel management company behind the property’s recent transformation—where he was director of operations overseeing various properties across the portfolio. Before this, Nez was assistant general manager at InnVentures and held key leadership roles at Poco Diablo Resort and Spa, Amara Resort and Spa, Hilton and Westin Hotels & Resorts.

Amrit Ocean Resort

Amrit Ocean Resort on Florida’s Singer Island appointed Burak Sezgin general manager. 

Before joining Amrit Ocean Resort, Sezgin was vice president of hospitality operations at Sharfi Holdings, where he oversaw a portfolio of resorts, marinas, fine-dining venues and exclusive events. Throughout his career, he has opened and renovated more than 20 resorts and hotels, driven more than $400 million in annual revenue across his properties and launched more than 25 restaurants and bars. 

Arlo Williamsburg

Arlo Hotels appointed Mark O’Brien as general manager of the Arlo Williamsburg. 

O’Brien has more than 20 years of experience working for hotel brands such as the Maritime Hotel, the Shinola Hotel in Detroit and most recently as managing director for the Ace Hotels in New York and Brooklyn.

Embassy Suites by Hilton Las Vegas

Remington Hospitality has promoted Sidneia Semedo to GM of the Embassy Suites by Hilton Las Vegas. Semedo has more than 15 years of hospitality experience, nearly a decade of which has been with Remington Hospitality. She has held several key positions, including task force general manager, after rising through the ranks from PBX operator to front office manager and rooms division manager.

The promotion is part of the company’s Unleash Potential General Manager program, an initiative designed to empower rising talent and create a clear path for internal advancement.

Grand Hyatt Deer Valley

The Grand Hyatt Deer Valley, the first resort in Deer Valley's recently expanded East Village, appointed Nate Hardesty as the resort’s new general manager and area vice president. A 23-year Hyatt colleague, Hardesty brings more than two decades of hospitality leadership experience to his new role. Hardesty’s career has taken him to 11 U.S. cities. Most recently, he was managing director at Thompson Austin and tommie Austin—the latter during its opening, following his role as general manager at Andaz West Hollywood in California.

He also has experience in sales and marketing, having worked as regional vice president of sales, Americas for Hyatt Hotels Corp. Throughout his Hyatt career, Hardesty held leadership roles at properties such as Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe and Grand Hyatt Denver. In 2013, he led the transition of the 1,641-room Peabody Orlando into the Hyatt Regency Orlando.

Hilton Garden Inn Cape Canaveral

McKibbon Hospitality appointed Amanda Chades general manager of Hilton Garden Inn Cape Canaveral, Fla., slated to open this fall. Chades began her career with McKibbon in 2012 as a front desk associate at Hyatt Place Plantation where she advanced to director of rooms and later operations manager. In 2014, she was promoted to assistant general manager of the Residence Inn Fort Myers before stepping into her first general manager role. Most recently, Chades was GM of the Hampton Inn & Suites Cape Coral.

In addition to her on-property responsibilities, Chades has served on McKibbon task forces and hotel opening teams, mentoring new general managers and supporting operational improvements across McKibbon’s portfolio. Before joining McKibbon, Amanda spent seven years at Publix Super Markets.

Hilton Garden Inn Jacksonville JTB/Deerwood Park

Remington Hospitality also promoted Lacey Childress to GM of the Hilton Garden Inn Jacksonville JTB/Deerwood Park.

Childress has more than 19 years of hospitality experience, 12 of which have been spent working within Hilton brands, She joined Remington in 2023. Like Semedo, Childress’s promotion is through Remington’s UPGM program.

Hotel Fera Anaheim

Third-party hotel management company Spire Hospitality appointed Zaw Oo general manager of Hotel Fera Anaheim, a DoubleTree by Hilton, in Orange, Calif. 

Oo most recently was the general manager of M Social Hotel New York Times Square, a 480-room lifestyle property in Manhattan. He has held leadership roles at premier properties across major markets, including the Kimpton Palomar San Diego, The St. Regis Houston and InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown. 

Marriott San Antonio Airport

Bricton Group appointed Doak Walker GM of the Marriott San Antonio Airport. 

Walker brings more than 30 years of hospitality experience to the position, having led operations for a mix of branded and independent hotels across the country. Most recently, he was vice president of operations for a hospitality management group with annual revenues exceeding $125 million. His background spans operations, food and beverage, finance, spa and sales. Walker previously served on the executive committee of the San Antonio Hotel and Lodging Association. 

Snowpine Lodge

The Snowpine Lodge in Alta, Utah, appointed Eric Hagman general manager. Hagman’s two decades of hospitality experience have been focused largely on the Mountain West region. He most recently was general manager of Park Plaza Resort, part of the Ascend Hotel Collection, in Park City, Utah. During his tenure, he oversaw and unveiled a multimillion-dollar property-wide renovation. Before that, he was director of lodging at Solitude Mountain Resort in Brighton, Utah.

Hagman also spent 13 years with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, holding a variety of management and leadership positions. These included area general manager for four properties across Colorado and Arizona; general manager of the brand’s Utah collection, where he opened two ski-in/ski-out hotels; and director of resort operations for six Club Wyndham Resorts in Utah.