Hotels across the country have appointed general managers in recent weeks. Here are some names to know.
Hampton Inn & Suites Maui North Shore
In Hawaii, the Hampton Inn & Suites Maui North Shore, an upcoming 136-room property set to launch in May, has appointed Serkan Hizliok area general manager. Hizliok’s hospitality career began after earning his degree in Tourism Hospitality Management from Adnan Menderes University in Turkey. His international experience spans luxury resorts across Europe, including Susesi Deluxe Hotel and Spa, WOW Kremlin Palace, and Gloria Verde Resort in Antalya, Turkey.
Over the years, Hizliok has held key leadership roles at Hilton, Waldorf Astoria and Destination Residences by Hyatt, including operational management in Boston and throughout Hawaii. His experience encompasses operations management, food and beverage and guest experience, including his work at Grand Wailea – A Waldorf Astoria Resort and Destination Residences in Maui. In addition to his role as area general manager at Hampton Inn & Suites Maui North Shore, Hizliok also oversees operations at another Springboard Hospitality property, Maui Seaside Hotel in Kahului, Hawaii.
Hotel Nia
Hotel Nia, a Marriott Autograph Collection Hotel in California’s Silicon Valley, appointed Tom Kermabon as its new general manager. Kermabon brings more than 36 years of combined experience in management, operations, pre-openings and rebrandings within luxury travel and hospitality.
Most recently, Kermabon was area general manager for San Diego Marriott Del Mar and DoubleTree Del Mar under HM Alpha Hotels & Resorts. Kermabon also helmed several Omni properties, and was general manager at Omni San Diego Hotel, Omni La Costa Resort & Spa and Omni Tucson National Resort, among others. In addition, Kermabon oversaw Moana Surfrider, a Westin Resort & Spa in Honolulu, as interim general manager. Prior to Omni and Moana Surfrider, Kermabon spent four years with Kimpton Hotels in San Francisco overseeing properties as general manager such as the Argonaut Hotel and Prescott Hotel (now Hotel Zeppelin). Kermabon also spent 15 years with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, where he held progressive roles at Westin properties in San Francisco, Kyoto, Dongguan, Tokyo and Washington, D.C. His hospitality journey began in 1988 as an Honor Bar Attendant at The Westin St. Francis in San Francisco, later moving into front-office management and international assignments.
The Hythe
The Hythe, a Luxury Collection Resort in Vail, Colo., appointed Tracy Stoltz general manager. Most recently, as general manager of the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel, she oversaw large-scale property operations, including high-profile events tied to the Super Bowl and Final Four. Stoltz previously held leadership positions at prominent Hawaiian resorts including The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort; Sheraton Waikiki; The Westin Maui Resort & Spa; The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas; and Sheraton Maui Resort.
A Colorado native, Stoltz began her hospitality career at Keystone Resort.
Raffles Boston
Carlos Bueno is the new general manager of the Raffles Boston. Bueno has worked at the Boston Harbor Hotel, Fairmont Copley Plaza and, most recently, The Newbury Boston. Bueno currently serves as chair for the Back Bay Association, treasurer for the Massachusetts Lodging Association and is on the board of Meet Boston Tourism Destination Marketing Districts.
Bueno began his career in food and beverage, gaining experience at The Plaza, A Fairmont-managed Hotel; Waldorf Astoria; and Four Seasons hotels in New York before transitioning into hotel operations and management.
Residence Inn Anaheim Hills
Pacifica Hotels has promoted Justin Anderson to general manager at Residence Inn Anaheim (Calif.) Hills. Anderson has experience in hotel operations, guest services, and revenue management. Most recently, he was assistant general manager from 2019 to 2024 at Residence Inn Anaheim Hills before stepping in as interim general manager in June 2024.
Before this, Anderson had a lengthy tenure with Holiday Inn La Mirada from 2004 to 2019, working as night auditor, revenue manager, group coordinator, and front desk supervisor as well as night auditor, reservation manager and revenue manager at Radisson Hotel Whittier.
The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas
The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas appointed Chris Lee as general manager. Lee’s hospitality journey began in 2006 in the rooms division at Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole. He later advanced into executive roles at The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami, and Four Seasons properties in Silicon Valley and St. Louis.
In 2017, Lee joined InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, where he spent nearly eight years in leadership positions. He was hotel manager at InterContinental Cleveland before assuming general manager roles at InterContinental Los Angeles Century City at Beverly Hills and the flagship Hotel Indigo Los Angeles Downtown. Most recently, as general manager of InterContinental Washington D.C. – The Wharf, Lee spearheaded the hotel’s post-pandemic recovery and led renovation projects related to the hotel’s event space, lobby and rooms, as well as a restaurant reconcepting.
The Roosevelt New Orleans
The Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel appoints Sebastian Stutz as general manager. Bringing more than two decades of global hospitality experience to the role, Stutz will oversee all operations at the iconic New Orleans property.
Before arriving at The Roosevelt, Stutz was the general manager of the Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas. His current turn at The Roosevelt is, in fact, his second; Stutz previously spent six years at the property—first as director of food & beverage, then as hotel manager. Stutz also was Hotel Manager of Hilton Riverside before his tenure in Las Vegas. Prior to that, he spent thirteen years with Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, serving in managerial roles in food and beverage for properties in Atlanta, Miami and Montego Bay, Jamaica. He also held various leadership roles with Ritz-Carlton in Germany, Dubai and the U.S.
Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza Hotel
The Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza Hotel, St. Louis, adds Amy Ruffner general manager. Ruffner joins The Chase Park Plaza from her most recent position as general manager of The Royal Sonesta Chicago River North. Under her leadership, the property also achieved placement in the top 10% of hotels in the city.
Before joining Sonesta, Ruffner held leadership roles in the urban and lifestyle division of White Lodging Services, where she managed multiple boutique and lifestyle hotels in Chicago, enhancing their brand, identity, service culture and market position. With 20 years of experience in the hospitality, banquet, and food and beverage industries, Ruffner’s previous experience includes Hyatt and Marriott.
Signia by Hilton Indianapolis
Hilton appointed Kathy Heneghan as general manager of the 800-room Signia by Hilton Indianapolis located in downtown Indianapolis. Expected to open in late 2026, the new-build hotel will anchor the expanded Indiana Convention Center, solidifying its position as a leading destination for meetings and events in the Midwest. In her new role, Heneghan will both lead the pre-opening team and oversee the operations for Signia by Hilton’s first Indiana hotel, once open.
A hospitality industry veteran with more than 35 years of experience with Hilton properties in Chicago, Heneghan most recently was general manager at Embassy Suites by Hilton Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile. Prior to that role, she held the position of hotel manager at the 1,544-room Hilton Chicago. Throughout her career, she’s held various leadership roles across catering and events and food and beverage at both Hilton Chicago and Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel.
Springboard Hospitality
Springboard Hospitality appointed Peter Kolla as area general manager for its West Hollywood Hotel Collection, which includes Chamberlain West Hollywood, Le Parc at Melrose, Montrose at Beverly Hills, and Hotel Ziggy. In his new role, Kolla will oversee 510 guestrooms, meeting and event spaces, and spearhead new initiatives, including a partnership with Pizza Girl at Hotel Ziggy.
Kolla brings more than 20 years of hospitality leadership experience to the role, having launched Springboard Hospitality’s Aviator Hotel Anchorage and held key positions across the country, including general manager of Hotel Amarano. In addition, Kolla was associate director of hospitality at the University of Southern California, was general manager of Tower Bar at The Sunset Tower Hotel, and held leadership positions with Crescent Hotels & Resorts.
Virgin Hotels Nashville
The Virgin Hotels Nashville appointed Richard Poskanzer general manager. A native of Albany, N.Y., Poskanzer graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Hotel Administration.
Poskanzer is joining Virgin Hotels following an extensive tenure with Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, where he held leadership roles at properties in Nashville; Palo Alto, Calif.; and Philadelphia. Most recently, he was vice president of operations for Picerne Residential, overseeing the development and operations of luxury communities across California, Nevada and Colorado.