Loren Christie
Christie is appointed as the new managing director for BestCities Global Alliance. With over 25 years of experience in travel, tourism and business events, and in leadership roles with Starwood Hotels and Resorts and Destination Toronto, he brings extensive experience to oversee BestCities operations, focusing on their values of legacy, sustainability and advancement of the global impact of meeting events.
Yojainna Otero
Yojainna Otero returns to Omni La Mansión del Rio and Mokara Hotel & Spa as director of catering and conference services. She joined Omni La Mansión del Rio upon her graduation from University of Texas San Antonio, working up to a position as Convention Service Manager. She also was part of the opening team for Mokara Hotel & Spa, then known as The Watermark Hotel. She brings over two decades of experience to her new role to lead her team to achieve revenue goals and host unforgettable events.
Scott Dawson & Matt Skaletsky
Islamorada Resort Collection announces a new executive team, headed by Dawson as vice president and managing director. Over his 30 years in the industry, Dawson has held numerous executive positions across resorts in the southern United States, most recently in hospitality consulting, where he paved the way in building strategic, productive teams and a welcoming work environment.
Skaletsky will work closely with Dawson as resort manager of Postcard Inn Beach Resort & Marina and Pelican Cove Resort & Marina. Having worked as a chef across several luxury properties, including Ritz-Carlton and Montage locations, he holds extensive culinary experience as well as leadership experience through his role as executive chef at Moonlight Basin in Montana and as general manager at Semiahmoo Resort in Washington.
Christopher Cestari
The Pierre NY, A Taj Hotel, welcomes Cestari as director of luxury leisure and corporate sales. In this role, he will call on his more than two decades of experience in sales management, New York hotels and the cruise industry to build on existing client relationships and expand the hotel’s business opportunities in luxury leisure and corporate sales.
Mikio Akiyama
Zentis Osaka appoints Akiyama as general manager. His more than 25 years of experience in hospitality and sales across Japan, Singapore and Thailand—ten of which he has spent with owning company Palace Hotel Co., Ltd.—equips him well to oversee the growth of Zentis Osaka’s appeal to luxury lifestyle, following the full opening of Japan’s borders this past May, after the pandemic put a damper on the hotel’s opening in July 2020.
Denise Florio
Florio will oversee the sales, marketing and events team and drive revenue at Park Hyatt New York as director of sales and marketing after over 20 years of experience at numerous Hyatt properties. She comes from her role as director of sales and marketing at Hyatt Recency Aruba Resort & Casino. In this role, she will work with General Manager Laurent Ebzant to expand guestroom sales, meetings and on-property experiences and partnerships.
Katy Zamesnik
Zamesnik has been promoted from chief administrative officer to assistant director at Austin Convention Center Department, and she will continue her work of managing financial operations and partner relations with the Redevelopment and Expansion Project Team, and of overseeing ACCD’s Community Engagement and Arts Programs. She also maintains her role as liaison and contract manager for Visit Austin.
Kimberly Johnson
Johnson has been promoted to events manager at Margaritaville Lake Resort, Lake Conroe. She joined Lake Conroe as a food and beverage manager in August 2021 to provide tremendous food and beverage service and now looks forward to overseeing events hosted on the resorts 72,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor meeting space to uphold its status as a spectacular meeting and event space.
Anna Williams
Williams joins DMC Network as director of global sales. She brings a global mindset and strong appreciation for diversity to her new role. She has been actively involved with Meeting Professionals International (MPI), who recognized her leadership with their prestigious Shining Star award, and has sat on the board of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Southeast Chapter.
Nicholas Squire
Squire will join Kimpton Taconic Hotel as general manager. Originally from England, Squire has embraced the characteristic spirit of New England hospitality, serving in hotels across Vermont and most recently in his role as general manager at Mill Falls at the Lake in New Hampshire. His over 20 years of experience includes management of multiple properties that embrace guests with genuine warmth.
