Jaye Moreau and Beth Haddock
Luxury Kaua’i resort, Kōloa Landing Resort, has appointed Moreau as destination weddings and sales manager. She brings over 10 years of experience in hospitality sales and marketing and a specialty in weddings, milestone anniversary celebrations, reunions and more special events. In this new role, she will optimize the resort’s growing wedding market. She has held earlier positions at Kaua’i Marriott Beach Resort, Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa and The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua.
Haddock also joins the team as catering sales and service manager. She will oversee all catering and planning for locally catered events. Haddock brings over 35 years of leadership experience in the industry, including roles in restaurant operations, sales and marketing, banquet functions, special events and more. She most recently served as general manager and managing partner for Pietro Po’ipū.
Leslie Bloznalis Ellis
Bloznalis Ellis is director of group and catering sales at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. She began with the Marriott brand in 2007 at Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club and excelled in a number of positions before moving to Tampa Marriott Water Street in 2013. As assistant director of sales for the Water Street Collection, she led her team to the South Sales Team of the Year in 2021. In her new role, she will oversee all sales for the hotel’s group events.
Reneka Edwards and Zack Laws
Edwards joins Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB) as citywide sales executive. She brings over 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Most recently, she worked as senior sales manager at Hyatt Hotels & Resorts. She has also worked across various market segments in a number of cities, including Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and New Orleans. In her new role, she will manage groups ranging from 750 rooms or more, on peak.
ACVB has also promoted Laws to the role of director of sales. He will oversee the department’s daily operations and continue to manage ACVB’s efforts to secure large-scale sporting events with Atlanta Sports Council. He joined ACVB in 2010 as citywide sales manager, adding to his over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry.
Michael Rose
Rose joins Springfield, Missouri, Convention and Visitors Bureau as marketing manager. He will supervise and implement marketing strategies and creative content management and will maintain all digital platforms. Throughout his career, he has managed multiple projects at world-class Missouri attractions, including Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium in Springfield, Dogwood Canyon Nature Park in Lampe and Top of The Rock in Ridgedale.
Will Brandon
Alila Ventana Big Sur appoints Brandon as area director of sales and marketing. He brings over a decade of experience in the luxury hospitality industry and a dedication to creating a culture of well-being, diversity, equity and inclusion. Brandon will lead the property’s commercial operations, including sales, strategy, marketing efforts, events and brand management alongside stakeholder communication and collaboration.
Rafael Torres and Jamie Choi
Torres is appointed as general manager at ‘Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach. He will draw on a career of over 29 years in hospitality, with roles across the world, including in China, Costa Rica and Mauritius in addition to the United States. He most recently served as director of operations and interim general manager at Fairmont Hotel Mayakoba in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, where he oversaw a multi-million-dollar renovation.
Choi joins ‘Alohiliani Resort Waikiki Beach as director of sales and marketing. With over two decades of experience in the industry, she will oversee the resort’s sales and marketing efforts and drive strategic growth and maximize revenue. She most recently served as director of sales and marketing at The Laylow, Autograph Collection on Oahu, and earlier numerous director of sales roles. Pyramid Global Hospitality awarded her with “Biggest Market Share Increase” in 2022.
Antonio Morales
Morales joins The Steward as general manager. Drawing on over 10 years of hospitality experience, he will provide strategic business development for the recently opened Southern California property. He has a track record of providing exceptional leadership in guest services, food and beverage and hotel operations while improving revenues from the top to the bottom line. Most recently, Morales served as opening general manager at Courtyard by Marriott Santa Barbara Downtown.
Tricia Taylor
Taylor will serve as president of The Breakers Palm Beach. She has worked at The Breakers for 27 years, and in this new role, will oversee all aspects of resort operations, its off-site businesses and its commitment to its 2,300 team members, and will report directly to the CEO. Taylor is passionate about the opportunity for stewardship of a people-first organization and for making a difference in the lives of her team, guests and the surrounding community. She is the first woman to hold this position in the company’s history.
Kerry Lambert and Heather Black Cosgrove
Soundings, a platform for connecting organizations with independent talent in the events, hospitality and nonprofit sectors, appoints Lambert as chief operating officer (COO). She is committed to nurturing talent and fostering inclusive growth. During her time at Cvent, she expanded her team to a workforce spanning North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. She is recognized for co-leading Cvent’s Women in Leadership Initiative.
Cosgrave is promoted to the role of vice president of account management. She earlier served as Soundings’ director of customer success and account management and has been a key player in the company’s operational success in multiple departments. She is committed to creating a culture of excellence and propelling revenue growth through a focus on customer engagement.
Rosie Karakan
The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay appoints Karakan as director of sales and marketing. She brings over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, most recently having served as area director of sales and marketing for Dream Hotel Group in Los Angeles. She will lead sales efforts for both domestic and international markets with a focus on leisure and group bookings as she works to enhance the property’s visibility and growth.
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