Alyssa Gernazick and Lindsay Neeley
Conrad Orlando expands its executive leadership team with the appointment of Gernazick as director of hotel operations. She brings over 13 years of experience in luxury hotels to oversee daily operations at the property, which will open in 2024. She has held positions from director of front office to assistant director of housekeeping at a number of resorts, including Waldorf Astoria Orlando and Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek.
Joining Gernazick is Neeley, who will serve as director of spa, wellness and retail. She brings over 20 years of experience overseeing luxury spas, most recently as spa director at Waldorf Astoria Orlando. She is passionate about a broad range of wellness pillars, including self-accountability, nutritional awareness, stress management, physical fitness and environmental sustainability.
Darrin Griffin
Griffin is appointed as chief development officer at Timbers Company. As he oversees the company’s current expansion, including the addition of new residences and its sister brand, he will identify opportunities aligned with the brand’s expansion goals. He brings over three decades of experience in real estate and construction, and most recently co-founded HGR Construction, which he grew to $350 million in annual construction.
Lee Ann Benevidez
Benevidez joins Visit Denver as senior vice president and chief sales and services officer. She brings over 25 years of hospitality industry experience, most recently serving as vice president of third-party commerce and luxury stales strategy for MGM Resorts International, Americas. At Visit Denver, she will develop, direct and execute convention and meeting sales and destination services strategies. She will also help to craft and implement organizational and destination strategy as a member of the leadership team.
Simaan Hawa
Hawa joins Montage Laguna Beach as director of sales and marketing. He has worked in the hospitality industry for over 20 years, most recently as executive director of sales at The Resort at Pelican Hill. He brings a results-driven mentality and expertise in supporting, creating and executing sales and marketing strategies for luxury Southern California properties.
Letty Canizalez
Canizalez is appointed as vice president of sales at San Diego Tourism Authority. Throughout her over 25 years of experience in the hospitality and tourism industry, she has consistently exceeded goals and led teams across the sectors of sales, catering and events. In her new role, she will lead the organization’s hotel sales efforts and support the sales team as it engages with hotel partners.
Rachel Vague and Nathan Leonard
Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa rolls out a new executive leadership team, promoting Vague to director of wellness. She will draw on her background in holistic health and experience in ancient Eastern healing modalities to direct operations of the Sonora Spa as well as all resort wellness offerings and elevating the treatment and retail experiences for guests.
Leonard will join Vague on the executive team as executive director, rooms division. He has been part of the property’s team since 2002 and has served in directorial roles in both guest services and housekeeping. He takes pride in helping his staff members to elevate their work and careers to best of their abilities.
Fantasy Greene
The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel, promotes Greene to the role of director of sales and marketing. She will oversee all sales and marketing initiatives at the property, drawing on two decades of sales experience throughout which she has been driven to consistently outdo sales expectations and KPIs. She looks forward to leading the team by fostering a cross-functional culture that increases business performance efficiency.
Alan Grant
Grant is promoted to the role of hotel manager at The Ballantyne, A Luxury Collection Hotel. He has worked at the property for 11 years, most recently serving as director of food and beverage. He will now manage daily operations, mentoring a strong hospitality team as he leads staff, manages budgets, implements marketing strategies and provides overall strategic direction.
Cindy Racco
Balboa Bay Resort & Club appoints Racco as managing director. She will lead the property’s executive team, drawing on over 25 years of experience in the luxury hospitality industry. She spent 17 years in a number of directorial and managerial roles at several Four Seasons in Santa Barbara and served as hotel manager at Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa. Most recently, she served as general manager of Waldorf Astoria in Park City, Utah.
Maykel Escalona
Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills promotes Escalona to hotel manager from his former role as director of food and beverage. He spent two years in his previous role and demonstrated his leadership skill by implementing new systems and services standards, restructuring teams to improve alignment and initiating new marketing plans. He will now lead daily operations and mentorship of the over 400 team members and managers at the property.
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