Mary Jobb
Jobb takes on the role of executive director of sales at The Broadmoor. She brings over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, with a successful track record in exceptional sales results, which she has consistently achieved through strategic target-setting and revenue-boosting programs. In her most recent role at The Diplomat Beach Resort, she demonstrated her skill in driving group sales initiatives to new heights.
Candace Woodruff
Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) appoints Woodruff as trade show project manager. She will manage the logistics for all trade shows, special sales events and familiarization tours. She will also act as a liaison between sales, destination services, marketing and outside vendors. Woodruff joined ACVB in 2019 as a sales administrative assistant and later assisted with the coordination of major shows on a part-time basis.
Christoph Zbinden
Zbinden joins The Pridwin Hotel & Cottages as general manager, bringing over 20 years of experience in luxury hotel leadership and expertise in global food & beverage. He has served in roles across 25 cities throughout North America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. With his extensive knowledge and experience, he looks forward to revitalizing the guest experience and driving growth during non-peak traditional times by directing all hotel operations and working collaboratively with all stakeholders.
Ben Thiele
Makeready appoints Thiele to lead Nashville’s iconic historical hotel, Noelle, as managing director. He boasts an incredible hospitality career and brings over a decade of experience to his new role. As managing director, he will lead all daily operations and work alongside Makeready on service strategy to increase revenue and ensure that the property goes above and beyond for its guests.
Sanjiv Hulugalle
The iconic Hotel del Coronado in San Diego welcomes Hulugalle as managing director. He brings over 28 years of hospitality leadership experience. Throughout his career, he has served in senior hospitality positions in 12 countries across four continents. He has a reputation for curating a culture of service par excellence at leading luxury properties. In his new role, he will focus on creating an elevated service culture, curating signature programming and culinary experiences and full activation of the resort’s five buildings.
Susan Hanlon
Velas Resorts appoints Hanlon as northeast regional sales director. She will manage sales and MICE industry events in the northeast United States, drawing on her over 25 years of experience in luxury hospitality. She has held notable positions, including director of operations at Journey Masters and different leadership roles at upscale hotels from Hard Rock to Saddlebrook Resort.
Marla Kelly
Kelly takes on the role of complex director of sales and marketing at Highgate’s Romer Waikīkī at The Ambassador and the upcoming Romer House, scheduled to open in June 2024. She will manage all sales initiatives aimed at optimizing revenue and overall profitability in addition to supervising marketing and public relations strategies for both properties. She brings over 15 years of experience in the industry, earlier serving as director of sales & marketing for the Hawaii Convention Center.
Rachel Bandarenko
MGME promotes Bandarenko to the role of executive vice president of creative and strategic growth. She joined MGME in January 2020 and led the establishment of the company’s creative services team. In her new role, she will leverage her creative prowess and strategic vision to enhance the MGME brand and invigorate sales efforts as she takes on increased responsibilities in both sales and marketing. She brings over two decades of experience in event design and production.
Kerstin Glenn and Gary Rodriguez
Paramount Hospitality Management announces key new appointments to its team.
Glenn is promoted to dual property sales and catering manager. With experience spanning food & beverage, events, lodging and sales, she is a dynamic hospitality professional. In her role at Avanti Palms Resort, she works to build rapport with managers and current clientele and books multiple new events. She holds a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management from York College in Pennsylvania, where she served as president of the Hospitality Society.
Rodriguez is appointed to the role of general manager at Avanti International Resort. He brings over 31 years of experience in hotel and corporate hospitality, with extensive experience in various areas, including food & beverage, sales, revenue management and operations. He began his career as an assistant front office manager on I-Drive in Orlando and worked his way up to hold multiple general manager positions at numerous hospitality organizations.
David Jacques Farahi
Bites, a leader in frontline employee engagement and training solutions, appoints Farahi as president. With his extensive experience and an innovative approach, he will lead business development initiatives to deepen Bites’ impact within the hospitality sector. He looks forward to accelerating Bites’ vision to redefine training and amplifying the company’s mission to tailor transformative training experiences to the dynamic needs of the hospitality industry.
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