NATIONAL REPORT—Omni Hotels & Resorts, Stay Cal Hospitality, Southern Land Company and Trumph Hotels are bolstering their rosters. Here’s a look at the recent personnel moves from the companies:
Omni Hotels & Resorts Makes Executive Appointments
Omni Hotels & Resorts has made multiple executive appointments and promotions within the brand to further grow and strengthen its sales, marketing and operations divisions.
Andrew Rubinacci has been promoted to chief commercial officer. In this new role, Rubinacci will drive all revenue generation across the organization aligning marketing, revenue management, distribution and sales to better optimize performance through a singular, focused approach. Rubinacci joined Omni a year ago as SVP of revenue management and global distribution. Under his leadership, revenue management and distribution have augmented and redeployed resources to better support the operation.
Dan Surette has been promoted to chief sales officer. In this role, Surette will continue to intensify efforts across all sales channels for Omni Hotels & Resorts. Since he joined Omni in mid-2017, he has rebuilt and stabilized the company’s global sales team; laying a new path to rekindle and augment sales training; and strengthening succession planning. Additionally, Surette oversees Omni’s strategic partnerships on behalf of the brand.
Phil Yi has been promoted to VP of marketing and communications. In his previous role as VP of digital commerce and corporate strategy, he led the company’s web and digital marketing efforts, resulting in milestones for the brand, such as launching a new website and increasing online bookings. In his new role, Yi will oversee all brand creative, communications and marketing initiatives and continue to lead all digital efforts.
Dan Piotrowski has been promoted to SVP of operations. He was previously VP of operations. In his new role, Piotrowski will continue to provid support of associates, financial acumen, operational know-how and an unabashed energy and drive to the entire organization.
Devin Burns has been promoted to VP of rooms and food and beverage. He was previously VP of food and beverage. He will now also oversee services including housekeeping, front office, guest services and valet in his new role.
Chef David Harker has been promoted to corporate executive chef. In this role, Harker will oversee the culinary experience across the brand, ranging from signature restaurants and specialty markets to large-scale banquets and in-room dining. Prior to this, Harker was the executive chef at Omni Interlocken Resort.
Stay Cal Hospitality Appoints Jimmy Palmer as COO
Stay Cal Hospitality has appointed Jimmy Palmer as COO. Palmer brings 25 years of senior leadership experience with luxury hotel brands, such as Four Seasons and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, to his new role as chief operations officer for Stay Cal Hospitality. Palmer’s expertise in opening and rebranding four- and five-star/diamond hotels throughout the world—including the United States, England, United Arab Emirates, South Africa and the Caribbean—will inform Stay Cal’s current transformation into a consumer-centric hospitality brand.
SLC Hires Gabrielle Lerner VP of Hotel Investment and Acquisitions
Southern Land Company (SLC) has hired Gabrielle (Gaby) Lerner as VP of hotel investments and acquisitions. Lerner will work out of SLC’s New York office and has participated in a numerous development and acquisition projects within the mixed-use and hotel industry. She also has experience in business development, feasibility and valuation. Prior to joining SLC, Lerner was the senior director of development for Vail Resorts in Broomfield, CO, working on notable deals in the Keystone and Breckenridge areas that created value for the mountain and in the base areas.
Triumph Hotels Names Benjamin Chan VP of Revenue Strategy
Triumph Hotels has appointed Benjamin Chan as VP of revenue strategy. Chan brings a background in revenue management, having worked for Viceroy Hotel Group, among other hospitality brands. He comes to Triumph Hotels most recently from CIM, where he served as regional director of revenue & distribution. As VP of revenue strategy for Triumph Hotels, Chan will oversee the revenue team and spearhead tactics to optimize rate performance across the brand’s portfolio of six hotels.