KEY WEST, FL—The Gates Hotel Key West, an independent hotel set to open here early next year, appointed two executives to its staff: Eugenia Simons is now general manager and Stephanie Happ is director of sales and marketing for the complex.
The 100-room boutique property is managed by Highgate Hotels.
Simons oversees all hotel operations at The Gates Hotel Key West, as well as sister properties Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn and Fairfield Inn & Suites.
She recently helped rebrand On the Avenue, a Highgate Hotel property, into NYLO NYC. She also led a renovation of NYLO NYC, including the opening of LOCL Bar.
Previously, Simons was hotel manager of Eventi, a 292-room Kimpton Hotels property in New York. She also worked as director of operations at W Hoboken Hotel & Residences in New Jersey and as director of rooms at W Times Square, both Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. properties.
Happ joins the property from River Terrace Inn, a Noble House Hotels & Resorts property in Napa, CA, where she served as director of sales and marketing.
Previously, Happ served as director of sales for Ocean Key Resort and Spa on Key West and spent five years consulting on destination weddings as founder/CEO of Swept Away.