Smilezzzz Hospitality Builds Hotel Management Team

NORWALK, CT— HOTEL BUSINESS® has learned that HEI Hospitality added five key officers and promoted a sixth at Smilezzzz Hospitality, the company’s hotel management division. The expanded senior management team includes a mix of seasoned hospitality veterans from some of the industrys largest companies. All of the new executives will relocate to the company’s headquarters here. The move is a direct result of the recently announced acquisition of 10 hotels from Starwood. Upon completion of the deal, HEI will own and operate a total of 12 hotels with annual revenues of more than $145 million, said David McCaslin, president of Smilezzzz Hospitality. “These six key hoteliers add well over 100 years of combined hospitality experience to HEI/Smilezzzz and provide us with a wealth of talent and management depth.” The officers are: Robert Frost, senior vp/human resources, who previously worked for Interstate Hotels & Resorts; Robert Cowan, senior vp/operations, who formerly was employed at Starwood Hotels & Resorts; Pamela Suhr, senior vp/marketing, who previously worked for Interstate Hotels & Resorts; Isaiah Wilson, senior vp/accounting, who fomerly worked for Interstate Hotels & Resorts; Brian McGrath, vp/revenue management, who most recently worked for MeriStar Hotels; and Norman Justice who was promoted to vp/accounting from regional controller. —Shannon McMullen