NEW YORK— Lifestar Hotels, LLC, a joint venture of Sol Melia Hotels & Resorts and Rank Group, owner of the Hard Rock brand, has tapped hospitality veterans Andrew Tilley and Anthony Amendola to be general manager and director of sales and marketing, respectively, to head the team that will facilitate rebranding and guiding of the 610-room Paramount Hotel New York through its transformation to the new Hard Rock Hotel New York. During the refurbishment, the hotel will operate as The Paramount and be managed by Lifestar Hotels, LLC. Tilley, a native of Great Britain, began his hospitality career at the Hilton International in Hong Kong, where he was named “Best Salesman of the Year.” During his tenure with Hilton, he also worked in Kuwait and Dubai, and was marketing manager for the Middle East. He went on to hold executive positions at the Shangri-la Bangkok, Glasgow Hilton, the Balmoral in Edinburgh, and the Hyatt Carlton Tower in London. Tilley relocated to New York City in 1999 and became general manager, first of the Empire Hotel New York, and subsequently of the Chambers Hotel New York. Amendola previously was director of sales and marketing of The Millennium UN Plaza Hotel. He also was director of sales and marketing of the Westin Stamford, CT., where he received the 1999 Westin Award for most increased RevPAR for a renovated hotel. Amendola began his career as a sales manager of the Hilton Tarrytown, NY, and subsequently became director of sales and marketing of the Sheraton Meadowlands Hotel in New Jersey, and of the Sheraton Stamford (CT) Hotel. He was responsible for opening the new Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center Hotel and for handling sales and marketing for Caesars Atlantic City.
