A number of hotels across the country and in the Caribbean have announced new leaders since the new year began. Here are some names to know.
Populus
Aparium Hotel Group appointed George Prine as general manager of Populus, the country’s first carbon-positive hotel set to open in Denver in the summer.
In his role at Populus, Prine will oversee all day-to-day operations of the hotel, including its operational carbon footprint, revenue management, employee engagement, and the overall guest experience.
Prine brings 25 years of industry experience to Populus. He has managed hotels ranging from 60 to more than 800 keys, including the Hilton Hotel, Minneapolis and Le Meridien Chambers Hotel in Minneapolis, where he opened Jean-Georges’ Chambers Kitchen restaurant. Prine spent four years as general manager of The Armstrong Hotel in Fort Collins, Colo., where he led its redesign renovations, marketing repositioning and branding.
When it opens, the hotel will have 265 guestrooms, a ground-floor restaurant, event spaces, a coffee bar, and a rooftop bar and restaurant. It will also have an Aspen tree-inspired design by Studio Gang and a carbon-positive footprint, sequestering more carbon than it emits.
Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
The Conrad Maldives Rangali Island appointed Thomas Hoeborn general manager.
Hoeborn has spent close to 40 years in the industry, most recently as area general manager in Central China, where he oversaw the operations and performance of eight Hilton and Conrad hotels, including the 728-room Conrad Shanghai.
Before his stint in Central China, Hoeborn was area general manager of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan for Hilton’s multibranded hotels in the region and general manager of the Conrad Hong Kong. He also held various leadership roles across Hilton properties in Hong Kong, Japan and Thailand.
Conrad New York Midtown
Conrad New York Midtown appointed Jimmy Sarfraz general manager of the 562-room Manhattan hotel. With more than 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry and with Hilton, Sarfraz joins Conrad New York Midtown from San Jose, Calif., where he most recently led the rebrand and opening of the Signia by Hilton San Jose. In his new role, Sarfraz will oversee all aspects of hotel operations from the guest experience to food and beverage.
Sarfraz has worked in London, Malta, New York and Northern California. He has held managerial roles at various properties across the hospitality company including Conrad New York Downtown, Millennium Hilton New York Downtown, Hilton San Jose and Juniper Hotel Cupertino, Curio Collection by Hilton.
Dorado Beach
Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Puerto Rico, appointed Marcel Kloet general manager. Kloet brings more than 20 years of experience in leadership positions at hotels across Europe, Australia and Asia. He will oversee all operations and the estate’s business strategy.
At 15, Kloet took on a role in a small hotel restaurant. Two years later, as a line chef in a 200-room hotel, he learned about business management, prompting studies across Holland, Cyprus, Australia and Beijing. Beginning his formal studies in Holland, he completed a pre-internship in Cyprus and earned a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management from the International College of Hotel Management in Adelaide, Australia.
His time with Marriott International began during an internship in Beijing in 2008. He was general manager at The St. Regis Macao and Langkawi’s.
Gaylord Pacific Resort and Convention Center
Scott Siebert is the new general manager of the Gaylord Pacific Resort and Convention Center in Chula Vista, Calif., effective Feb. 3. The hotel, currently under construction, is expected to open in summer 2025.
With a 35-year career in hospitality, Siebert most recently was hotel manager at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn., a position he held since 2021. He was area general manager for more than five Marriott International-managed properties in Charlotte, N.C. He also was food and beverage director, and later resort manager, at the JW Marriott Hill Country San Antonio, and held key leadership positions at the Eden Roc Miami Beach Resort in Florida and JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort and Spa in Arizona.
The new resort is being developed by RIDA Development Corp. and will be operated by Marriott International. Gaylord Pacific will be the sixth Gaylord Hotel in the United States, joining resorts in Nashville, Tenn. (Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center); Kissimmee, Fla. (Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center); Grapevine, Texas (Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center); Aurora, Colo. (Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center); and National Harbor, Md. (Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center).
Hilton Chicago Oak Brook Hills Resort
Somnium Hospitality Group appointed Raina Spasov as the new general manager at the Hilton Chicago Oak Brook Hills Resort. In her new role, Spasov will oversee all aspects of the resort's operations.
Spasov began her career at the Oak Brook Hills Resort in 2013 as an executive assistant to the general manager. Over the next 10 years, she was the operations manager, director of rooms, assistant director of sales and marketing and finally resort manager before being promoted to her new role.
Spasov first came to the United States in 2005 as an exchange student from her native Bulgaria.
Hutton Brickyards
The Hutton Brickyards in Kingston, N.Y., appointed Brendan Dwyer as the new general manager.
Dwyer’s career began with Hutton Brickyards more than five years ago, working with owner Karl Slovin on the property’s vision and development in preparation for the 2021 opening. Since then, he has worked as director of facilities and was responsible for the overall operation of the grounds and all facilities.
In his new role, Dwyer will oversee all aspects of the property’s operations, including guest services, dining and events.
Somerset on Grace Bay
The Somerset on Grace Bay in the Turks & Caicos appointed Beverly Howell as general manager.
Howell brings more than 20 years of experience to her role. In the Turks & Caicos, she was the general manager of Point Grace Resort for 13 years and was GM for the opening of Le Vele Resort in 2004, as well as for the opening of The Regent Grand Resort in 2008.
In addition to her roles at resorts in Turks & Caicos, Howell also was a director for the Turks & Caicos Hotel & Tourism Association from 2005 to 2013, as well as a director for the National Health Insurance Board from 2009 to 2013. She is a member of the Institute of Hospitality, the Confederation of Tourism & Hospitality and the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute—for which she holds the designation of Certified Hotel Administrator.