A number of hotels across the country (and internationally) have announced new general managers over the past two weeks. Here are some names to know.
AC Hotel by Marriott Honolulu
Hotel management, investment and development company Highgate appointed Daniel Texeira as GM of the upcoming AC Hotel by Marriott Honolulu, slated to open in January. In his role, Texeira will oversee all operations and management of the property.
With more than 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Texeira joins AC Hotel by Marriott Honolulu from ‘Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach, where he held multiple positions over the past four years, most recently as director of operations. Before that, he was performance development manager for Marriott International in Hawaii. Texeira has also held positions at Moana Surfrider, a Westin Resort & Spa in Waikiki Beach and Aulani, A Disney Resort and Spa on Oahu.
‘Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach
The ‘Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach in Hawaii appointed Rafael Torres as GM. In the role, Torres will oversee all operations and management of the resort. With 29 years of hospitality experience, Torres has worked in China, Costa Rica, the United States and Mauritius.
Before joining ‘Alohilani Resort, he served as director of operations and interim general manager at the Fairmont Hotel Mayakoba in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, where he oversaw hotel operations and oversaw a multimillion-dollar hotel renovation. Torres also held leadership roles with Armani Hotels & Resorts, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and St. Regis Hotels & Resorts.
Beach Enclave Turks & Caicos
Beach Enclave Turks & Caicos, a collection of private beachfront villas and residences, appointed Christian Butler the new GM.
Butler began his career in the food and beverage industry in London before moving to Dubai to work with the Jumeirah Beach Resort. Returning to England in 2003, Butler assumed managing roles at Baltic Restaurants and Northbank Restaurant and Bar before moving to St. Lucia in 2020. Once there, he was named acting resort manager and director of food and beverage at Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort. In August 2022, Butler’s next role led him to serve as director of operations at Malliouhana, Auberge Resorts Collection in Anguilla, where he achieved remarkable success by exceeding KPIs and reducing costs. Throughout his career, Butler has consistently demonstrated strong management skills, cross-functional collaboration, and a keen sense of fiscal responsibility.
C Lazy U Ranch
Jeremy Belnap is the new GM at Colorado’s C Lazy U Ranch. As general manager, Belnap will oversee the property management and manage staff members.
With 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Belnap joins the C Lazy U Ranch team after spending nearly a decade as a general manager at other luxury guest ranches including The Ranch at Rock Creek in Montana and Magee Homestead, part of the Brush Creek Luxury Ranch Collection in Wyoming. Early in his career, Belnap worked in multiple leadership roles covering all areas of hospitality—from director of room operations and director of services to front office manager—at Marriott Hotels and Resorts in Hilton Head Island, S.C., and Park City, Utah, as well as at the Bohemian Hotel Savannah Riverfront of the Marriott Autograph Collection in Savannah, Ga., part of the Kessler Collection.
Cincinnati Marriott at RiverCenter
Michael Hogan is the new general manager of the Cincinnati Marriott at RiverCenter in Covington, Ky. The 321-room hotel is managed by Spire Hospitality. Hogan started his career with Hyatt Hotels as an assistant executive housekeeper at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta and then spent the next nine years with Hyatt in Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia and San Antonio.
In 2009, he joined Winegardner and Hammons as assistant general manager of the Marriott Birmingham and shortly thereafter became general manager of Residence Inn Winston-Salem. Since then, he’s been general manager at Embassy Suites by Hilton Lexington and Marriott Cincinnati Northeast and Renaissance Cincinnati Downtown Hotel. In his role, Hogan will serve as the team's leader in all facets of operations, including marketing, hotel oversight and guest services.
Grand Hyatt Vail
The 285-room Grand Hyatt Vail, Colo., appointed Kevin Shields as the new general manager. Shields will be responsible for overseeing daily operations and maintaining the property’s reputation.
Shields joins the team most recently from All Points North Lodge in Edwards, Colo., where he was the director of hospitality and chief operations officer. Shields has held leadership titles across the country as regional general manager with the Kessler Collection in Beavercreek and Savannah, Ga., and numerous general manager and operations roles at resorts in New York, Las Vegas and Park City, Utah. His diversified background includes experience in condominium construction management and HOA.
Hilton Aventura Miami
Corey Hayes is the new GM at the Hilton Aventura Miami. Hayes’ professional journey began in Newport, R.I., at the age of 15, where he worked at the Fluke Wine Bar and Kitchen. He further honed his skills in Aspen, Colo., where he worked alongside restaurateur Jimmy Yaeger at Jimmy's Upstairs and Jimmy's Bodega. Returning to Newport, Hayes rose through the ranks and became the beverage director at Fluke Wine Bar and Kitchen, earning the Level 2 Certified Sommelier title.
The opening of Gurney's Resort marked Hayes’ transition to the hotel industry. He developed further with the Mission Group, where he helped launch Thames Street Kitchen and later opened the Wayfinder Hotel as director of food and beverage/hotel manager.
InterContinental San Diego
InterContinental San Diego appointed Bertrand Mangeot as the new GM. A French native, Mangeot brings years of international experience and will oversee all departments and operations at the property. Mangeot has spent 19 years with the IHG brand. His experience includes properties in New York; Cleveland; and Toronto and most recently was GM of the Kimpton Sylvan Hotel in Atlanta. Mangeot has held various senior titles throughout his career and led several multimillion-dollar projects.
Mangeot began his career in Luxembourg at KPMG before moving to the West Indies of Martinique to work for Karibea Hotels as an assistant to the chief financial officer. From there, he moved to New York City, where he held multiple positions at the InterContinental Barclay. From there he moved to the InterContinental Hotel Cleveland, where he held various senior titles over seven years.
The Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel
Marcus Hotels & Resorts, a division of The Marcus Corp., appointed Kevin Miller as general manager of The Lincoln (Neb.) Marriott Cornhusker Hotel. Miller will oversee the 300-room historic hotel near the University of Nebraska campus, Nebraska State Capitol and Historic Haymarket District.
With over 20 years of hospitality experience, Miller most recently was director of hotel operations at the Sheraton Overland Park at the Convention Center in Overland Park, Kansas. In this role, he led the hotel’s operations as well as managed a $15 million room renovation project. Before this role, Miller was director of hotel operations for Marriott Overland Park and Renaissance Vancouver Harbourside in Vancouver.
Mandarin Oriental, New York
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group appointed Marcel Thoma as GM of the Mandarin Oriental, New York, overseeing the executive management and operations of the property. Thoma will also act as area vice president, overseeing operations at the Mandarin Oriental, Boston; Mandarin Oriental, Santiago, Chile; Mandarin Oriental Residences, Beverly Hills, Calif.; Mandarin Oriental Residences, Fifth Avenue, N.Y.; and The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, New York.
Thoma joined the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group three years ago and has more than 25 years of luxury hospitality industry experience. Most recently GM of the Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech, Morocco, he began his career in Zürich at the boutique Widder Hotel followed by roles with Ritz-Carlton in Mexico and Spain. He then moved on to management roles with Rosewood Hotels & Resorts at The Carlyle in New York, Swire Hotel’s The Upper House in Hong Kong and Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group’s corporate headquarters.
St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort
The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort in Miami appointed Stephen Power as the new GM. Power will spearhead strategies to achieve the property’s 2024 sales and revenue goals while overseeing the resort’s renowned operations across the board.
Before joining The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort, Power was GM of The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco. Other hotel management positions within the Marriott International family of brands include W Los Angeles – West Beverly Hills and SLS Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Beverly Hills Hotel. Power was director of food and beverage at the Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.; The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba; and The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas.
The Steward
The Steward, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel by Marriott in Southern California managed by Twenty Four Seven Hotels, appointed Antonio Morales as general manager of the 87-suite, 4.7-acre property.
Before joining The Steward, Morales was opening general manager at Courtyard by Marriott Santa Barbara Downtown. Previous general manager positions in California include the Courtyard Santa Barbara Downtown,, The Waterman in downtown Santa Barbara and Residence Inn by Marriott Sunnyvale Silicon Valley II.