It's a new month, so let's meet some newly appointed general managers at hotels around the country—and beyond.
Dua Miami, Autograph Collection
The newly opened Dua Miami, Autograph Collection, appointed Leslie Weil general manager.
Originally from Peru, Weil began her career as an intern in housekeeping and later as a front desk agent at the Courtyard in Aventura, Fla. She continued to advance in operations and finance with the Turnberry Hotel Group for 13 years before becoming general manager of the Hampton Inn in Hallandale, Fla., in 2012.
While most of her career has been in the Greater Miami area, Weil also spent approximately two years each in Chicago and Philadelphia. Most recently, she oversaw the debut of Moxy South Beach as GM, marking the brand’s introduction to Miami Beach. She has been involved in nearly 20 openings and transitions since 2014 around the world.
Four Seasons Hotel Miami
Haytham Said is the new general manager of the Four Seasons Hotel Miami.
Said has worked with Four Seasons from trainee to general manager, most recently in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He previously was hotel manager of Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club in Florida. Before that, he was hotel manager at Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta, and his brand career first began in his hometown at Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence. In 2006 he moved to the United States to work at the Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas as assistant room service manager, and then moved to Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco as food and beverage manager. He became director of banquets at Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore. During his time at Four Seasons Atlanta, Haytham was also a major collaborator in opening a new Four Seasons in South America and Four Seasons at The Surf Club.
Said earned his Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Tourism at the Higher Institute of Qualitative Studies in Heliopolis, Cairo; and later pursued a Master in Global Hospitality Management at Georgia State University.
Hotel Anna & Bel
Hotel Anna & Bel, a boutique hotel in Philadelphia’s Fishtown neighborhood, appointed Kate Polsky general manager.
Polsky joins Hotel Anna & Bel with more than 10 years of experience in guest services, working at the Asticou Inn and Restaurant, Roost Apartment Hotels and the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia.
Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego
Southern California hotel Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego appointed Dena Roady the new area vice president and general manager. Originally from Colusa, Calif., Roady has 28 years of leadership and hospitality experience with Hyatt. Roady most recently was area vice president and general manager at Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort and Spa, where she oversaw the overall strategy, performance, and goals for the hotel, while also supporting additional area hotels in these initiatives.
Before that, at Andaz 5th Avenue, Hyatt Regency Clearwater Resort and Spa, and Hyatt Market Street, Roady partnered with ownership on master plans, implemented property improvements, and drove revenue growth. She held senior leadership roles at Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa, Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa, and Hyatt Regency Irvine. At Hyatt Hotels Corporate Office, she was corporate rooms manager, overseeing the launch of new properties and various operational projects, as well as starting her career in operational roles at Grand Hyatt San Francisco, Hyatt Regency Newport and Grand Hyatt Kauai.
Pendry Natirar
Pendry Hotels & Resorts appointed Derek Lescrinier general manager of the Pendry Natirar, set to open later this year in New Jersey’s Somerset County.
Lescrinier joins Pendry Natirar from Montage International, where he was corporate director of rooms, overseeing 15 properties across both the Montage and Pendry brands. During his tenure, he was instrumental in updating room brand standards, enhancing communication across properties, revamping the pre-arrival process and more. Prior to Montage International, Lescrinier spent over a decade at Fontainebleau Miami Beach Resort in various roles including Vice President of Rooms. Lescrinier's impressive career also includes key roles at The Ritz-Carlton properties in Lake Tahoe and Lake Las Vegas, where he was a vital part of pre-opening teams and played a significant role in housekeeping and guest services management.
Springboard Hospitality
Springboard Hospitality has promoted four team members to general manager positions across each of its West Hollywood properties: Chance Reno at Hotel Ziggy, Desiree Gardea at Chamberlain West Hollywood, Karla Roque at Le Parc at Melrose, and Tim Erkelens-Probst at Montrose at Beverly Hills.
The Vines Resort & Spa
In Mendoza, Argentina, The Vines Resort & Spa has named Sebastián Blanco general manager.
Blanco brings more than two decades of luxury hospitality experience to his new role, having worked with companies like Four Seasons and Hyatt in the rooms, food and beverage, revenue management and sales and marketing divisions. Before joining The Vines Resort & Spa, Blanco was the GM of Carmelo Resort & Spa in Uruguay. In this role, he led the transition of the resort from a Hyatt-branded property to an independent resort. He launched a project to produce local food for the resort’s outlets, improving both product freshness and environmental conservation efforts.