A number of hotels and resorts, including two in Hilton's Curio Collection soft brand, have appointed general managers in recent weeks. Here are some names to know.
Alila Ventana Big Sur
The Alila Ventana Big Sur in California’s Central Coast has appointed Sebastian Gurevich general manager.
Most recently, Gurevich was general manager of The Chatwal, New York. He has also worked at the Grand Hyatt New York, Resort at Squaw Creek and Royal Palms Resort and Spa.
The Drake Oak Brook
The Drake Oak Brook (Ill.), Autograph Collection, has appointed Raina Spasov general manager.
Born and raised in Bulgaria, Spasov began her hospitality career in housekeeping at Embassy Suites by Hilton Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) 17th Street after arriving in the United States. After relocating to Chicago, she shifted her focus to food and beverage at Renaissance Chicago O'Hare Suites Hotel while simultaneously pursuing a degree in Sports and Fitness Management at DePaul University.
Following her work with Fitness Formula Clubs, Spasov returned to hospitality in 2013 as executive assistant to the general manager at what is now Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center. She was promoted to operations manager in 2016, where she led a 386-room renovation project, followed by director of rooms in 2019. She later advanced to resort manager and most recently was general manager.
L'Auberge Del Mar
In California, L'Auberge Del Mar, a Noble House Hotels & Resorts property, appointed Chris Ryan general manager. He joins the property from the Sheraton San Diego Resort, where he most recently was director of food and beverage.
Before that role, Ryan was director of operations for both Omni San Diego Hotel and Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia, where he oversaw all resort and hotel operations. He also held interim general manager assignments for multiple luxury resort properties.
Ryan began his hospitality career with The Ritz-Carlton, Boston, before continuing with The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain.
A Boston native, Ryan studied at both Boston University and Suffolk University.
Mill Falls at the Lake Resort Collection
TPG Hotels & Resorts appointed Lloyd Van Horn general manager of Mill Falls at the Lake Resort Collection. The property is in Meredith, N.H.
Van Horn joins Mill Falls with more than three decades of hospitality leadership experience spanning luxury resorts, boutique hotels, private clubs and destination properties throughout the United States. Most recently, he was managing director of Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa, where he led the relaunch of the historic resort.
Before Mountain View Grand, Van Horn held leadership positions at Champions Retreat Golf Club, The Partridge Inn, Topnotch Resort, Ocean Reef Club, The Colony Hotel and Montauk Yacht Club.
The LINE DC
The LINE DC has appointed Sherry Abedi general manager. Most recently, Abedi was area general manager for Viceroy Washington DC and Hotel Zena, where she oversaw all facets of both properties, including rooms, food and beverage, and the development of new guest programming and amenities. Before that, she was general manager of Thompson Washington D.C., where she led the hotel’s opening efforts and coordinated initiatives to relaunch operations following its pandemic-related closure.
Throughout her career, Abedi has held senior leadership positions at hospitality properties across the country, including area general manager of Quirk Hotel Richmond and Resort Manager of Lansdowne Resort. She also held roles with The Madison Hotel, Hotel Casa del Mar and Viceroy Palm Springs.
Martinique New York
Hilton appointed Austin Pruett as general manager of the 504-room Martinique New York on Broadway, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton.
Before joining Martinique New York on Broadway, Curio Collection by Hilton, Pruett was general manager of the 198-room DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Suites Jersey City.
Earlier in his career, Pruett held a series of progressive leadership roles including interim general manager, complex hotel manager and complex director of finance for DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Austin Downtown Capitol and Embassy Suites by Hilton Austin Downtown South Congress.
Pruett holds a degree in business administration from Indian River State College. He is a member of the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s general manager Committee.
The St. Regis Costa Mujeres Resort
In Mexico, the St. Regis Costa Mujeres Resort, Cancún appointed Idu Ribeiro general manager. In an expanded, multiproperty role, Ribeiro will oversee both the upcoming opening of The St. Regis Costa Mujeres Resort, Cancun, and will continue to oversee Almare, a Luxury Collection Resort, Isla Mujeres, where he currently is general manager.
Throughout his career, Ribeiro has held senior leadership positions across the Americas and Europe. He has held general manager roles at W São Paulo, W Maldives and Marriott Panama Hotel, among others.
The Valorian Los Angeles
The Valorian Los Angeles, a Curio Collection by Hilton property, appointed Michael Robinson general manager.
Robinson brings two decades of hospitality leadership experience spanning both major metropolitan and beach resort markets domestically and internationally. He has spent the past 18 years rising through the ranks at Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, where he was involved with openings and full renovations across 10 different properties in four countries. Most recently, Robinson was the pre-opening and opening general manager of the global flagship Kimpton Hong Kong, following a three-year term as general manager of the Kimpton Everly Hollywood in Los Angeles. He also was the opening general manager for Kimpton’s first two European properties: Kimpton De Witt Amsterdam and Kimpton Vividora Barcelona.