Several hotels under Hilton soft-brand flags, among others, appointed general managers in recent weeks. Here are some names to know.
Bernardus Lodge & Spa
Bernardus Lodge & Spa, managed by Ensemble in California’s Carmel Valley, appointed Benjamin Duverge as general manager.
Duverge has more than 20 years of leadership experience spanning luxury urban hotels, destination resorts and globally recognised hospitality brands, He joins Bernardus Lodge & Spa from Hotel Nia, a sister Ensemble property. He has held senior roles across the United States, Europe and the Middle East, including leadership roles across The Clift Royal Sonesta, The Liberty, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Boston, Hotel Zetta and The Marker San Francisco.
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Suites Jersey City
Hilton has appointed Jamal Massengale general manager of the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Suites Jersey City, N.J. Massengale has more than 20 years of hospitality leadership experience, including 12 years with Hilton. Most recently, he was general manager of Embassy Suites by Hilton Parsippany, N.J. Before that, he was director of operations at DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Boston-Cambridge and assistant director of food and beverage at New York Hilton Midtown.
Massengale's hospitality experience also includes working as director of food and merchandise operations at New York City's Beacon Theatre, part of The Madison Square Garden Company, and beverage manager at Horseshoe Casino and Hotel, a Caesars Entertainment property in Shreveport, La.
Hayes Mansion
Hayes Mansion, Curio Collection by Hilton, in San Jose, Calif., has appointed Isabelle Matter as its new general manager. A respected hospitality leader with more than 20 years of executive experience spanning luxury, lifestyle, and full-service hotels, Matter will oversee all operations for the property as it continues to evolve its identity as a modern California estate rooted in a legacy of hosting, thoughtful service, and the rich history that has made the property a treasured part of San Jose for more than 120 years.
Matter most recently was general manager of The Clift Royal Sonesta in San Francisco. Before The Clift, from 2019 to 2023, she launched Hotel Caza in San Francisco as its inaugural general manager, overseeing all phases of the hotel’s opening and stabilizing operations. She also held general manager roles at several Bay Area hotels, including Yotel San Francisco, Hotel De Anza and Joie de Vivre Hospitality properties including Hotel Los Gatos & Spa and The Moorpark Hotel.
Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Villas
Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Villas in San Antonio, Texas, which just completed a $100 million renovation, appointed Jon Benson general manager. Beginning his hospitality career in the culinary field, Benson was executive chef at several resorts including Hyatt Regency Aruba, Hyatt Regency Dorado Beach Resort in Puerto Rico, Hyatt Regency Beaver Creek, Hyatt Regency Maui and Hyatt Regency Coconut Point, as well as Hyatt’s Corporate’s director of culinary operations for North America.
Following his time in culinary, Benson was general manager at Hyatt Centric Key West, Park Hyatt Washington, Hyatt Regency Long Beach, Hana-Maui Resort and Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach before joining Hyatt Regency Hill Country.
Jamaica Inn
In the Caribbean, Jamaica Inn appointed Owen Henry Jr. hotel manager.
With more than two decades of experience across Jamaica’s luxury and all-inclusive hospitality sector, Henry has held senior leadership positions with Grand Palladium Resorts, Bahia Luxury Resorts, Sandy Haven Resorts, Royalton Resorts and Sandals Royal Caribbean.
M Social Hotel Sunnyvale
M Social Hotel Sunnyvale, the new lifestyle hotel set to open in California’s Silicon Valley this fall, appointed Jakub Skyvara general manager.
Most recently, Skyvara was general manager of The Lodge at Torrey Pines. His career also includes leadership roles with Mandarin Oriental, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and Viceroy Hotels & Resorts, as well as executive assistant manager at The Resort at Pelican Hill.
Seacliff Inn Aptos
The Seacliff Inn Aptos (Calif.), Tapestry Collection by Hilton, appointed Erin Beadle general manager.
Beadle joins Seacliff Inn following seven years with Evolution Hospitality, where she most recently was general manager of Hayes Mansion, Curio Collection by Hilton. Before Hayes Mansion, Beadle led operations at The Domain Hotel Sunnyvale. She spent five years as general manager at Lakehouse Hotel & Resort in San Marcos, Calif., and held leadership roles at Hyatt Regency Newport Beach and Tower23 Hotel in San Diego.
Sugar Beach
Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort, appointed Simon Winchester resort manager, following his six-year tenure overseeing the resort's acclaimed food and beverage program.
Winchester assumes the role following a term as executive assistant manager of food and beverage. Since joining Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort in 2020, he has managed a food and beverage collection encompassing six dining venues, retail concepts, private dining experiences and in-villa culinary programming.
W New York - Union Square
W Hotels’ recently updated global flagship property, W New York - Union Square, appointed Pascha Bhatti new general manager. Pascha has more than 17 years of international hospitality experience across the Marriott luxury brands including W Hotels and The Ritz-Carlton.
Before joining W New York - Union Square, Pascha was the hotel manager of Hotel Arts Barcelona, where he oversaw a comprehensive, multiyear renovation and repositioning project while managing one of the company’s most complex operations. Pascha has held multiple leadership roles across food & beverage, operations and executive management. Pascha has worked on nine luxury hotel openings and transitions across W Hotels, The Ritz-Carlton, The Ritz-Carlton Reserve, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts and Edition Hotels portfolio.