A number of hotels across the U.S. and the Caribbean have announced new general manager appointments in recent weeks. Here are some names to know.
Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk
Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk appointed Ryan Fender general manager. In his new position, Fender will oversee all aspects of the 1,003-room downtown hotel as it completes a $9 million renovation to its lobby, restaurants and public spaces.
Originally from the United Kingdom, Fender had an early interest in following in the footsteps of his father, who also was a general manager. Based on the advice from his father, Fender began working in commercial kitchens and restaurant serving positions when he was 15 years old and applied to the Hotel School at Hague in the Netherlands.
Following graduation, Fender moved to the United States where he began his Hyatt career as a corporate management trainee at Grand Hyatt DFW. He spent four years in Dallas before moving to New York City where he worked as a front office manager at Grand Hyatt New York and opening director of rooms for Hyatt Times Square. He then transferred to Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa in California before accepting a role in Chicago as Hyatt Corporate’s director of rooms for all luxury and lifestyle brands in the Americas. In his corporate position, Fender worked on the opening teams for several hotels including Park Hyatt Saint Kitts, Andaz Mayakoba and Hyatt Centric properties in Lima, Santiago, Guatemala and other destinations.
Fender then held general manager positions at Alila Ventana Big Sur in California, as well as Hotel 50 Bowery and Andaz 5th Avenue in New York City, before accepting this new position at Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk.
Hampton Inn & Suites Chicago Medical District UIC
The newly opened Hampton Inn & Suites Chicago Medical District UIC appointed Marlena Karwowski general manager of the 135-guestroom property.
Hailing from Skaryszew, Poland, Karwowski has spent two decades in the industry, holding roles including assistant reservations manager at Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, reservations communications manager at Hyatt Regency Chicago, director of sales at Hyatt House Evanston, director of sales at Hilton Garden Inn Evanston, task force manager of sales at Hyatt Place Iowa City, task force manager of sales at Hyatt Place Milwaukee and general manager of The Forester Hotel.
Hotel 1000
Hotel 1000, LXR Hotels & Resorts appointed Jeffery Modaff as general manager of the 120-room boutique hotel in downtown Seattle.
Modaff joins Hotel 1000 from Conrad Los Angeles, where he was opening hotel manager. His first job in the industry was at the Ojai Valley Inn in Ojai, Calif. Rising through the ranks to housekeeping operations manager and guest services manager, Modaff assisted the resort through a $90 million renovation project. During his nearly 25-year career, Modaff has also held executive-level positions at Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club and Shade Hotel Manhattan Beach, both in Southern California.
Hotel Lucile
Anthony Gutierrez will be opening general manager of the Hotel Lucile, a Casetta Hotels property, set to open in Los Angeles’ Silver Lake neighborhood in April.
Gutierrez joins Hotel Lucile from his current role as general manager of The Pearl Hotel in San Diego’s Point Loma neighborhood. He will oversee Hotel Lucile’s adaptive reuse from a historic 1931 church into a 25-room boutique hotel.
Gutierrez began his career in guest services before advancing through leadership roles at Rosewood Hotels & Resorts and Heritage Hotels & Resorts.
Hotel Viata
The Hotel Viata in Texas’ Hill Country has promoted former Corporate Food & Beverage Director Vincent Lesage to general manager. Lesage has worked at Pacific Hospitality for more than 11 years.
Lesage began his career as executive chef at Balboa Bay Resort and Club. Most recently, he was corporate director of food & beverage at Pacific Hospitality Group.
Rosewood Le Guanahani St. Barth
Rosewood Le Guanahani St. Barth on Saint Barthélemy appointed Thibaut Asso as Resort Manager, marking his return to the property. He previously was director of sales and marketing from 2020 to 2023. Following his time at the resort, he joined Marriott International as complex director of sales and marketing, working with The St. Regis Aspen and W Aspen.
Asso also was cluster director of sales and marketing, Americas for COMO Hotels and Resorts in Miami Beach, overseeing sales and marketing for two properties and leading the successful reopening of COMO Parrot Cay in 2017. He has held senior leadership roles in sales across renowned luxury brands, including director of sales for Carlisle Bay Resort in Antigua and associate director of sales for Pineapple Luxury Hotels and Resorts, representing properties such as One Aldwych, Il Salviatino, and Upper House. Asso also spent eight years with Belmond Hotels in various sales and management positions.
Tempo by Hilton Times Square
Hilton has appointed Chintan Dadhich as complex general manager of the 661-room Tempo by Hilton Times Square in Midtown Manhattan. Dadhich also will continue to oversee the 463-room Conrad New York Downtown where he’s been since 2022. As complex general manager, he will lead operations for both properties.
Dadhich has more than 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry and 22 years with Hilton. Before his move to New York in 2022, Dadhich led the repositioning of the Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas, overseeing a major renovation.
Dadhich began his career at Hilton Boston Logan Airport, where he held leadership positions in food & beverage and guest services. He then held roles at La Quinta Resort & Club, now part of Curio Collection by Hilton; Arizona Biltmore, now part of LXR Hotels & Resorts, culminating in his role as opening general manager of Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach.
Originally from India, Dadhich worked with Le Méridien and Oberoi Hotels & Resorts and moved to the United States in 2001 where he earned his master's in hospitality & tourism management from Johnson & Wales University.
The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village
Robert Nokley has been appointed general manager at The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village.
Nokley has overseen properties like the Luminary Hotel & Co., Autograph Collection, through major capital projects.