A number of branded hotels and resorts in the U.S. and Mexico have appointed new general managers over the past few weeks. Here are some names to know.
The Alamite
Heather Dill is the new GM at The Alamite, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel in downtown Tuscaloosa, Ala. Dill has held leadership roles in sales and marketing in multiple full-service hotels in the southeast. She also is an adjunct professor in the hospitality management program at The University of Alabama.
In her new role, Dill will be responsible for all daily hotel operations, including overseeing the food and beverage outlets, advancing employee engagement and managing the property’s brand identity. Dill has held leadership roles in sales and marketing in multiple full-service hotels in the southeast.
The Alexander, A Dolce Hotel
The Alexander, A Dolce Hotel in downtown Indianapolis, appointed Greg Tinsley as its new GM. Tinsley most recently was general Mmanager of The Art Ovations Hotel, an Autograph Hotel by Marriott, in Sarasota, Fla., as well as Conrad Hotel Indianapolis, where he served as general manager for 13 years.
Before The Conrad, he was the hotel manager at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., where he led a multimillion-dollar renovation and repositioned the property in the marketplace.
Andaz Mayakoba
César Moreno is the new general manager at the Andaz Mayakoba in Mexico. In his new role, Moreno will manage every aspect of the resort, from larger scale initiatives to day-to-day operations, including the 214 guestrooms and suites, Naum Wellness & Spa, four restaurants and event spaces.
Moreno has held GM roles with the Hyatt brand for over 20 years, most recently at the Hyatt Regency Andares Guadalajara, which he oversaw the successful launch of in 2016. Moreno has held positions including F&B director at Hyatt Regency in Cancun and at the Marriott St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Embassy Suites by Hilton Asheville (N.C.) Downtown
Rohit Radhakrishnan has been named as the general manager of the upcoming Embassy Suites by Hilton Asheville (N.C.) Downtown. The 188-room hotel, owned and managed by Parks Hospitality Group, is set to open in winter 2023.
Before joining Embassy Suites by Hilton Asheville Downtown, Radhakrishnan was the general manager of multiple hotels within and outside of the Hilton family. Most recently, he was the general manager at Embassy Suites Knoxville West, where he collaborated with the food and beverage team to develop new ideas, such as curating the hotel’s menu to offer more kid-friendly and allergen-friendly options and elevating the hotel’s bourbon offerings for an increase of 38 percent in liquor sales.
Great Wolf Lodge Northern California
Great Wolf Resorts named Steve Pastor as the GM of Great Wolf Lodge Northern California.
Pastor previously managed the Radisson Mall of America Hotel Waterpark, an indoor water park resort in Bloomington, Minn., now known as Great Wolf Lodge Minnesota. He was GM at several hotels and hotel management companies over the past 15 years such as Buffalo Lodging Associates, Trans Inn Management Company and Hulsing Hotel. Before joining Great Wolf Lodge Northern California, Pastor was GM at Evolution Hospitality for over a decade. He managed several hotels over the years including Courtyard by Marriott and Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott in Old Town San Diego; the Hyatt Regency Westlake Village, Calif.; and the Hotel MdR in Los Angeles.
Homewood Suites by Hilton New Orleans French Quarter
Natalie Serse has been appointed general manager of the Homewood Suites by Hilton New Orleans French Quarter.
Serse brings more than a decade of leadership experience managing and operating hotels. She joins Homewood Suites New Orleans French Quarter from Bridge Hotel Group where she most recently was general manager at Hampton Inn New York City Empire State Building. Before that, she held general manager and director-of-sales roles at several New York hotels including Hyatt Place NYC Chelsea, Citadines Connect Fifth Avenue, Hilton Garden Inn NYC Financial Center Manhattan Downtown and Hilton Garden Inn Long Island City.
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe, Nev.
Pascal Dupuis, formerly GM at the Andaz Mayakoba, has moved north to the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe, Nev.
Originally from Nice, France, Dupuis has held leadership positions around the world in the United Kingdon, Mauritius, India, and the United Arab Emirates. Before his role at Andaz Mayakoba, Dupuis was the general manager of The Address Boulevard in Downtown Dubai.
Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix
Devin Mahoney is the new general manager at the Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ Luxury & Lifestyle collection. In his current role as the property’s general manager, Mahoney oversees day-to-day operations and future planning for Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix’s business and leisure sectors.
Mahoney earned his bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University before beginning his hospitality career with Morgans Hotel Group in 2004. He took a front desk management role with The Boulders, A Waldorf Astoria Resort in Carefree, Ariz., where he spent the next five years progressing through various managerial positions. Mahoney began his career with Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants in 2013 at Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix and has since worked at several properties within the portfolio including Kimpton Amara Resort and Spa in Sedona, Ariz., and Kimpton Hotel Solamar in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter. He became GM at the Hilton Garden Inn Phoenix Downtown and the Canopy by Hilton Scottsdale (Ariz.) Old Town before returning to Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix.
Outrigger Kā‘anapali Beach Resort, Hawaii
Edwin Torres is the new GM at the Outrigger Kā‘anapali Beach Resort in Maui, supporting the community in the aftermath of the Lahaina wildfires. As general manager, Torres will lead the beachfront resort to drive operational profitability.
Torres has been complex general manager, overseeing both the Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel and Ohana Waikiki East by Outrigger since February of this year. Before that, he was general manager of Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel since 2021. Torres’ Outrigger career began as food and beverage director at the Outrigger Guam Beach Resort. His industry experience includes director of event operations for the Grand Hotel Marriott in Point Clear, Ala.; food & beverage director at W Retreat & Spa Vieques Island, Puerto Rico; and for Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina in the British Virgin Islands.
TownePlace Suites by Marriott Denver West/Federal Center
Matthew Slater is the new general manager of the 106-guestroom TownePlace Suites by Marriott Denver West/Federal Center in Golden, Colo. Slater’s experience includes managerial roles at Hilton, Marriott and IHG, as well as a tenure as general manager at Comfort Inn Plano-Dallas in Plano, Texas.
W Punta de Mita
Oscar Gonzalez Ibarra is the new GM at the W Punta de Mita, the newly updated beachfront resort in Riviera Nayarit, Mexico. In his new role, Gonzalez will take the helm of the 126-room resort's operations and will highlight the recent multimillion-dollar renovation.
Gonzalez began his career in his hometown of Mexico City at the J.W. Marriott Hotel. Over the course of his 26-year tenure, he has held numerous leadership positions across a range of hotels and Marriott-branded properties from Panama and London to Aruba, Honduras and, most notably, Mexico. Before joining W Punta de Mita, Gonzalez was COO in a private real estate company, where he oversaw seven hotels under the Hilton and Hyatt umbrellas.
The Westin Dallas Stonebriar Golf Resort & Spa
Ryan Bunker is the new general manager of The Westin Dallas Stonebriar Golf Resort & Spa in Frisco, Texas. In his new role, Bunker will oversee and manage the daily operations of the North Texas resort.
Before the Westin, he was GM at The Highland Dallas and the Westin St. Louis and the Westin Cleveland Downtown. He also was director of sales and marketing at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Ariz.