McKibbon Hospitality has promoted three long-time leaders, Kari Elofson, Karl Oates and Sebastian Peralta, who are now serving as SVPs of operations. In their new roles, they will be responsible for leading McKibbon’s growing hotel portfolio and supporting a team of eight regional VPs of operations.
“As the demands of our industry and the needs of our hotel teams evolve, we remain focused on strategically staffing and deploying our corporate team to best serve and support the needs of our leaders in the field,” McKibbon Hospitality President Bruce Baerwalde said in a statement. “Kari, Karl and Sebastian are invaluable assets to our company, and we congratulate them on their well-deserved promotions, leading and developing the leadership teams across our portfolio.”
Elofson joined McKibbon nearly 10 years ago as regional VP of operations, leveraging her background in hotel management to support a portfolio of properties and general managers. She started her career in hospitality as a front desk team member in Clearwater Beach, Fla., becoming a first-time general manager with Hampton Inn and continuing to serve in general manager roles within multiple brands and markets. Before joining McKibbon, Elofson served as a regional director of operations with Concord Hospitality.
Oates joined McKibbon in 2001 as the opening general manager for the company’s Courtyard Chattanooga (Tenn.) Downtown following a 10-year term with Marriott International that started on the front desk of a Courtyard by Marriott. He received a host of notable awards under his leadership, including 2001 Marriott Opening Hotel of the Year and 2003 Marriott Southeast Region Hotel of the year, with Oates himself recognized as the 2003 Marriott Southeast Region General Manager of the Year. Since then, Oates has served as director of operations support, regional director of operations, regional VP of operations, and most recently, VP of lifestyle hotels, overseeing all aspects of hotel operations for McKibbon’s portfolio of lifestyle locations.
Peralta started his hospitality career in Orlando while completing his degree at the University of Central Florida. After graduation, he held leadership roles at several hotels near Walt Disney World as well as in New Jersey. Peralta joined McKibbon in 1998 as the opening assistant general manager of the Courtyard by Marriott Orlando/Maitland, later becoming the property’s general manager—his first general manager role. From there, he went on to hold GM positions at the Courtyard Savannah (Ga.) Historic District, the Hampton Inn & Suites Orlando Airport, followed by a dual general manager position at the Hampton Inn & Suites/Homewood Suites Orlando Airport. Peralta joined McKibbon’s above-property team as regional VP of operations in 2014. In that role, he has supported hotel operations for a portfolio of hotels.