Three hotels in Florida, California and Hawaii introduced new sales and marketing leaders last week. Here’s more about their new roles and their careers so far.

Thom Stewart. Photo credit: The Ben,
Autograph Collection

The Ben

The Ben, Autograph Collection, a West Palm Beach, Fla., hotel set to debut in December 2019, has picked Thom Stewart as its opening director of sales and marketing. Stewart, who has worked in hospitality since his college days roughly three decades ago, spent the past 15 years with The Ben’s management company Concord Hospitality. During his time there, he helped open more than 50 hotels, oversaw sales and marketing for 14 hotels and rose to VP of talent acquisition and engagement.

Garden Court Hotel

The 62-guestroom Garden Court Hotel in Palo Alto, Calif., named Connie Villeta, a 15-year veteran of the California hospitality industry, director of sales and marketing. In her new role, she will lead the day-to-day and long-term sales-and-marketing goals, as well as oversee public relations and social-media efforts. Before joining the Garden Court Hotel, Villeta was in charge of sales for 20 hotels as western regional sales manager for Hilton Worldwide. Before that, she worked in a mix of managerial sales roles for Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Larkspur Hotels and Restaurants and Hilton Garden Inn.

The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach

The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach in Honolulu appointed Regan Rosdil senior sales manager, where she now oversees and leads wholesale and consortia strategies in its leisure segment. With nearly 10 years of experience within hospitality, Rosdil has held sales manager positions in leisure, corporate and catering at several other global brand hotels in Waikiki.