Hotels of the World
The Leading Hotels of the World, Teneo Hospitality Group and an assortment of hotels around the United States have made appointments in sales and marketing recently. Here’s the latest.
The Leading Hotels of the World
The Leading Hotels of the World, a collection of more than 400 independent luxury hotels, appointed Chris Walker SVP, global sales, effective July 11. Reporting directly to interim CEO Shannon Knapp, he will lead the global sales organization and strategy across the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa. Walker previously spent four years at Leading Hotels, serving as SVP, sales, Americas. In that role, he was responsible for streamlining sales efforts while driving double-digit annual hotel revenue growth within some of the company’s largest offices.
Effective Sept. 13, Philip Ho will step down as SVP, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Ho, who has worked at Leading Hotels for the past 10 years, will work with Walker until then to help facilitate a seamless transition.
Teneo Hospitality Group
Teneo Hospitality Group doubled its Washington, D.C., sales office staff with the addition of two new sales professionals: Kyla Knudson and Helena Dechant. Knudson, who most recently worked as director of sales and marketing for Business Events Canada, has held sales positions at hotels in Alberta, Virginia, Florida and Washington, D.C. Dechant, formerly director of global accounts at Conference Direct, previously has worked in sales leadership positions with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and Hilton. Teneo Hospitality Group is an independent sales organization specializing in the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions industry. It has more than 350 independent and small-branded member hotels.
New York Hilton Midtown
The 1,878-room New York Hilton Midtown promoted Kellie Cahill from director of sales and marketing to commercial director. In the newly created position, she will oversee all commercial areas of the hotel’s business, including catering, group events, sales and marketing. Cahill has worked in the New York City market with Hilton for more than 20 years. Before her most recent role as director of sales and marketing, she was the hotels’ director of group sales. Before that she served as assistant director of sales at the DoubleTree by Hilton Somerset (N.J.) Hotel and Conference Center.
JW Marriott Chicago
The 610-room JW Marriott Chicago appointed Kelli Tretina destination sales executive. She will work with the hotel’s larger sales team to increase earnings through arranging group events with area sales teams, effective site visits and strategic group placement. Before joining the JW Marriott Chicago, Tretina managed catering sales at The Ritz-Carlton and Renaissance hotels in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and worked as the assistant event operations manager at the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel.
The Benson Hotel
The Benson Hotel in Portland Ore., added two new members to its sales management team. As group sales manager for the 287-room property, Stephanie Wood will work to drive business to the property, specifically in the sports, military, education, religious and fraternal organization markets. Wood previously has held sales management positions at The Oregon Golf Club in West Linn, Ore., Portland City Grill and the Arizona Snowbowl Ski Resort in Flagstaff, Ariz.
The hotel chose Tracy Ann St. Martin to oversee the planning and execution of meetings, conventions and other special events as conference service manager. St. Martin, who has more than 12 years of sales, event planning and catering experience, most recently worked as catering sales manager at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Portland Washington Square. Coast Hospitality operates The Benson Hotel.
The Central Station, a Curio Collection by Hilton
In Memphis, Tenn., The Central Station, a Curio Collection by Hilton named Helen Nelson director of sales and marketing ahead of its fall 2019 opening. Before joining the 123-room hotel, Nelson held sales and marketing management roles at hotels across Memphis, including the Crowne Plaza Memphis East, the Crowne Plaza Memphis Downtown, the Holiday Inn Memphis Downtown and Whispering Woods Hotel Conference Center. Valor Hospitality Partners is managing The Central Station, a Curio Collection by Hilton for the Kemmons Wilson family, Henry Turley and a handful of other Memphis business leaders and citizens.
The Abbey Inn & Spa
The Abbey Inn & Spa in Peekskill, N.Y., named Olivia Calcagnini director of sales and marketing. Before joining the 42-key hotel, Calcagnini worked as director of sales and marketing at the Holiday Inn Mt. Kisco (Westchester County) in Mount Kisco, N.Y.; account manager at Convene, a network of meeting, event and conference venues; and catering sales manager at the InterContinental New York Times Square. Managed by Hay Creek Hotels, The Abbey Inn & Spa is scheduled to open in early 2020.
Mirbeau Inn & Spa Rhinebeck
The 50-room Mirbeau Inn & Spa Rhinebeck (N.Y.) named Kaycee Darby director of sales and marketing. Darby joined the hotel after more than five years with Context Summits, a producer of events for the alternative asset management industry. While there, she rose from events coordinator to senior account manager. Mirbeau Inn & Spa Rhinebeck, managed by Mirbeau Hospitality Services, is slated to open this fall.
Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel
Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel in South Lake Tahoe, Calif., promoted Steve Woods, formerly its director of group sales, to director of sales and marketing. In addition to taking on marketing and promotional initiatives, Woods also will act as the hotel’s representative with the Lake Tahoe Visitor’s Authority and serve on the LTVA Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Expositions Advisory Board. Before joining the 400-room resort, Woods spent a year as sales and meeting manager for Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe and 10 years in event management at Marriott International hotels.