Hospitality Executive Appointments Reshape Leadership
Hotel brands, management groups, and tech vendors announce top-level leadership changes spanning operations, technology, revenue, and culinary departments.
The short answer
Hospitality brands and hotel software vendors have announced key executive appointments across executive, commercial, and property operations. Leadership updates include new appointments at BirchStreet, Convene, Crestline, Ivy Hospitality, and Grand Wailea Maui.
The short version
- BirchStreet appointed Christopher Haydon as chief executive officer.
- Convene Hospitality Group named Melanie Colton as chief product & technology officer.
- Ivy Hospitality placed 38 properties under new VP of Revenue Management Alicia Spencer.
Major hospitality brands, management firms, and industry software vendors have announced senior leadership appointments across corporate executive suites, regional commercial teams, and property-level operations. These personnel updates span chief executive roles, corporate technology and revenue departments, general managers at flagship resorts, and property culinary leadership across North America and the Caribbean. [1]
Who is leading corporate technology and vendor sales growth?
Corporate appointments across hospitality software providers and management groups reflect a focus on operational systems and commercial expansion. BirchStreet announced the appointment of Christopher Haydon as chief executive officer, as reported by Lodging Magazine. [1] Convene Hospitality Group named Melanie Colton as chief product & technology officer (CPTO) to steer its technology platform, operational systems, and data-driven capabilities across its global portfolio. [1] Colton brings more than 25 years of product and technology leadership experience, having most recently served as chief technology officer at Axios Media. [1]
Software provider Inn-Flow appointed Jon Coley as senior vice president and head of sales to lead go-to-market strategy and build a scalable sales strategy to support business growth. [1] Coley brings over 20 years of experience, most recently serving as senior vice president of sales at GoCanvas. [1]
Which executives were appointed to corporate commercial and revenue roles?
Several hospitality management groups restructured their corporate commercial, brand, and revenue operations through external hires and internal promotions. Crestline Hotels & Resorts named Donnelly Nariss Maysey as senior vice president of sales & marketing. [1] According to Lodging Magazine, Maysey brings more than 25 years of sales and hospitality leadership experience from Aimbridge Hospitality, where she worked as divisional vice president of sales. [1] In her new position, Maysey will oversee Crestline's sales and marketing strategy, advance top-line performance, and lead talent development. [1]
Ivy Hospitality appointed Alicia Spencer as vice president of revenue management, tasked with leading commercial strategy across a portfolio of 38 properties by unifying revenue management, sales, distribution, and digital performance. [1] Spencer previously served as vice president of revenue management at MHG Hotels. [1] At Viceroy Hotels & Residences, Jaimie Weiss joined as vice president of growth & digital to guide customer acquisition, loyalty, and digital growth. [1] Weiss previously served as senior director of growth & performance marketing at Proper Hospitality and brings over 15 years of industry experience. [1]
Lifestyle hospitality operator Makeready promoted two leaders within its corporate team: Riley Nail was elevated to vice president, creative & brand experience, overseeing creative vision across hotels, restaurants, and lifestyle brands, while Mary Doyle was promoted to senior director, marketing & communications to direct portfolio marketing. [1]
Who took the helm at major resort and hotel properties?
General manager appointments were confirmed across several destination resorts and city-center hotels. Hilton named Jon Gersonde as managing director of Grand Wailea Maui, A Waldorf Astoria Resort. [1] Gersonde brings over 28 years of industry experience and joins the property after serving as general manager of The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua. [1]
InterContinental San Diego appointed Lisa Ares as general manager, placing her in charge of hotel operations, guest experience, and team leadership. [1] Ares previously served as general manager of the Kimpton Gray Hotel in Chicago and held roles at InterContinental Boston and InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile. [1]
At Field & Stream Bozeman, Ian Crines was named general manager to oversee day-to-day lodge operations following his previous role as general manager for Modus Hotels. [1] In the Caribbean, The Pyrmont Curaçao Beach Resort, an Autograph Collection All-Inclusive, appointed Rob de Bekker as general manager. [1] De Bekker previously served as general manager at Grotto Bay Beach Resort & Spa in Bermuda. [1]
| Executive | New Role | Organization / Property | Previous Role / Background |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christopher Haydon | Chief Executive Officer | BirchStreet | Executive leadership [1] |
| Melanie Colton | Chief Product & Technology Officer | Convene Hospitality Group | CTO, Axios Media [1] |
| Jon Coley | SVP & Head of Sales | Inn-Flow | SVP of Sales, GoCanvas [1] |
| Donnelly Nariss Maysey | SVP of Sales & Marketing | Crestline Hotels & Resorts | Divisional VP of Sales, Aimbridge Hospitality [1] |
| Alicia Spencer | VP of Revenue Management | Ivy Hospitality | VP of Revenue Management, MHG Hotels [1] |
| Jaimie Weiss | VP of Growth & Digital | Viceroy Hotels & Residences | Senior Director of Growth, Proper Hospitality [1] |
| Jon Gersonde | Managing Director | Grand Wailea Maui, Waldorf Astoria | GM, The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua [1] |
| Lisa Ares | General Manager | InterContinental San Diego | GM, Kimpton Gray Hotel [1] |
| Rob de Bekker | General Manager | The Pyrmont Curaçao Beach Resort | GM, Grotto Bay Beach Resort & Spa [1] |
How are property-level sales and wellness teams evolving?
Regional sales footprints and property commercial teams saw multiple leadership transitions. Moxy Hotels promoted Amy Birnbaum to regional director of sales & marketing. [1] Birnbaum, who previously served as sales director at Moxy Williamsburg, now oversees sales and marketing for six properties: Moxy Times Square, Moxy East Village, Moxy Chelsea, Moxy Lower East Side, Moxy Williamsburg, and Moxy South Beach. [1]
The Pyrmont Curaçao Beach Resort promoted Anjali Bakmeijer to multi-property director of sales & marketing after serving as director of sales & marketing for Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort. [1] At Solaz, a Luxury Collection Resort, Los Cabos, Erick Ramirez was appointed director of sales & marketing, bringing more than two decades of luxury experience after working as director of sales & marketing at Hilton Mexico City Reforma. [1]
Additional property-level commercial appointments include Martin Aguilar as director of sales & marketing at W Hoboken, Jonathan Waits as director of sales for the dual-branded La Quinta Inn & Suites and Hawthorn Extended Stay by Wyndham Pflugerville, and Stephanie Odaka as leisure sales director at Ojai Valley Inn. [1] In wellness operations, Bernardus Lodge & Spa appointed Stefani Chaney as director of spa & wellness, bringing more than 25 years of experience to manage spa treatments and programming. [1]
What changes occurred in food and beverage leadership?
Culinary teams at major resorts announced executive appointments across food and beverage operations. Denū Hotel & Spa established a new culinary leadership team by appointing Anthony Fanella as director of food & beverage, Brad Romoff as executive chef, and Adam Cho as sous chef. [1] Romoff brings more than 30 years of culinary leadership experience, having served as executive chef at Hilton Phoenix Tapatio Cliffs Resort and corporate director of food & beverage for YHB Hospitality. [1] Fanella brings over 15 years of experience from his role as director of food & beverage at Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort & Spa, while Cho joins with experience from Great Wolf Lodge and Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina. [1]
At Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, leadership appointed Aram Mardigian as executive sous chef of the property and named Alex Kopp as executive chef of American Bar & Grille. [1]
Reported by
This article was written from the following reporting. Follow the links for the original coverage.
- [1]Major Executive Moves Across Hospitality Brands— Lodging Magazine
Frequently asked
+Who was appointed CEO of BirchStreet?
BirchStreet named Christopher Haydon as its new chief executive officer to lead the hospitality technology company. Lodging Magazine reported the appointment alongside several other executive leadership changes across the hospitality industry. [[1]]
+What responsibilities does Melanie Colton have at Convene Hospitality Group?
As chief product & technology officer at Convene Hospitality Group, Melanie Colton steers the technology platform, operational systems, and data-driven capabilities across the brand's global portfolio. Colton previously served as chief technology officer at Axios Media. [[1]]
+Which properties fall under Amy Birnbaum's regional role at Moxy Hotels?
Amy Birnbaum oversees sales and marketing for six properties: Moxy Times Square, Moxy East Village, Moxy Chelsea, Moxy Lower East Side, Moxy Williamsburg, and Moxy South Beach. She previously served as director of sales at Moxy Williamsburg. [[1]]
+Who is managing commercial strategy for Ivy Hospitality?
Alicia Spencer was named vice president of revenue management at Ivy Hospitality. In this role, she oversees commercial strategy across Ivy Hospitality's portfolio of 38 properties, combining revenue management, sales, distribution, and digital performance. [[1]]
+Who is leading resort operations at Grand Wailea Maui?
Hilton appointed Jon Gersonde as managing director of Grand Wailea Maui, A Waldorf Astoria Resort. Gersonde brings more than 28 years of hospitality experience and previously served as general manager of The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua. [[1]]
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