A number of properties, including two under Marriott International's AC Hotels flag, have appointed new GMs and similar leaders in recent weeks. Here are some names to know.
AC Hotel & Residence Inn Reston
The AC Hotel & Residence Inn Reston, Va., appointed Kelly Sites as complex general manager.
Sites began her career in 2006 with the opening of The Westin Arlington Gateway and has held roles with Starwood corporate and various management companies through Marriott’s acquisition, primarily at Westin properties, where she was a service culture and Franklin Covey 4DX trainer. Before joining Donohoe Hospitality, Kelly was general manager at Archer Hotel Falls Church, where she developed and led companywide engineering, housekeeping and leadership training programs across the LodgeWorks portfolio.
AC Hotel St. Augustine
McKibbon Hospitality appointed the leadership team to open the AC Hotel St. Augustine, Fla., set to debut in the nation’s oldest city this fall.
Greg Lindner will be general manager of the property when it opens, overseeing operations and a team of more than 50 associates. His career includes leadership roles at The Wyndham Ocean Walk Resort, Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore and The Guest House at Graceland. Lindner has also held senior corporate leadership positions, including regional vice president of operations for McKibbon Hospitality.
Crowne Plaza Dallas Downtown
Universal Hospitality Solutions appointed Joseph Jennings general manager of Crowne Plaza Dallas Downtown by IHG.
Most recently, Jennings was vice president of DFW-based Q Companies, which owns and operates multiple hotels and automatic car washes. His 30+ years of hospitality experience includes onsite and area-level leadership roles overseeing full-service properties. Jennings is active in the DFW hospitality community. He currently serves as vice chairman of the board for the Hotel Association of Tarrant County and previously was past chairman of the board emeritus for the organization.
Embassy Suites by Hilton Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) 17th Street
The newly renovated Embassy Suites by Hilton Fort Lauderdale 17th Street appointed Ruth Raposo hotel manager.
In her most recent role, Raposo was director of operations at Beach House Fort Lauderdale, a Hilton Resort, previously Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, following earlier leadership roles as director of front office operations and director of housekeeping at the same property. She has also held management positions at The Diplomat Beach Resort Hollywood, Curio Collection by Hilton and Hilton Boston Back Bay, where she began her hospitality career. Raposo is a graduate of Hilton’s SHINE 2 development program for general managers.
Hotel Phoenix
Slated to open later this year in downtown Atlanta, Hotel Phoenix has announced its opening leadership team, including Martin Wormull as general manager.
Wormull has worked at the Loren Hotel Austin at Lady Bird Lake and Conrad Nashville. In Atlanta, he was general manager of The Candler Hotel. During his 17 years with Hilton, Wormull held key leadership roles at The Drake Hotel in Chicago, several Conrad properties in Florida and at the corporate level as senior director of brand performance for Waldorf Astoria and Conrad Hotels across the Americas.
The Kimpton Brice
The Kimpton Brice in Savannah, Ga., tapped Adam White as its new general manager.
White most recently was general manager of the Austin Southpark Hotel. His background includes leadership roles with Embassy Suites as well as multiple Hilton and Marriott properties.
Lido House
Lido House, an Autograph Collection hotel in Newport Beach, Calif., appointed Rory Emslie general manager.
Emslie joined Lido House in 2021 and has worked as director of rooms, resident manager and most recently, hotel manager. Before joining the Lido House team, Emslie spent close to a decade with Marriott International. After earning his degree in Hospitality Management, he joined The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, where he rose through the ranks in housekeeping, front office and guest relations, eventually becoming front of house manager. He helped open The Ritz-Carlton, Bacara Santa Barbara and launched Evrima, the first Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection vessel, in Europe in 2022.
The Pontchartrain Hotel
The Pontchartrain Hotel in New Orleans’ Garden District appointed Nickolas Thomas general manager.
Before joining The Pontchartrain Hotel, Thomas was director of rooms at the Hyatt Centric French Quarter in New Orleans. He has held leadership roles at Sleep Inn Slidell, Hyatt Place Convention Center and Windsor Court Hotel.
Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove, Miami
The Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove, Miami appointed Rosa Tamajón as hotel manager. She has worked at the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne for more than 20 years. Her tenure with the property began in 2004 as executive steward, before she advanced into leadership roles within the food & beverage division, including director of pool & beach operations and director of banquets. For nearly 11 years, she was director of food & beverage. In 2021, Tamajón was promoted to director of operations.
Tamajón has helped open several marquee Ritz-Carlton properties over the course of her career, including in New Orleans, Dorado Beach, Dove Mountain, Aruba and Portland. She also worked with the Edition brand, opening hotels in Barcelona and Miami Beach.
Siari, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Siari, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve set to debut in winter 2025 in Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit, appointed Guillermo Varela as general manager.
A native of Costa Rica and raised in Spain, Varela has worked at luxury properties across the globe, most recently as managing director of a hotel in San Miguel de Allende. In addition to his hospitality leadership, he serves as a tourism advisor for the city’s government.
Thompson Austin and tommie Austin
In Texas, the Thompson Austin and tommie Austin have appointed Christina Fry general manager.
Most recently, Fry was general manager of Andaz West Hollywood. Before that, Fry held several leadership positions—including director of rooms and director of food and beverage—at notable Hyatt properties such as Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort and Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa. Her career began as a front office agent at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe following her graduation from California State University, Chico, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Recreation Administration with a focus in Resort and Lodging Management.
Wyndham I-Drive Avanti Resort & Conference Center
Paramount Hospitality Management appointed Ricardo Merchant general manager of the Wyndham I-Drive Avanti Resort & Conference Center in Orlando.
Merchant has more than 20 years of extensive experience in the hospitality industry, serving in various leadership positions including—most recently—as general manager of Avanti International Resort on International Drive in Orlando.