A number of hotels and resorts have appointed sales and marketing leaders in recent weeks. Here are some names to know.
Grand Hyatt Atlanta
The Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead appointed Heather Hedrick the new group sales and event manager.
Hedrick’s hospitality career spans almost a decade and includes senior roles at Hyatt Regency Mission Bay, L’Auberge Del Mar and DoubleTree by Hilton. She holds degrees in Interior Design and Hospitality, and during the pandemic earned both her California real estate license and mortgage officer license.
Half Moon
Salamander Collection has appointed Beatriz Jurs and Seana Amin as directors of national accounts at Half Moon.
With more than two decades of luxury hospitality experience, Jurs will oversee national accounts for the Southeast, Texas, Midwest, West Coast and Latin America. She has held senior roles at Velas Resorts, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, Renaissance Hotels and Valor Hospitality Partners. She also spent time at HelmsBriscoe.
Amin joins as director of national accounts overseeing the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, Canadian and European markets. With a background in both music and hospitality, Amin’s path began in performance and education before transitioning to guest services and event planning with brands such as Pendry, Viceroy and Tanzerra. She brings a creative, client-first mindset to every program she touches, with a special talent for anticipating the needs of planners throughout the contracting process.
Hilton Hawaii
Hilton Hawaii appointed Kelly Strickland regional director of leisure sales. In this role, Strickland oversees leisure sales efforts for Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort, Hilton Waikoloa Village and DoubleTree by Hilton Alana - Waikiki Beach with a focus on driving business from key domestic and international markets.
Strickland most recently was director of group & catering sales at The Kahala Hotel & Resort. Before that, Strickland was assistant director of sales at the property where she oversaw the sales department’s daily activities.
Pacifica Hotels
Pacifica Hotels has promoted Grace Petralia to area director of sales for the company’s properties in San Diego. In this role, she now oversees the La Jolla Cove Hotel and Wayfarer San Diego.
Petralia previously was director of sales for La Jolla Cove Hotel. Before joining Pacifica, she held senior sales roles at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in San Diego, specializing in weddings and social events, and at Bekkers Catering, managing large-scale events and daily operations.
The Westin Flushing at LaGuardia Airport
Angelique Rodas is the new director of sales and marketing at The Westin Flushing at New York City's LaGuardia Airport, which Century Development Group opened in the spring.
Rodas brings seven years of experience to Westin Flushing—six of those spent in Queens.
Wild Dunes Resort
Wild Dunes Resort, a Destination by Hyatt property on Charleston, S.C.’s Isle of Palms, appointed Chris Sessions its director of sales, marketing and events. Sessions will also serve on the resort’s executive committee.
Sessions has more than 20 years of experience in luxury hospitality. Most recently, he was director of sales and marketing at the Fairmont Orchid on Hawaii’s Kohala Coast where he oversaw the operational aspects of a $110 million property renovation. Before his time in Hawaii, Chris held leadership positions at Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, including key roles at Hyatt Regency Mission Bay in San Diego and Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach.
W Punta Cana, Adult All-Inclusive
W Punta Cana, Adult All-Inclusive, the first all-inclusive resort under Marriott International's W Hotels flag, appointed Miriam Hernandez director of sales and marketing.
Before joining Marriott International, Hernandez held leadership roles at Hyatt International and Expedia Group, where she was director of market management for the Caribbean Region.