This week’s roundup of travel appointments focuses on Africa/Indian Ocean and New York. Here’s what’s happening…
Mango House Seychelles and Canopy by Hilton Mahé, which is set to open later this year, announced the appointment of Giuseppe Ressa as cluster general manager, bringing with him 40 years of experience to the role.
Ressa secured his first ever role as a chef at Hilton Stratford Upon Avon. Since, he has worked his way up the ranks, taking on roles in Switzerland, France, Venezuela, Taiwan, India, Malaysia and Vietnam with Hilton International; he became general manager in French Polynesia 20 years ago. He then went on to manage luxury hotels in Malaysia, Borneo, Indonesia, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman and Qatar.
In his last role as GM, Resse was tasked with opening The Plaza Doha, overseeing the entire process from hiring and shortlisting the executive committee and defining sales and marketing strategies to finalizing the F&B concepts.
Mango House Seychelles is an exclusive island resort, a "contemporary reimagining" of the former residence of celebrated photographer Gian Paolo Barbieri. Canopy by Hilton, set to open in Q4 2023, will be located on the Anse à al Mouche beach in Mahé and will offer 120 rooms.
In addition, Zambezi Grande, located along the Zambezi River in Zambia, introduced a new general manager, Josh Isaacs, when it opened for the season. Having lived in Zambia for over 20 years, Isaacs comes from a family of chefs and guides, where hospitality comes naturally. He is passionate about using locally sourced ingredients in his culinary creations.
Elsewhere, Hotel Barrière Fouquet’s New York appointed Karen Earp as the property’s general manager. She began her career in 1983 as assistant manager of Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane. Earp went on to hold a range of positions at such properties as The Pierre Hotel in New York, Disneyland Paris, and Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul At Sultanahmet. In 1997, she returned to France as the GM at Four Seasons Hotel George V, which led to her subsequent appointment as Four Seasons Canary Wharf’s first general manager. Earp then moved stateside to lead the Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara, where she remained for over 15 years.
As Earp assumes her new role, she will lead Hotel Barrière Fouquet’s New York as it enters its second year of operation. She will ensure the property maintains its position as a standout amongst the rest of the city’s luxury hotels, while increasing revenue and profitability.
Park Hyatt New York also announced the appointment of Denise Florio as director of sales and marketing of the 210-room luxury hotel. Florio joins the property with nearly 20 years of Hyatt experience.
As director of sales and marketing, Florio oversees the hotel’s sales, marketing and events team, as well as assisting in efforts to drive the property’s overall revenue through market analysis and strategic planning. Florio will focus on maximizing hotel revenues through guestroom sales, meetings and on-property experiences and partnerships, working closely with General Manager Laurent Ebzant.
Before joining the team at Park Hyatt New York, Florio served as director of sales and marketing at Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino. She launched her career in 2005 as a sales coordinator at Grand Hyatt New York, where she held various roles for eight years en-route to becoming associate director of sales. In 2013, she joined Andaz 5th Avenue as director of sales and was later appointed director of sales, marketing and events for Hyatt Regency Greenwich in Connecticut.
Hard Rock Hotel New York has announced the appointment of David Salcfas as general manager. Salcfas brings nearly four decades of experience to the 446-key Midtown Manhattan hotel.
Salcfas joins Hard Rock Hotel New York after an extensive tenure with Marriott International where he was an Executive Committee member across a portfolio of 16 hotels and five brands. His time spanned an astounding 23 positions through sales, catering, events, marketing and operations across the Eastern region. Highlights included Hotel Manager postings for The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park and the New York Marriott Marquis.
Throughout his career, Salcfas, an advocate for community and culture, has dedicated himself to enriching the local sphere. At the core of these efforts is programming that captivates New Yorkers and visitors alike and partnerships and experiences that unite around significant causes.
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