A number of hotel companies and individual properties have made executive appointments this week.
Karisma Hotels & Resorts, which owns and operates properties in Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe, has promoted Rinaldo Fernández to president of the Global Travelers Club Division. Fernández, who has more than 25 years of experience, most recently served as the senior vice president of the division. In his new role, he will continue overseeing the Karisma’s Travelers Club Division with its two brands: Exotic Travelers, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, and Prestige Travelers. He will also lead expansion plans for the club, which include all new markets where Karisma Hotels & Resorts is entering, as well as new strategic territories where the club will open as a stand-alone operator.
Also this week Outrigger Enterprises Group appointed Scott Miyasato as its senior vice president and general counsel, reporting to Outrigger Hotels and Resorts’ CEO Jeff Wagoner and serving as a member of the company’s executive team.. Miyasato will head Outrigger’s legal department and support the company by representing its interests in a diverse portfolio of legal matters, including commercial contracts, real estate transactions, labor and employment, compliance, intellectual property and litigation. He most recently served as associate general counsel with a focus on commercial transactions with Hawaiian Airlines.
A number of individual properties also made new leadership appointments this week:
- The new AC Hotel Phoenix Biltmore named David Belk has its general manager and Mike Carvelo as director of sales and marketing.
- The newly renovated The Equinox, a Luxury Collection Golf Resort and Spa in Vermont appointed Martin Rosenthal as its general manager.
- Joie de Vivre Hotels named Christopher Shiel as director of sales and marketing for the Hotel 50 Bowery.
- The newly opened, art-immersive JOALI Maldives hired Alan Ball as its area director of sales and marketing.
In air travel news, this week American Airlines announced the promotion of Greg Schwendinger to vice president of financial planning and analysis. Schwendinger replaces Heather Garboden, who will leave the company in November. He will report to Kenji Hashimoto, senior vice president of finance and corporate development. In this role, Schwendinger will be responsible for the airline’s capital and operating budget, long-range financial planning and forecasting systems. He will also have oversight of the airline’s labor analysis, financial analysis and fleet planning teams.
Finally, in DMC news, this week ACCESS Destination Services appointed Todd Zint to general manager of the ACCESS San Antonio and Austin offices. He most recently held the role of director, corporate travel, meetings and events for Mutual of Omaha.
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