Human Resources

🏢 Christian Clerc appointed as president and CEO of Auberge Resorts Collection, effective September 1, succeeding Craig Reid after his 10 years of service. Daniel Zagoria joins Access Point Financial as managing director, focusing on capital service growth. Agilysys Inc. welcomes Joe Youssef as SVP and CCO. Melissa Green appointed VP and area managing director at The Davenport Hotel Collection. Danielle Auckerman becomes GM of 58-room Piñon Court in Santa Fe. Sam Shafer announced as executive chef at The Kimpton Sawyer Hotel. Jesse Carr named director of food and beverage at Virgin Hotels New Orleans. Cindy Ferreiro appointed as marketing and PR director at The Setai Miami Beach. Mumford Company promotes Lillian Walker and hires Nick McCardel. Austin Tisdale and Christa Baer join Moxy Asheville as executive chef and food and beverage director, respectively. Matai Gilroy becomes commercial director at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island.

💸 Hospitality industry faces a high employee turnover rate, estimated between 70-80%. Hospitality America, led by Corporate Director of Operations Justin Deyo with 20 years of experience, addresses this issue through mentorship, aiming to create a culture of value, support, and empowerment. Mentors will convey guest service protocols and best practices to mentees. Statistics show 90% of mentored workers feel content, mentoring increases promotion chances by five times, and 76% of workers believe mentorship is essential for career success. Since the pandemic, mentoring initiatives have increased by 30%. Hospitality America's mentors embody the company's PEACH culture to foster success. CEO Ben Campbell emphasizes mentorship's role in career progression and leadership development within the hospitality industry.

🏡 Christian Clerc, former global president of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts (2016-2022), will become president and CEO of Auberge Resorts on September 1, 2024. Clerc will replace Craig Reid, who retires after a decade. Clerc previously oversaw 127 hotels, 51 residential properties, and 50,000 employees in 47 countries. Auberge Resorts, owned by The Friedkin Group, has 28 properties globally and plans to open six new locations by 2027, aiming for 40 hotels mid-term. Clerc's base will be Auberge’s Bethesda, Maryland office.

📈 Peachtree Group promoted Vickie Callahan to president of their hospitality management division, overseeing 88 hotels, 27 brands, 11,173 rooms across 23 states and Washington, D.C. Callahan joined Peachtree in 2020 and sits on the Marriott Revenue Management Franchise Advisory Board. Hard Rock International advanced Frank Chesky to executive vice president & chief legal officer, after joining in 2017 and serving as interim general counsel in 2023. Virgin Hotels New Orleans named Jesse Carr as director of food & beverage, while Minor Hotels appointed Richard Beh as vice president commercial – Asia, based in Bangkok. The Davenport Hotel Collection welcomed Melissa Green as VP & area managing director, and King Kamehameha Kona Beach Resort in Hawai’i selected Revell Newton as general manager. Access Point Financial hired Daniel Zagoria as managing director, business development.

📌 Patrick Short has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer of Aperture Hotels in Atlanta, Georgia. Short brings over 30 years of experience in hospitality operations and was previously president at Peachtree Hospitality Management, where he expanded the portfolio to 100 hotels and over 10,000 rooms. He holds a degree from The University of Wisconsin-Stout and an MBA from Argosy University. With a proven track record across more than 25 brands and 30 states, Short's expertise includes full-service, select-service, and extended-stay hotels.

🏛 In Washington, Green Key Global announced its first board and appointed Heather McCrory as chair, a veteran with 40 years in hospitality. The board, formed by AHLA and HAC in April, includes sustainability professionals from Highgate, Hotel Association of Canada, AHLA, Marriott Hotels, Choice Hotels Canada, and Ecolab. Green Key's certification program has seen year-over-year growth since April, with new 2024 participants like Marriott International, Choice Hotels, and Four Seasons. The board aims to expand hotel sustainability certification across North America.

🏨 Italian hotel chain Starhotels opens a new global sales office in the UK, targeting growth in the UK and Northern Europe. With 30 properties, the expansion follows recruitment in the Middle East and India, adding to representatives in the US, Latin America, Russia, and CIS. Antonio Ducceschi, chief commercial officer, highlights the UK's growth potential. Romano Campione is appointed to head this strategic move, aiming to broaden the customer base.

🏡 The Ascott Ltd, owned by CapitaLand Investment, is rebranding The Unlimited Collection to enhance its upscale hotels' global position. Launched in 2020 in Singapore, the Collection has expanded to 11 properties across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, with over 900 units operational and planned. In 2023, eight new hotels joined, including the first resort, the 100-room Anmira Resort & Spa Hoi An in Vietnam. By 2025, over 200 units across three hotels are expected in Malaysia and Indonesia. Two U.K. properties are slated: Mount Royal Hotel Edinburgh and The Grand Hotel Leicester, opening by Q2 2025. The 136-room Temple Bar Hotel Dublin will rebrand by year-end, and the 90-room Hotel Marrakech will open in 2026. Ascott's strategy focuses on local culture for an authentic guest experience.

📖 Joanna Fantozzi, with over seven years in the industry, is a Senior Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality since August 2021. Holding a bachelor’s degree from The College of New Jersey and a master’s from CUNY, she joined Informa’s Restaurants and Food Group in 2018. Fantozzi has written for The New York Times, Forbes, and Vice, and has previously worked for Insider and The Daily Meal. Her expertise spans restaurant news, operator solutions, and political/cultural issues.

🍴 Bret Thorn, Senior Food & Beverage Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality since 1999, writes on food trends and F&B coverage. Host of "In the Kitchen with Bret Thorn" podcast and columnist for The New York Sun from 2005 to 2008. Magna cum laude from Tufts University, studied French cooking at Le Cordon Bleu, Paris. Won 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award, inducted into Disciples d’Escoffier in 2014, and authored entries in Oxford food reference works (2012, 2015). Lives in Brooklyn, N.Y.