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CANADIAN LODGING NEWS
PE OPLE
Geoff Ballotti succeeds Eric Danziger as WHG CEO
Anne Merchant, Best Western Chateau Granville has passed away.
Mike Muir, Best Western VP North American Development.
Denise Bradbury, director of sales and marketing, Algonquin Resort.
Andrew Gibson, FRHI vice president health and wellness.
Paul Moran, executive chef, Nita Lake Lodge, Whistler, BC.
Osvaldo Librizzi of Starwood is stepping down at yearend.
Ann Merchant, catering manager at the Best Western Plus Chateau Granville Hotel & Suites & Conference Centre, in Vancouver, passed away on Feb. 3 at St. James Cottage Hospice after a brief battle with cancer. Born in the U.K., Merchant moved to the U.S. in 1974 and, in 1984, settled in Vancouver. She spent the last years of her career working at the Best Western Chateau Granville as catering manager until last August, when she was diagnosed with cancer. It was at the Chateau Granville property that she did what she loved: building relationships with humour, warmth and professionalism. She will be remembered as a compassionate, caring, bright, funny, strong, stubborn and loving woman. Former Wyndham Hotel Group executive Michael Muir has joined Best Western International
as vice president, North American development. Muir brings more than 25 years of experience and his expertise in strategic growth and development to the brand, according to the company. He has worked with such brands as Holiday Inn, Hawthorn Suites and Microtel Inn & Suites. “We are delighted to welcome Mike to Best Western,” said president and CEO David Kong. “His extensive experience and knowledge of our industry will be integral in helping us to continue to grow our brand presence in North America.” Denise Bradbury has been appointed director of sales and marketing for Algonquin Resort, in St. Andrews by-the-Sea, NB. Most recently, Bradbury was director of sales for the Westin Nova Scotian, in Halifax, where she and her team bested the brand average for 2013 meeting plan-
PARSIPPANY, NJ—Wyndham Worldwide has appointed Geoff Ballotti to succeed Wyndham Hotel Group president and CEO Eric Danziger, who is leaving the company to pursue personal interests, effective March 28. Ballotti was most recently president and CEO of the global hospitality company’s timeshare exchange and vacation rental division, which he joined in 2008. Prior to joining Wyndham Worldwide, Ballotti spent 20 years in various leadership positions at Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide. During that time he served as president of the North America division, where he led a portfolio of 450 hotels. Following Ballotti’s transition to Wyndham Hotel Group, Gail Mandel, CFO of Wyndham Exchange & Rentals, will assume additional responsibilities as COO for the division, reporting to Stephen Holmes, chairman and CEO, Wyndham Worldwide.
ner satisfaction scores and delivered nearly 50 per cent of the hotel’s annual room nights and 70 per cent of the hotel’s food and beverage revenues. In spring, the Algonquin will reopen following a roof-to-floorboard renovation costing more than $35 million. FRHI Hotels & Resorts has appointed Andrew Gibson vice president, spas and wellness. Based out of FRHI’s regional office in Dubai, UAE, Gibson will be responsible for the development and execution of the company’s spa strategy, including defining and implementing spa standards globally across all of FRHI’s hotel and
Geoff Ballotti
spa brands. Gibson brings over 25 years of international hospitality experience in the fields of spa, wellness and leisure to his new role. He joins FRHI from his most recent position as group director of spa, Mandarin Oriental Hotels Group. Paul Moran is the new executive chef at Nita Lake Lodge, in Whistler, BC. Moran has spent the last seven years travelling the world with his wife Stephanie Noel—who will be joining him at Nita Lake Lodge as the new food and beverage director—cooking together in culinary capitals such as Paris. His career began as a junior sous chef at Vancouver’s West restaurant, after which he worked at the five-star Jumeirah Beach Hotel, in Dubai, UAE and Michelin-starred Chantecler, in Nice, France. Stints at Laurie Raphael in Montreal and Saturne and Table restaurants in Paris followed before Moran returned to BC to consult at Source in Vancouver and take on the role of executive chef at The Outpost, a West Coast Fishing Club lodge in the Haida Gwaii. Osvaldo Librizzi, co-president of the Americas, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, will step down at the end of the year and will serve as non-executive chairman until the end of 2015. Current co-president of the Americas Sergio Rivera will become president of the Americas, assuming full responsibility for the region. Senior vice president and CFO of the Americas Jorge Giannattasio has been appointed to the role of chief of Latin American operations and global initiatives and this summer will begin overseeing regional operations, reporting directly to Rivera. Kristin Intress is Worldhotels’ new CEO, replacing Robert Hornman, who will stay with the company until July to assist with the transition. Intress has served in multiple executive sales and marketing positions and has been a successful restaurant entrepreneur. Before joining Worldhotels, she was president and CEO of InnLink LLC, a leading central reservation system (CRS) provider based in Nashville, TN. Kristin Intress is the new CEO of Worldhotels.