From leadership promotions to new hires, we round up organizational updates from design firms, hotel brands, and more.
Elkus Manfredi Architects has appointed two new principals: William (Rob) Halter and Emily Paparella. Halter joined the Boston firm in 2005, leading projects like New York’s Hudson Yards, Neiman Marcus at Roosevelt Field mall, and the St. Regis Residences, Boston. Paparella, who joined Elkus Manfredi in 2006, has overseen a range of projects across the higher education, residential, and mixed-use sectors, including Simmons University’s One Simmons masterplan.
Omni Hotels & Resorts has hired Jeff Doane as its new chief commercial officer. In this role, Doane—who previously held executive roles at Fairmont, Raffles, and Accor—will oversee Omni’s integrated commercial strategy across the portfolio, as well as marketing operations including brand and tactical marketing, public relations, partnerships, social media, and digital platforms.
Architecture and interiors firm Dyer Brown & Associates has promoted two women to director-level positions. Previously a senior interior designer, Anna Dockery now serves as director of design, while former senior marketing manager Kyla Astley takes on the role of director of marketing.
Coury Hospitality, a Texas-based full-service lifestyle hospitality management company, has promoted Andrew Casperson to chief operating officer from his previous role as executive vice president of operations. Casperson—who brings extensive experience from his roles at Omni Hotels & Resorts, W Hotels, and Highgate—joined Coury in 2023 and leads operations strategies for Coury’s portfolio of lifestyle hotels, bars, and restaurants.
Hilton has appointed Candice D’Cruz to the role of vice president of luxury brands for Asia Pacific. With more than two decades of experience, D’Cruz joins Hilton from Marriott International. D’Cruz will lead Hilton’s luxury brands—including Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, LXR Hotels & Resorts, and Conrad Hotels & Resorts—across the Asia-Pacific region.
The Los Angeles office of Gensler has promoted Candra Mathis to principal. The design and architecture firm has also hired Nicole Dalton and Kara Siffermann, strengthening its hospitality presence in the southwest U.S. region. Dalton serves as director of hospitality with a specialty in high-end global gaming interiors, and Siffermann is a technical director whose expertise focuses on mixed-used hospitality experiences from retail to wellness, residential, and public spaces.
Christian Glauser Benz has been named Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group’s new head of development for the Americas region. Previously serving as vice president of development at Hyatt, Benz will play a pivotal role in leading Mandarin Oriental’s development and investment initiatives for the Americas region, focusing on key markets across the U.S., Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
HHM Hotels has elevated Dani Elhachem to chief operating officer. Elhachem, who has been with the hospitality management company for more than 10 years, has been instrumental in driving results for new and existing ownership partners, as well as crafting innovative approaches to commercial strategy for both branded and independent verticals.
Jason Millhouse has joined ZDS Architecture & Interiors as managing director of the company’s Washington, DC office. With nearly two decades of experience in the hospitality design industry—including roles at IHG and Marriott—Millhouse is recognized for his talent in hotel and resort planning, specializing in the luxury and lifestyle segments.
Angelica Acebedo-Frint has been appointed principal of Gettys Branding and a member of the Gettys Group Companies’ executive team. In addition to her previous role as the branding group’s creative director, Acebedo-Frint served as senior manager of global creative strategy at Hyatt, where she built and led the in-house creative team’s global brand refresh initiatives and visual branding guidelines.
Interior design firm BAMO has announced a series of promotions at the leadership level, welcoming Addy Williams as principal, along with eight newly appointed associate principals: Alan Deal, Amaza Lam, Ashley Venturini, Elaine Hwa Smith, Janet Mercier, Lauren McGuier, Martin Oestlund, and Ryan Barr.
Architecture and design firm //3877 has welcomed three new hires to its growing team: architect Stefanie Bingeman, senior designer Christine Strayer, and office administrator Wendy Christmas.
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