INTERNATIONAL REPORT—Hospitality companies are making personnel moves, including a new COO at American Hotel Income Properties. Here’s a look:
AHIP Appoints Bruce Pittet as SVP of Asset Management, COO
American Hotel Income Properties REIT LP (AHIP) has named Bruce Pittet COO and SVP, asset management, effective May 1, 2019.
In this role, Pittet will be a key executive leader of the company and its U.S. subsidiaries, and will be responsible for AHIP’s hotel profitability through working with its independent hotel manager; leading AHIP’s hotel renovations program—including the allocation of reserve capital toward hotel projects; and brand relations with AHIP’s hotel brand partners: Hilton, Marriott, IHG, Choice and Wyndham.
He has more than 30 years of hotel management, planning and operating experience across North America, with the last 20 years spent in the U.S. He has hotel experience in, and has completed extensive market analysis of, more than 100 U.S. markets, and has been a leader of multiple major property launches, turnarounds and repositioning initiatives. For the past six years, Pittet was SVP at One Lodging, which is now part of Aimbridge Hospitality‚ AHIP’s independent hotel manager.
Previously, Pittet completed hotel development and operations consulting work for Starwood Development, and held various roles at Intrawest, including GM/VP for Snowshoe Mountain and later, regional VP of lodging.
Burnett Promoted at G6 Hospitality
G6 Hospitality LLC has named Tina Burnett as divisional VP of franchise operations.
Burnett has more than 20 years of experience working in the hospitality sector and held multiple leadership roles in franchise development and operations since joining G6 Hospitality in 1998. Most recently, she served as VP of franchise strategy and development and was responsible for domestic growth of the Motel 6 and Studio 6 brands. Previously, she served as managing director of franchise development and director of franchise development, Western United States.
Marcus & Millichap Adds Worsham
Keith Worsham has joined commercial real estate investment services firm Marcus & Millichap in its Atlanta office as a senior managing director.
Prior to joining Marcus & Millichap, Worsham was a senior managing director with Newmark Knight Frank (NKF). Before that, he was a senior director at Ten-X, where he assisted in the completion of more than $2.2 billion in hospitality transactions. As director of franchise sales for Accor Hotel’s Red Roof Inn and director of development for Cendant Corp.,Worsham signed more than 170 franchise agreements and generated more than $120 million in combined annual revenue.
As a co-founder of Wesley Hotel Group LLC, he participated in the development, ownership and operation of hotels for major institutional and private clients. Throughout his career, Worsham has worked with major flagship brands including Marriott International, Hilton, Wyndham and the InterContinental Hotels Group.
Sbe Appoints Rohani VP
Sbe has appointed Kevin Rohani VP of development.
Rohani is responsible for sourcing new hotel and branded residence deals in targeted global markets, while leveraging his extensive owner, investor and developer relationships. He started his career in hospitality with sbe back in 2010, where he focused on hotel operations and development aiding in the opening of SLS Las Vegas Hotel & Casino and SLS Hotel South Beach, among other projects.
He has experience in portfolio expansion, hotel operations, development, design and architecture. He most recently served as VP of development at Dream Hotel Group, focusing on global hotel opportunities in Europe, Central America, Canada and the U.S.
RoomIt by CWT Appoints Waldmiller VP
RoomIt by CWT, the hotel distribution division of CWT, the B2B4E travel management platform, has appointed Geoffrey Waldmiller as VP of revenue optimization.
Waldmiller is responsible for improving the traveler experience through the use of data science and technology. He will help to streamline the shopping process for CWT’s travelers and improve conversion at the point of sale, and he will provide leadership to the RoomIt loyalty and advertising teams.
Before RoomIt, he served as chief revenue officer for Schulte Hospitality Group, where he led revenue management, sales, e-commerce, marketing and analytics for 151 franchised and independent hotels. He previously held several executive roles with MGM Resorts International, also focused on revenue optimization and e-commerce.
Bainum Joins Choice Hotels’ Board of Directors
Choice Hotels International Inc. has added Brian Bainum to its board of directors.
Bainum is a management consultant and also serves as a director at SunBridge Capital Management LLC. He has a background in enterprise digital transformations, management consulting and real estate development and investing. He also brings extensive knowledge in both hotel franchise development and on-property operations.
Prior to his current role, Bainum held positions at Deloitte Consulting LLC, Infosys Consulting and Sunburst Hospitality Corporation. He currently serves on several boards, including Realty Investment Company, Sunburst Hospitality Corporation, Artis Senior Living and Three Graces Foundation, which supports health and education projects in the developing world.
Bainum was elected as a new board member at the company’s annual shareholders meeting. He replaces Scott Renschler, who served on Choice Hotels’ board of directors for 11 years. Bainum and Renschler are both members of the company’s founding family and largest shareholder.
Phoenix American Hospitality Names Kuehnemann VP
Hotel fund manager Phoenix American Hospitality has appointed Jan Kuehnemann VP of acquisitions and asset management.
In his new position, Kuehnemann plays a key role in the identification, evaluation and recommendation of merger and acquisition candidates, as well as establishing sound strategies and maximizing the return on investments.
Kuehnemann joins Phoenix American with more than 15 years of experience in hotel investment, strategic planning, asset management and operations. Most recently, he served as VP of capital transactions group at FelCor Lodging Trust, where he was responsible for all acquisitions and dispositions efforts of the company. During his tenure with FelCor, he closed on more than $2 billion in hotel transactions and negotiated management agreements for both newly acquired hotels and existing hotels, including a master agreement with Hilton that resulted in significant cost savings and enhanced alignment of interest between manager and owner.
Jockel Appointed Area Manager of Kasa Hotel Collection
Kasa Hotel Collection appointed Kai Jockel as area manager of its hotel collection in Mexico.
The company currently operates one hotel located in Aldea Zama, Hotel Kasa Parota Tulum. A second Kasa hotel, the Hotel Kasa Riviera Maya, will open in June 2019, followed by a third in September 2019. Two more hotels are planned for 2020.
A veteran of the hospitality industry with more than 30 years of experience, Jockel has responsibility for overall operation of the five hotels, including the planning and preparation for the four yet to open. His new position marks his return to Mexico after 18 years, adding to his more than 10 years in hospitality in Latin America.
He has worked with hotel chains in Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Europe, including Marriott and Hilton.