INTERNATIONAL REPORT—Hospitality companies are bolstering their leadership rosters. Curve Hospitality, Interstate, Crestline, and others have new additions. Here’s a look:
Hitesh (HP) Patel Joins Curve Hospitality
Curve Hospitality has named Hitesh Patel as COO. Patel brings more than 20 years of hospitality expertise to his role, tasked with further growing the company’s key partnerships while also providing strategic guidance to all departments at Curve Hospitality.
Patel is the president of Capital City Hospitality Group, hotel asset company in Austin, TX. He holds several leadership positions within the hotel industry, including a place on both the Austin Hotel & Lodging Association and the Hospitality Technology Strategic Council Boards of Directors; an appointment to the Austin Economic Growth and Redevelopment Task Force; and an IHG Owners Association & Choice Hotel Owners Council Member.
Patel has been a member of AAHOA since 2004 and began his service on the AAHOA Board of Directors in 2010, when he was elected Director at Large. Patel was elected in 2015 as the AAHOA Secretary and then became the chairman in 2018. During his chairmanship, he launched AAHOA Hotel Owners Academy in 2018 and made combating human trafficking a top priority for the association.
Interstate Names SVP of Operations – Select-Service
Interstate Hotels & Resorts has appointed Elizabeth Uber as SVP of operations—select-service. Joining a solid team of operations executives, Uber will be responsible for providing leadership and support to the VPs of operations and the company’s growing portfolio.
With more than two decades of industry and leadership experience, Uber was most recently VP of asset management at BRE Hotels and Resorts. While at BRE, she oversaw asset management for select- and full-service hotels throughout the U.S. Uber’s hospitality experience also includes roles with Pillar Hotels & Resorts, Meyer Jabara Hotels and Bristol Hotels & Resorts. Early in her career, she held roles as director of sales, area revenue manager and general manager.
Crestline SVP & General Counsel
Mónica León Bernstein has joined Crestline Hotels & Resorts LLC as SVP & general counsel.
Bernstein joins Crestline from Interstate Hotels & Resorts where she was SVP, assistant general counsel. Bernstein will report directly to James Carroll and succeeds Pierre Donahue who is retiring from Crestline after 13 years of service as the company’s EVP & general counsel.
Bernstein’s resume includes six years with Interstate Hotels, first as corporate counsel and then SVP, assistant general counsel. Prior to that, she was an associate with Williams & Connolly LLP, in Washington, DC, where she represented clients in matters involving complex commercial litigation, contract law, securities law, the False Claims Act and general torts, with a focus on international disputes.
Jumeirah Group Adds Leaders Across Dubai, Europe and the Maldives
Jumeirah Group welcomed new senior leaders across its global portfolio.
Rajesh Jhingon has been appointed regional VP for Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts and leads the operations and management of four distinct hotels: Jumeirah Al Naseem, Jumeirah Mina A’Salam, Jumeirah Al Qasr and Jumeirah Dar Al Masyaf. Jhingon has been instrumental in the positioning of quality hotel openings and refurbishments, including the opening of Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas in 2008 and the multimillion-dollar renovation of Mandarin Oriental Singapore in 2004.
Fergus Stewart joins as regional VP, Europe and will be responsible for overseeing the upcoming renovation of Jumeirah Carlton Tower in London, in addition to the extended London portfolio and hotels in Europe. Originally from Scotland, Stewart has more than 30 years of experience working in the luxury hospitality industry.
Amit Majumder, previously GM at Jumeirah Vittaveli, has been appointed regional VP, boutique resorts, for Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts. In Majumder’s new role, he will be based in the Dubai Design District at Jumeirah Group’s headquarters. His new mandate will include oversight of Jumeirah Vittaveli, and the development of expansion plans for high-end, luxury boutique resorts within the Jumeirah brand.
Mahmoud Sakr was named managing director of Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Hotel and Royal Residences. Sakr brings more than 30 years of experience and joins from Jumeirah Emirates Towers where he was GM and area GM—City Hotels.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel and Wild Wadi Waterpark recently appointed Jason Harding as managing director. He brings extensive experience to the role, having worked in the luxury hospitality industry for 28 years, nine of these in the UAE.
Sun Hill Properties Names VP of HR
Sun Hill Properties Inc. has appointed Vicente Jaramillo as VP of human resources. Jaramillo brings to Sun Hill Properties two decades of leadership experience, overseeing human resources for industry-leading hotel management companies.
With more than 20 years of direct experience, Jaramillo joins Sun Hill Properties from Hilton, where he most recently served as area director of human resources for the company’s hotels in New York City, which included the Waldorf Astoria, Hilton, and Conrad brands.
