Hotel executive moves: Atrium, Kempinski, TPG, Trinity

Here is a compilation of the most important executive moves of the past week in the hotel investment world, alphabetically (by company):

AHLA names chief advocacy officer. The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) has appointed Brett Horton as its chief advocacy officer. For the past decade, Horton has served as chief of staff to U.S. House of Representatives Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA). In this newly created role, he will oversee AHLA’s comprehensive advocacy, political engagement and government affairs strategies to advance the hotel industry’s priorities at the federal, state and local levels. He will lead the organization’s direct lobbying efforts, PAC strategy, grassroots engagement, coalition building and issue advocacy campaigns. He officially joins AHLA on December 1.

Atrium promotes executives. Alpharetta, Georgia-based Atrium Hospitality has promoted four leaders to key executive positions, including Peter O’Neall to senior vice president, finance; Rakesh Gupta to senior vice president, information technology; Sandi Snead to vice president, operations; and Bryan Drackett to vice president, talent acquisition and HR technology. O’Neall began his career in hospitality at the front desk before progressing into management and financial leadership roles with Peachtree Hospitality Management. Gupta is a veteran technology executive with over 20 years of global IT leadership experience across hospitality, fintech, and e-commerce. Drackett’s career showcases a steady rise from hotel operations to human resources leadership. He joined Atrium Hospitality in 2022. Snead began her hospitality career in 1989 as a PBX operator and joined John Q. Hammons Hotels the following year as a guest service agent at the Embassy Suites Hotel KCI.

CoralTree names 2 VPs. Englewood, Colorado-based CoralTree Hospitality has appointed Darlene Vanderlaan and Ben Whitefox as vice presidents of finance. Vanderlaan brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in financial management, resort operations and asset development. She previously served as director of resort operations development and programming for Holiday Inn Club Vacations. Whitefox’s career spans over a decade, with several high-level positions in hospitality finance. He has held roles at both the property and corporate levels with companies including Sage Hospitality, Hilton, and independent lifestyle brands.

Equinox hires Quinn as advisor. New York City-based Equinox Hospitality said Brian Quinn has joined the company as senior advisor. Quinn brings decades of hospitality experience to his new role, having overseen more than $6 billion in growth across various lodging, restaurant, and franchise operations throughout his career. Quinn has worked at major hospitality companies including Hilton, IHG, Choice Hotels, and, most recently, Sonesta International, where he served as chief development officer.

New C-suite exec for Dimension. Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based Dimension Hospitality has named Aimee Mangold as its new chief human resources officer. She brings 25 years of HR experience to this role and has worked for Kolter Hospitality, The Procaccianti Group and Interstate Hotels. Mangold joins Dimension Hospitality from SROA Capital, where she served as vice president of human resources.

IHM names new VP. West Palm Beach, Florida-based IHM Outdoors, the outdoor and resort-focused division of Island Hospitality Management, has promoted Hayden Schlosser to divisional vice president, outdoors division, as the group expands its portfolio nationwide. Due to Schlosser’s success, the IHM Outdoors portfolio expanded from its initial five locations by adding nine new properties, located in Moab, Garden City, and Salt Lake City, Utah; Paso Robles, California; Granby, Colorado; and Association Island, New York.

Kempinski adds exec. Geneva-based Kempinski Hotels has appointed Paul Lonergan as chief operating and asset management officer – a new role that will oversee the luxury hotel group’s operations and asset management strategy across EMEA, the Americas, and Asia Pacific (excluding China & Mongolia). Lonergan brings more than three decades of global hospitality experience, combining 20 years in senior operational leadership with 15 years in commercial hotel asset management. Lonergan will work closely with veteran Kempinski executive Manish Nambiar, who has been promoted to senior vice president of operations for the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. 

Lightstone names exec to board. New York City-based Lightstone Real Estate Investment Trust V has named industry veteran Bruce Schanzer to its board of directors. Schanzer currently serves as chairman and chief investment officer of Erez Asset Management, a fund manager focused on investment opportunities in small-cap REITs. Before founding Erez in 2022, Schanzer served as president, CEO and director of Cedar Realty Trust. Before joining Cedar in 2011, Schanzer held senior roles in real estate investment banking at Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch.

Pinnacle announces leadership transition. Boston-based Pinnacle Advisory Group has announced a planned leadership transition. Effective January 1, Sebastian Colella, a hospitality expert with over 25 years of industry experience, will assume leadership as managing principal. He replaces Rachel Roginsky, who founded the company in 1991 and will transition to the role of founder and senior advisor. Colella’s career spans hotel operations, acquisitions, development and asset management across major U.S. markets and international resort destinations. While at Pinnacle, he led engagements nationwide, with a particular focus on Greater Boston and New England. 

Soneva names CCO. Dubai-based Soneva Group has named Joanna Flint as chief commercial officer. She brings over 20 years of leadership experience in the luxury hospitality and technology sectors, including notable tenures at Mandarin Oriental, Google and Singapore Airlines.

TPG names new SVP. McKinney, Texas-based TPG Hotels & Resorts has named Brian Bradford as its senior vice president, hospitality finance. He joins the company from Remington Hospitality, where he served as senior vice president, corporate accounting. Bradford began his career in public accounting with CohnReznick and has since held senior finance and accounting leadership positions with several large organizations, including CIG Logistics, Daseke and Americold Realty Trust. 

New CFO for Trinity. Honolulu-based Trinity Investments has named JoAnne Halligan as CFO, effective immediately. Halligan succeeds Kevin Hayashi, who has retired after more than 28 years of service with Trinity. Halligan brings more than two decades of experience in accounting, finance, and fund operations. She joins Trinity from Oaktree Capital Management, where she served as managing director of real estate fund accounting and led finance, accounting, and operations for Oaktree’s real estate platform.