Hotel executive moves: Choice Hotels, Four Seasons, Hospitality America

Choice Hotels promotes Kunduri. Choice Hotels International has promoted Sireesha Kunduri to chief of product engineering. Kunduri joined Choice in 2016 as director of engineering and was promoted to vice president of engineering in 2019.

Crestline names new SVP. Fairfax, Virginia-based Crestline Hotels & Resorts has appointed Leah McFarland to senior vice president of revenue strategy. McFarland most recently held the position of vice president of revenue management and e-commerce at MCR Hotels.

DiamondRock general counsel to retire. Bethesda, Maryland-based DiamondRock Hospitality Co. announced that Bill Tennis, its longtime executive vice president and general counsel, will retire on June 30. Tennis joined the company in 2010. DiamondRock is conducting a national search for a new legal counsel.

Expotel promotes COO. New Orleans-based Expotel Hospitality has promoted Bret Chittenden, formerly the company’s COO, to president. Chittenden has been part of the company since its inception in 1999 and has more than 28 years of experience in the hospitality industry, including starting with Burrus Investment Group.

Four Seasons appoints CITO. Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has named Sudhakar Veluru executive vice president and chief information technology officer. Before joining Four Seasons, Sudhakar served as the chief technology officer at MGM Resorts International and also held several senior leadership roles at The Walt Disney Co.

GF Hotels names new SVP. Philadelphia-based GF Hotels & Resorts has appointed Warren Aston as senior vice president of business development. This strategic addition to the leadership team is a part of GF’s commitment to growth and excellence in the upcoming year. Aston has 13 years of experience in the industry.

New COO for Golden Entertainment. Las Vegas-based Golden Entertainment has promoted Blake Sartini II to chief operating officer. He was formerly Golden’s executive vice president of operations and joined the company in 2007. Steve Arcana, Golden’s current COO, is now the company’s chief development officer in a newly created role.  

Hospitality America names CEO. Greenville, South Carolina-based Hospitality America has transitioned its current chief operating officer and president, Ben Campbell, to the CEO role. Hospitality America Founder and CEO Chris Cargen has retired and will assume the newly created position of chairman of the board. Campbell, who joined the company in 2015, has 15 years of experience in hospitality.

Langham names new SVP. Hong Kong-based Langham Hospitality Group has named Sean Seah senior vice president of strategy, technology, and innovation. Seah previously worked for Langham in 2009 as vice president of e-business, loyalty, and partner marketing.

Proper Hospitality names new CDO. Santa Monica, California-based Proper Hospitality has named Andrew Miele its new chief development officer. Miele will lead the growth of the luxury lifestyle hospitality portfolio under the Proper and The Collective brands. Miele has more than 15 years of experience and previously served as CEO of Nômade People. He also worked for Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas.

New CEO of Westgate Resorts. Orlando, Florida-based Westgate Resorts has named longtime company executive Jim Gissy as CEO. Westgate Resorts founder David Siegel will remain executive chairman of the board and president and will continue to lead all major company decisions. Gissy joined Westgate Resorts in 1984 and was most recently senior executive vice president.