Hotel executive moves: Crescent, Hyatt, Minor, Sonesta

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

New SVP for Avion Hospitality. Plano, Texas-based Avion Hospitality has names Dan Peterson as senior vice president of operations. He most recently served as executive vice president of operations for CSM Corporation. A 25-plus-year hospitality operations veteran, Peterson has extensive experience overseeing third-party management company teams and portfolios with brands like Hilton, Marriott and Hyatt in the full-service, resort, lifestyle and select-service segments.

Carter Hospitality names new exec. Santa Ana, California-based Carter Hospitality Group has named Matt Kleefisch as director of hospitality operations. He was most recently the general manager at Carter Creek Winery Resort & Spa in the Texas Hill Country. With more than 20 years of leadership experience across multiple brands, properties and locations, Kleefisch previously worked for Azul Hospitality Group, Hyatt and Marriott.

New CCO for Crescent. Fairfax, Virginia-based Crescent Hotels & Resorts has named Vanessa Claspill as its new chief commercial officer. Claspill brings more than 20 years of leadership experience across a diverse spectrum of hotel categories, ranging from luxury and lifestyle properties to large convention venues. She was most recently senior vice president of sales at Pivot Hotels & Resorts, a division within Davidson Hospitality Group. She has also held senior leadership roles at W Austin, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, and Sydell Group.

Cushman & Wakefield adds capital markets exec. Chicago-based Cushman & Wakefield has hired Miles Treaster as president of capital markets, Americas. He will oversee all operations and shape the long-term vision of the capital markets group. Treaster has more than 20 years of experience in institutional real estate debt and equity capital markets with an extensive background in acquisitions, structured finance, management and disposition of office, multifamily, industrial, retail and hotel asset classes.

Edition names new SVP. New York City-based Edition Hotels has appointed George Fleck as senior vice president and global brand leader. Fleck has been with Marriott International for more than 20 years, including nearly 15 years with Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Before his current role, Fleck was vice president and global brand leader for St. Regis Hotels & Resorts.

New Hyatt exec for MEA. Stephen Ansell has been named Hyatt’s new managing director in its Middle East and Africa (MEA) region. Stephen joined Hyatt in 1996 as director of F&B at Hyatt Regency Riyadh and has held GM positions at several Hyatt hotels. Ansell has nearly three decades of experience in the hospitality industry and most recently held a dual role as area vice president for Central Europe in addition to the GM at the Park Hyatt Zurich.

Lodgco names new president. Grand Rapids, Michigan-based management company Lodgco Hospitality has appointed Scott Stuart as its new president. He succeeds Ann Kelly, who recently retired. Stuart brings 37 years of experience in hospitality leadership and was most recently a senior vice president at Aimbridge Hospitality.

MGM appoints Barr to board. Las Vegas-based MGM Resorts International has named Keith Barr, former CEO of IHG Hotels & Resorts, to its board of directors. Barr served as CEO of IHG from 2017 to 2023 and stepped down last May. He held multiple roles for IHG, including chief commercial officer, CEO of Greater China, COO of Australia and New Zealand and multiple roles in the Americas.

Minor names new area GM. Bangkok-based Minor Hotels has appointed Torsten Richter as area general manager of Indonesia and Malaysia and general manager of Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas. Richter’s career spans three decades in the hospitality industry, and he most recently served as the multi-property general manager at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel and Hotel Am Steinplatz Autograph Collection in Berlin, Germany.

New VP for Rotana. Abu Dhabi-based Rotana has promoted Nadim Jamous to corporate vice president of architecture and design. Since joining Rotana in 2015 as director of projects, Jamous has significantly contributed to the company’s growth, playing a key role in the successful delivery of major projects such as Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas in Abu Dhabi, Johari Rotana in Dar Es Salam, and Bomonti Arjaan in Istanbul. He was promoted to corporate director projects in March.

Promotion at Sonesta. Newton, Massachusetts-based Sonesta International Hotels Corp. appointed Christopher Trick as chief marketing & performance officer to lead the company’s greater marketing and revenue-focused efforts. Trick assumes this new role after four years as Sonesta’s senior vice president and chief marketing officer. Prior to joining Sonesta, Trick worked at Red Lion Hotels Corporation, Realogy, Marriott International, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, La Quinta and IHG Hotels & Resorts.