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Going Places

Florida
  • Hilton Hotels Corporation announced the promotion of two director assignments for the Hilton at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando. Kelly Knowlen was promoted to director of sales and marketing and Donald Luteran was appointed director of group sales. Knowlen most recently served as director of sales for the property. Prior to joining the Hilton team, Knowlen was the director of sales for the neighboring Doubletree Guest Suites Walt Disney World Resort… Miami’s new Eden Roc Renaissance Beach Resort & Spa named Mary Jo Ferrazza director of event management. Ferrazza is an expert in the field of event management, most recently having served as director of event management at the Renaissance Chicago Hotel… Crestline Hotels & Resorts appointed Jale Aksoy general manager for the Hilton Singer Island Oceanfront Resort in Singer Island. Aksoy brings more than 13 years of management and business experience to her position as general manager. She is transferring to the Hilton Singer Island from her position as general manager at another Crestline managed property, the Four Points by Sheraton Washington, D.C. Prior to joining Crestline she was the general manager for the Embassy Suites Dulles Airport and has held management positions with the Promus Company at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Vienna, Va… Morgans Hotel Group named John “JP” Oliver regional vice president of Miami as well as general manager of Delano in South Beach. Oliver previously worked for LXR Hotels & Resorts (formerly Wyndham International) where he spent more than 15 years in various management positions. Most recently, Oliver served as vice president and managing director in Puerto Rico, where he was responsible for operations at the El San Juan Hotel & Casino, El Conquistador Resort & Casino, and Condado Plaza Hotel & Casino… Benchmark Hospitality International appointed Gregory Allowe managing director for Naples Bay Resort in Naples. Allowe previously served as president of GA P Hospitality Consulting, where he was responsible for opening an independent luxury resort located in Breckenridge, Colo… Loews Miami Beach Hotel named Eric Gavin director of sales and marketing. This new position marks Gavin’s homecoming to Loews Hotels, where he was associate director of sales for Loews Miami Beach Hotel beginning in 2002, followed by director of sales for the Don CeSar Beach Resort, a Loews Hotel. Most recently, Gavin was the director of sales and marketing for The Grove Isle Hotel & Spa, in Coconut Grove.

Georgia
  • Harper Counts joined Loews Hotels as national sales manager of the new Loews Atlanta Hotel, scheduled to open in 2010. In her new position, Counts will be responsible for establishing the hotel’s presence among corporate meeting planners. Counts joined Loews Hotels from Marriott International, where she was sales manager at the Renaissance Concourse Hotel in Atlanta… Niles Harris was named general manager of the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel. A 25-year hospitality industry veteran, Harris most recently was president of his own company, The Hotel Concierge, which develops and licenses software for hotels. Prior to that, he served as area director of operations of the Southeast for Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, and was based in Atlanta.

North Carolina
  • Stan Turner was hired as general manager of the Hilton Asheville, expected to open in 2009. Turner will be responsible for managing annual revenues, marketing and sales functions, as well as the day-to-day operations including: guest relations, front desk, housekeeping, maintenance, team building and staff development.

Texas
  • J. Curtis Noe was named general manager for the Doubletree El Paso. Noe, formerly general manager of the El Paso Marriott, has been in the hospitality industry for nearly two decades… Benchmark Hospitality International, based in The Woodlands, named Alex Cabanas vice president of development and strategy for the global hospitality management company. Cabanas was previously vice president of capital markets for Benchmark Hospitality, and prior to this appointment, Cabanas served as director of capital markets and strategic planning for Benchmark.