BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF.—James R. Hedges, IV has been appointed Curator of the Arts for The Beverly Hills Hotel and Hotel Bel-Air. In this position, he will oversee the art program across both hotels. With storied histories in the arts and cultural arenas, both The Beverly Hills Hotel and Hotel Bel-Air continue to offer guests the opportunity to discover art in an unexpected and intimate setting. In addition to seven planned exhibitions in 2023, Hedges will oversee a series of educational artist-focused events and will organize art experiences in partnership with local galleries and museums. As founder of Hedges Projects and with...

WILLAMETTE VALLEY, ORE.—Oregon Wine Country’s award-winning, The Allison Inn & Spa, welcomes Jack Strong as Executive Chef. In this role, Chef Strong leads all culinary programs at the 85-room award-winning boutique resort, including the resort’s signature restaurant JORY. Oregon-born Chef Strong comes to The Allison Inn & Spa with over 30 years of culinary experience under his belt and most recently held the position as Executive Chef at the 453-room JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort & Spa. During his tenure, he was awarded the coveted Culinary Excellence of the Americas by Marriott. Chef Strong previously held positions at Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel and the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa where...

GULF BREEZE, FLA.—Innisfree Hotels recently announced that environmental expert Bethanne Edwards has joined the company in a new role as Director of Sustainability. The position is part of Innisfree Hotels’ focused commitment to sustainability in 2023 and beyond. The company’s “triple bottom line” approach to business—considering People, Planet, and Prosperity with each decision and striving to strike a balance between all three—makes sustainability a key factor in supporting the communities that Innisfree serves. Edwards says her initial attention will go toward reducing the company’s carbon footprint—including efficient energy and water use and minimizing waste—as well as engaging employees, guests, and local...

NORWALK, CONN.—Shatterproof, a national nonprofit dedicated to reversing the addiction crisis in the U.S., recently honored Chris Nassetta, President and CEO, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, with the Shatterproof Hospitality Hero Award. He is the fifth recipient to receive the award. Nassetta has been an integral voice on the issue of addiction in America, using his leadership in the industry to unite hospitality executives to take an active role in ending the addiction crisis. Senior executives across the hotel industry united during the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) in Los Angeles to commend Nassetta on his accomplishments. More than 60 hospitality companies raised more...

CHEVY CHASE, MD.—PM Hotel Group recently announced the appointment of Ryan Butler as Corporate Director | Sustainability + Energy. In his role, Butler will enhance the Group’s decade-long commitment to environmental sustainability and PM’s core value of Respect—for one another, guests, communities, and the planet. Butler will lead PM Hotel Group’s strategic sustainability initiatives and be the direct point of contact for internal and external stakeholder collaboration. PM Hotel Group’s sustainability team takes a forward-looking approach, vigorously implementing energy, water, and waste reduction programs as well as seeking opportunities to integrate renewable energy and green power into its portfolio of...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Hotel & Lodging Assn. (AHLA), the singular voice representing every segment of the hotel industry, announced two leadership additions to the association and its charitable giving affiliate. Anna Blue has been named President of the AHLA Foundation and Jacqueline Policastro has been appointed Executive Vice President of Marketing & Communications. “After a thorough search, we are proud to welcome Anna and Jacqueline to the Foundation and AHLA teams,” said AHLA President & CEO Chip Rogers. “Their collective experience and fresh energy will only continue to build on the incredible work their respective teams have accomplished to increase visibility for the...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek has announced the appointment of Justin Crum as Chef de Cuisine for its award-winning deep blu Seafood Grille restaurant, which features fine, fresh seafood focused on local and sustainable ingredients with a modernist approach and attention to seasonality. “Justin’s background in fine dining and upscale venues is perfectly in line with the kind of next level experience we provide at deep blu,” said General Manager Cathy Zucker. “He will further enhance our menu offerings with his southern roots and first-class touch.” Having spent more than two decades in the restaurant industry, Crum was most recently Chef...

LOS ANGELES—The American Hotel & Lodging Assn. (AHLA), The American Hotel & Lodging Foundation, and The BHN Group announced Geoff Ballotti, President and CEO of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, will be awarded the Arne Sorenson Social Impact Leadership Award. Ballotti will be recognized during the AHLA Foundation’s premier fundraising gala, Night of a Thousand Stars on Sunday, January 22, 2023, as well as during the 22nd Annual Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) on Tuesday, January 24, 2023. “Geoff—much like Arne—is a true embodiment of all the good that hospitality represents. His empathy, his accessibility, and his commitment to doing the...

TAMPA, FLA.—McKibbon Hospitality, an award-winning leader in hotel management, announced the recent promotion of Jess Hayden to Vice President of Operational Excellence. In this newly created position, Hayden is responsible for overseeing procurement, contract management, hotel openings and transitions as well as sustainability and corporate social responsibility initiatives, driving the company’s process and performance improvement, quality assurance and operational efficiency across its portfolio of nearly 100 hotels. “Jess Hayden has been, and continues to be, an invaluable asset to McKibbon Hospitality and her promotion to Vice President of Operational Excellence couldn’t be more deserved,” said Randy Hassen, President of McKibbon...

HONG KONG—Tracy Yeow, sustainability manager at City Developments Limited, has moved on after four years with the property development company. She has joined NagaCorp, a Hong Kong-listed gaming company, as its Senior Sustainability Manager. She will be based in Phnom Penh, where NagaCorp runs the casino NagaWorld. NagaCorp’s sustainability efforts include forming a sustainability department in 2013 and acquiring recognition for NagaWorld as an “Asean Green Hotel”. Yeow’s role will involve developing a sustainability strategy for NagaCorp, adopting global best practices in environmental measurement and reporting, and working with internal and external stakeholders to roll out sustainability initiatives. At CDL, Yeow led the company’s...