SAN JOSE, CALIF.—Dan McGowan, General Manager, Fairmont San Jose announced that Jackie Dacanay, Director of Talent & Culture, has been named California Hotel & Lodging Association’s Women in Lodging Connect Leader of the Year. This award is bestowed upon a female hospitality professional who serves as a leader and role model within the hotel community. This award is not about the amount of experience or the title, but rather how time is spent in the industry. California Hotel & Lodging Association’s (CHLA’s) Stars of the Industry Awards honor the lodging employees and properties that best symbolize the quality service of...

Name: Catherine Dolton Title: Vice President, Global Corporate Responsibility Company: IHG Years in Current Position: 1+ years Primary Responsibilities: “My primary job is working with our team—making sure everything we do is embedded in operations. I also work on collaborations—with ITP, AHLA and other organizations.” Organization’s most significant accomplishment in the area of global corporate responsibility: “Our bulk amenities announcement—a real mark in the sand. I came into my role at the end of 2018. We made the announcement in July 2019. It shows the power of IHG. It is companies like ours that need to take the lead.” Organization’s most significant challenge moving forward...

PARIS—Fairmont Hotels & Resorts announced a new Global Brand Ambassador—the Oscar-winning actress and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Susan Sarandon. In this unique role, Sarandon will star in a global brand campaign that will portray the transformative power of travel, connecting Fairmont’s history and majestic hotels with modern sensibilities and the dreams of a new generation of travelers. The campaign is expected to be revealed in key markets around the world in spring 2020. “Fairmont and Susan Sarandon share a spirit of adventure, a passion for thinking globally and acting locally, and a history of turning words into action,” said Sharon Cohen, Vice...

BANGKOK—Mark Sands has been promoted to Vice President of Wellness at Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas. Joining the group in 2011 as Area Spa Director, Sands played a significant role in creating and launching many of the brand’s wellness initiatives, while successfully leading spa operations. He’s been working closely with the technical services team on many aspects of spa development and most recently supported the launch of Mission Wellness, the group-wide host well-being initiative. Prior to joining Six Senses, Sands worked at the world-renowned Ananda in the Himalayas for six years. A fan of traditional medicine, in particular Ayurveda, Sand’s...

BANGKOK—Yee Pin Tan has joined Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas as head of design. In this capacity, Pin will support and lead all creative teams responsible for project design, branding, marketing, sustainability, spa and wellness and information technology. Pin’s new role covers all design-related areas that support the global expansion of Six Senses. She will also ensure overall consistency in implementing the brand’s vision and alignment to corporate goals, quality of messaging and design concepts. Bringing more than 26 years of experience in hospitality design, Pin has worked alongside industry greats such as Ed Tuttle in Paris, where her talents were...

LAS VEGAS—MGM Resorts International announced award-winning diversity, inclusion and sustainability leader Jyoti Chopra as its Senior Vice President, Chief Diversity and Sustainability Officer. Jyoti will be based in Las Vegas and will report directly to President and COO, Bill Hornbuckle. She will also serve as liaison to the Corporate Social Responsibility Committee of the company’s Board of Directors. “Jyoti joins MGM Resorts at an exciting time, as we embark on a bold new vision for our social impact and sustainability strategy, Focused on What Matters: Embracing Humanity and Protecting the Planet,” said Hornbuckle. “Jyoti’s considerable experience and expertise specifically in...

Name: Kristen Royal Title: Sustainability Program Director Company: Tayst Coffee Years in Current Position: 1+ years Primary Responsibilities: “I do a lot of outreach and communication on sustainability. I am in constant communication with other sustainability directors. I research lifecycle reports. I analyze our product and compare it with others. I analyze the machines themselves and the complexities and differences between plastic pods and a compostable one like ours.” Organization’s most significant sustainability-related accomplishment: “Our pod return service. Our clients are demanding this. We are hoping to scale up the service nationwide in January 2020.” Organization’s most significant sustainability-related challenge moving forward: “Making sure we...

KRABEY ISLAND, CAMBODIA—Six Senses Krabey Island announced the appointment of Ateeb Shrestha as general manager. Ateeb brings more than 16 years of experience in the hospitality sector to his new role, including three years as general manager with Six Senses Ninh Van Bay. Prior to joining Six Senses he acquired broad expertise across international and independent hotel groups with resident manager and general manager assignments with Gangtey Lodge in Bhutan, Nira Resort in Mauritius, Hyatt Regency Danang Resort and The Nam Hai Resort in Vietnam. He also spent time at The Setai in Miami and The Chedi in Muscat. From his...

WAIKOLOA, HAWAII—Native plants are not only beautiful, but they often serve valuable, practical functions in their ecosystem. Hoping to serve as an industry model, Hilton Waikoloa Village has transformed its landscaping to revitalize native ecosystems. Across 62 acres, the resort is cultivating rarely seen native species and restoring portions of an erosion-damaged National Historic Trail fronting the property. The initiative will contribute to Hilton’s Travel with Purpose 2030 Goals, the company’s commitment to cutting its environmental footprint in half and doubling its social impact by 2030. Raymond Keenan, horticulture expert and director of landscaping at Hilton Waikoloa Village, has been leading the...

REDMOND, ORE.—Soul Community Planet (SCP) announced the appointment of Tobias Colvin as SCP Redmond’s new General Manager, effective immediately. With more than 19 years of luxury hospitality management experience in city hotel and resort operations, Colvin will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the newly renovated 49-room SCP Redmond. “We welcome Tobias to our SCP family,” said Soul Community Planet Co-Founder and CEO Ken Cruse. “Aside from sharing SCP’s holistic hospitality values, Tobias has the leadership skills to help make SCP Redmond a great success. Tobias brings a diversity of life experiences, a love for the outdoors, and, following...