Recently luxury hotels around the world have announced a bevy of new hires for the general manager position.
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| Richard Lyon |
In South Africa, the One&Only Cape Town appointed Richard Lyon as the resort's general manager. Lyon has over 40 years experience in the hospitality industry, including key positions at Virgin Active, The Landings in St. Lucia, Marriott International, as well as his own hospitality consultancy business. He started his career in the Management Operations Training Program at the Savoy Hotel Group, spending time at both The Savoy in London and Hôtel de Crillon in Paris. From there, he was the sales and marketing director for two hotels in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for Swiss International Hotels.
In 1981, Lyon joined Marriott International, and would wind up spending over 25 years with the brand. During his tenure, he held key leadership roles in a variety of global posts, including: Riyadh, London, Charlotte, Warsaw, Amman, Budapest and finally, Mumbai. During his tenure, he held key leadership roles in a variety of global posts, including: Riyadh, London, Charlotte, Warsaw, Amman, Budapest and finally, Mumbai. Lyon also introduced new product elements including the first hotel-branded Executive Apartments in Budapest and the $1.5 million refurbishment and subsequent awards by Pearl Restaurant at the Renaissance Chancery Hotel.
After leaving Marriott, Lyon started his own consultancy, providing management services for the hospitality industry, including a group of luxury game camps in Masai Mara in Kenya, a top vineyard, a hotel in Cape Town, plus several small luxury hotels in the Western Cape. Lyon then served as managing director of The Landings in St. Lucia, before moving to become people director at Virgin Active in South Africa.
In New England, The Langham, Boston, has announced that Ron Pellerine has joined the hotel as its new general manager. Most recently Pellerine managed the largest hotel in Canada, Langham Hospitality Group’s Chelsea Hotel Toronto since 2011.
Pellerine, who began working in hospitality at the young age of 11 with his father, has spent time at Novotel, Sofitel and Accor hotels, as well as various restaurants, in Canada, Europe, the U.S., Vietnam and Hong Kong, before becoming General Manager of the Metropolitan Hotel Toronto. While at Chelsea Hotel Toronto, he oversaw the hotel’s brand change when it was re-flagged by Langham Hospitality Group, as well as a $30 million CAD renovation of its guestrooms, meeting facilities, restaurants and public spaces.
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| Amanda Joiner |
The Ritz-Carlton St. Louis has added Amanda Joiner as its new general manager, who joins the hotel from the corporate sales and marketing team of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.
Amanda Joiner brings 20 years of experience to her new position, having launched her Ritz-Carlton career in 1991 with a seven-year management tenure at The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta. After moving to another brand for a brief period, she returned to The Ritz-Carlton in 2001, becoming director of group sales and area director of sales and marketing for both The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta and The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead. In 2010, she returned to operations, becoming hotel manager for The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta.
In 2012, Joiner was named senior corporate director of sales planning and support at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, charged with providing global strategic direction for the brand’s direct sales efforts. In this role she designed and launched performance planning, measurement and recognition programs.
Finally, the W Retreat & Spa, Vieques Island, has named Nathalie Urban as its new general manager.
Urban's most recent post was at Presidente InterContinental Cancun Resort. Prior to that, Urban held management positions at Hyatt Hotels & Resorts EAME Divisional Marketing Center in Switzerland, and Hyatt Regency La Manga in Spain, among others.
In 2015, Urban received the Torch Bearer Award 2014 – 2015 for Best Guest Satisfaction at InterContinental Hotels & Resorts in the Americas. Additionally, she was awarded the Prix Vulcain Award for best performance through renovation for InterContinental Hotels & Resorts.