InterContinental Hotels & Resorts has announced the appointment of general managers at its Los Angeles and Tel Aviv properties. InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown and InterContinental David Tel Aviv have appointed Sven Wiedenhaupt and Franco Vella as general managers, respectively.
Wiedenhaupt brings over 40 years of experience to the hotel, where he leads a highly engaged team at InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown. He has a strong track record with the development and building of teams, employee engagement, financial performance, sales and revenue strategies and F&B enhancement. Prior to joining InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown in June, Wiedenhaupt served as the general manager of the Indian Wells Golf Resort in California. His experience expands upon both international and domestic roles, holding leadership positions at a range of hospitality groups including Four Seasons, Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, The Estate Yountville and Marcus Hotels & Resorts.
Wiedenhaupt’s career began as a kitchen porter responsible for washing pots and pans at the Leather Bottle in Mattingley, Hampshire, before becoming a fry cook at the local train station in the town of Hook. He then joined L’Ecole Hôtelière De Lausanne in Switzerland. After a few years, he landed his first role as F&B director at Four Seasons Hotel in New York City. In this role, he led the hotel’s culinary team in menu development, saving initiatives, and the refresh and opening of three outlets, working with Joel Robuchon in establishing the iconic LAtelier De Joel Robuchon.
The 73-story, 889-room property is just blocks from Staples Center and L.A. Live, and houses a range of culinary options and meeting spaces.
Additionally, InterContinental David Tel Aviv has welcomed Franco Vella as general manager. Vella brings nearly 30 years of hospitality experience to the property, overseeing all hotel services and operations.
Vella’s decades of experience as a hotel general manager includes 11 years at InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG). His most recent role was that of general manager at Marriott International - Sheraton Tel Aviv, a property he led for over nine years. His experience spans multinational hotel companies across Malta, the U.K. and Israel. Previously held roles include those of general manager of Le Meridien St. Julians (now Malta Marriott Hotel & Spa) in his home country of Malta, group general manager of IHG’s U.K. hotels within the Geminex Hotel & Leisure Group and general manager of 706-room Kensington Close Hotel (now Holiday Inn Kensington) in London. Throughout these roles, he has generated a significant increase in revenue while improving processes and service quality. Vella also significantly contributed his professional counsel and expertise to a range of hotel rebrandings, openings, and the development of systems and procedures to maximize efficiencies.
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