A series of senior operational announcements across the commercial lodging sector highlights a major shift in destination marketing strategy. Prominent lodging properties, including two major urban hotels in New Orleans, have structured new leadership teams within their sales, revenue, and brand development divisions.
These executive appointments match a broader industry effort to maximize group booking revenue, align regional convention services, and capture higher shares of the luxury leisure and business travel segments.
Louisiana Lifestyle Properties Expand Commercial Portfolios
The hospitality landscape in New Orleans is seeing a major influx of local corporate expertise. The Aloft New Orleans Downtown has officially named Sebastian Westbrook as its new director of sales and marketing. Westbrook moves into the role following a successful tenure as sales manager at the nearby Element New Orleans Downtown. His extensive profile includes a six-year background as a business travel specialist with Marriott International, where he managed complex corporate travel accounts and corporate client partnerships.
Simultaneously, The Eliza Jane—a prominent 196-room historic boutique property situated in the heart of the New Orleans central business district and a recent addition to Marriott’s Autograph Collection—has appointed Yvonne Everhardt as its director of sales and marketing. Everhardt, a native of New Orleans, previously directed commercial revenue efforts at Le Méridien New Orleans and the Marriott at Lakeway.
Holding a master’s degree from the University of New Orleans focused on restaurant, hospitality, and tourism management, she is tasked with steering the property’s group sales framework and expanding its presence in the premium boutique lifestyle market.
Midwestern and Coastal Convention Hubs Secure New Directors
Beyond the Gulf Coast, major leisure resorts and metropolitan properties are adding experienced professionals to their marketing teams to boost regional group bookings:
The LaSalle Chicago, Autograph Collection: The boutique business property has selected Mark Cully as director of sales and marketing. Cully brings over 30 years of large-scale convention leadership to the hotel, having previously managed major citywide accounts for the Swissôtel Chicago, the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, and the Palmer House Hilton, before serving as vice president of global accounts at HPN Global.
The InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile: The high-capacity Michigan Avenue property has named Noelle Gonzalez as director of marketing. Gonzalez joins the hospitality team directly from the sports entertainment sector, where she served as director of advertising and digital marketing for the Houston Astros, following similar corporate marketing roles with the Tampa Bay Rays and the Texas Stars.
The Candler Hotel Atlanta: Located in the downtown historic district, this Curio Collection by Hilton property has appointed Patrick Lee as director of sales and marketing. Lee brings 15 years of brand strategy experience, with 12 years spent directly within the Hilton portfolio optimizing property performance and local corporate accounts.
The Curtis Hotel Denver: This downtown property welcomed back Kevin Siegrist as director of sales and marketing. A graduate of the University of Denver’s hospitality management program, Siegrist recently directed commercial strategies for the Kimpton Palladian in Seattle, with prior leadership stints at the Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver and Hotel Jerome in Aspen.
Luxury Eco-Resorts and Tropical Destinations Strengthen Group Sales
The luxury leisure sector is also adjusting its commercial teams to better capture international group business and corporate retreat demands. Siari, Riviera Nayarit, a prestigious Ritz-Carlton Reserve property located on the Pacific coast of Mexico, has named Royer Segura as its director of sales and marketing. Segura, originally from Costa Rica, has spent over a decade climbing through Marriott International’s operational and commercial divisions across Central America, the Dominican Republic, and premium Mexican corridors like Los Cabos.
In Hawaii, the Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Kāʻanapali, has appointed Michael Piasecki as director of group sales. Piasecki previously managed group accounts as the area director of group sales for Outrigger Resorts & Hotels’ Waikiki portfolio, following extensive corporate sales work with Kyoya properties. His academic background from Johnson & Wales University in sports entertainment management supports his objective to scale premium corporate retreat bookings along the Maui coastline.
Finally, Wild Dunes Resort, a Destination by Hyatt property in South Carolina, has expanded its domestic corporate outreach by promoting Parker Stephenson to national sales manager. To capture midwestern corporate accounts, the resort has also added Kimber DeMoya as national sales manager for the Midwest territory.
DeMoya brings more than 20 years of specialized resort sales experience, moving from the Sunseeker Resort in Florida. These targeted placements across major urban centers and remote coastal enclaves demonstrate how contemporary hospitality brands are utilizing specialized career resources to ensure their regional revenue frameworks remain highly competitive.
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