A number of hotels—and a hospitality company—have appointed and promoted sales and marketing leaders in recent weeks. Here are some names to know.
Accor’s Luxe RJ Cluster
Patricia Costa has returned to the Accor Group as the new sales and marketing director for the Luxe RJ Cluster in Rio de Janeiro.
Costa has a degree in hospitality management from the Estoril Higher School of Hospitality and Tourism and a postgraduate degree in hotel management from the Universidade Lusófona in Lisbon. Leading the sales and marketing and groups and events teams, Costa will focus on driving revenue growth and executing strategic sales initiatives across the Luxe RJ Cluster, which includes the Fairmont Rio de Janeiro Copacabana, Santa Teresa MGallery Rio de Janeiro, the upcoming Sofitel Ipanema and the beach clubs Tropik and Sel d’Ipanema.
Over her 20-year career in the industry, Costa has held key positions at the Pergola Boutique Hotel, Onyria Quinta da Marina Hotel, and Pestana Palace Hotel & National Monument in Portugal. She first joined Accor in Brazil in 2011 as sales director for Sofitel Copacabana. By 2014, she was promoted to regional cluster sales director for Sofitel in Rio de Janeiro, a role she held until 2017. She later returned to Portugal, taking on senior roles as director of new business at InterContinental Estoril and sales Director at Sofitel Lisbon Liberdade. Most recently, she was commercial director for DUCO Travel Summit.
Almare
Almare, a Luxury Collection Adult All-Inclusive Resort in Isla Mujeres, Mexico, promoted Ana Leyva to director of property sales.
Leyva previously worked at the JW Marriott Cancun Resort and Marriott Cancun Resort and oversaw the renovation of the Marriott Cancun Resort to become the first Marriott-branded all-inclusive property until its opening last March. Leyva began her journey with Marriott in 2017 and has more than 15 years of experience.
Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences New Orleans
Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences New Orleans appointed Natalie Placer director of marketing. Placer has worked at Four Seasons properties across the country.
A graduate of Louisiana State University, Placer’s career in hospitality began at the Westin New Orleans as a conference services manager before joining Four Seasons. Starting at Four Seasons Hotel Washington, D.C., Placer rose through the ranks, holding various roles including sales manager, director of catering and director of sales. Most recently, Placer was the director of sales and marketing at Four Seasons Hotel Austin.
Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk and Hyatt Regency San Antonio River Walk
In Texas, Michael Balyeat is the new director of sales and marketing at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk and Hyatt Regency San Antonio River Walk. After working with the Downtown San Antonio hotels between 2012 and 2014, Balyeat is returning to San Antonio to oversee all sales and marketing programs for both properties.
Balyeat began his career with Hyatt in 2007 as a corporate management trainee at Grand Hyatt Seattle. Balyeat was quickly promoted to sales manager of both Grand Hyatt Seattle and Hyatt at Olive 8. Following his time in Seattle, Balyeat moved to San Antonio, where he was the associate director of sales at Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk and Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk. He was then promoted to director of sales, events and marketing at Hyatt Regency Cleveland at The Arcade, followed by his move to Hyatt Regency Columbus.
Grace Bay Resorts
In Turks and Caicos, Grace Bay Resorts appointed Emma Wilks VP of marketing, digital and communications.
Most recently, Wilks was VP of marketing at Related Companies in New York, where she spearheaded marketing efforts across a variety of high-profile projects in U.S. cities. At Related Companies, she led the Future of Work positioning, focusing on creating lifestyle office districts and helped drive employee engagement initiatives at Hudson Yards in New York City. Before her time at Related Companies, Wilks held leadership roles at Landsec, the U.K.’s largest real estate company, where she led marketing initiatives across commercial, retail, residential and mixed-use projects throughout London and the United Kingdom. Wilks also worked at Landsec and Harrods.
Snow King Resort
Snow King Resort in Jackson, Wyo., appointed Caralyn Ross director of sales, according to resort General Manager Anne Buckland.
A resident of Jackson since 2018, Ross brings 10 years of experience in various sectors of the hospitality industry including gallery management, planning and executing special events, catering sales and conference services. She is returning to Snow King Resort after working as conference service manager from 2018 to 2020.
Westin Dallas Stonebriar Golf Resort & Spa and The Sheraton Stonebriar Hotel
Westin Dallas Stonebriar Golf Resort & Spa and The Sheraton Stonebriar Hotel appointed Robert Jones as the new complex director of sales and marketing.
Jones joins the properties after tenures with several hospitality brands, where he implemented impactful strategies.
Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa
The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa in Tucson, Ariz.’s Santa Catalina Mountains, appointed Mary Beth Seamands as its director of sales and marketing.
Seamands’ past roles include catering and convention service manager and corporate director of sales and marketing. She began her career in Tucson before moving onto South Dakota, Washington and most recently Tempe, Ariz. She has worked at Hilton, Wyndham and Omni hotels.
Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek
Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek appointed Laurie Helley its new senior sales manager, overseeing the U.S. northeast region and international groups. As a key member of the resort sales team, Helley will identify, qualify and secure new opportunities from the market.
With more than 20 years of sales experience, Helley has spent the past four years outside the hospitality sector, most recently as product specialist in the home improvement and building industry. Her hospitality sales background includes key roles at hospitality brands such as Hyatt Regency Orlando, Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate and Bellagio Resort in Las Vegas. Helley is familiar with the Wyndham brand as well, having spent time early in her career as sales manager at Wyndham Palace Resort and Spa, and eventually regional director of business development for Wyndham International in Dallas. She is an active member of several professional associations, including Meeting Planners International, Professional Conference Managers Association, and Corporate Event marketing Association. She earned her degree in food service and lodging management from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.