Essex Hotel Management, Rochester, N.Y., has promoted John Kattato to chief operating officer. Kattato will continue to oversee the operations team while expanding his responsibilities to include all departments. His focus will include fostering company culture, assisting with strategic initiative development, and providing leadership and guidance to department heads.
Additionally, Kattato will increase his visibility outside the company as he continues to develop strong relationships with key clients, hotel owners and other stakeholders. He will report directly to CEO Jerry Eichelberger.
With more than 40 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Kattato has been a key member of the Essex team since he joined the company in 2003, most recently serving as senior vice president of operations. In this role, he oversaw the operations teams and contributed significantly to all aspects of opportunity assessment, including acquisitions, new project planning, development, openings, owner relations and brand relations.
Also in the SVP capacity, he served on the company's Executive Management Committee. Prior to joining Essex, Kattato served as a full-service general manager at MeriStar and Interstate Hotels Corp. He graduated from Niagara University with a degree in Hospitality Management and earned a Certified Hotel Administrator certification.
“John has been integral to Essex's growth for many years, more recently becoming a key owner of the company as we broadened ownership across the organization,” Barbara Purvis, president of Essex Hotel Management, said in a statement. “He has demonstrated strong leadership capabilities, and we believe he will bring a new level of energy to Essex as COO. This promotion marks a pivotal moment as the company continues to transition to the next generation of leadership.”