Several hotels—including two Hiltons in Southern states—have appointed general managers over the past week. Here are some names to know.
Americana Motor Hotel
The Americana Motor Hotel in Flagstaff, Ariz., appointed Dominic Nez its new general manager.
Nez comes to Americana Motor Hotel from Practice Hospitality—the Dallas-based hotel management company behind the property’s recent renovation—where he was director of operations overseeing various properties across the portfolio. Before this, Nez was assistant general manager at InnVentures and held leadership roles at Poco Diablo Resort and Spa, Amara Resort and Spa, Hilton and Westin Hotels & Resorts.
Appellation Healdsburg
Appellation—the culinary-first hotel brand co-founded by American chef Charlie Palmer and former Four Seasons Americas President Christopher Hunsberger—has appointed leaders for the upcoming flagship property in Healdsburg, Calif., including the new GM David Emig.
Emig’s tenure with Four Seasons included leadership roles across Asia, Europe and the U.S. Most recently, he was general manager at Sensei Lana’i in Hawaii.
Gale Miami Hotel & Residences
The Gale Miami Hotel & Residences appointed James D’Agostino its new complex general manager. In addition to his new responsibilities at Gale Miami, he continues to serve as general manager of Gale South Beach.
D’Agostino began his hospitality career as a bellman at the Sagamore Hotel and spent 16 years rising through the ranks to become general manager. Throughout his career, he has worked in nearly every department, including front desk, guest relations, sales and operations. His career also includes pivotal leadership roles at Hyatt Centric South Beach and the Courtyard by Marriott in Coconut Grove, where he steered both properties through the pandemic and spearheaded operational transitions and performance improvements.
Hilton Anatole
The Hilton Anatole in Dallas has promoted Henk Jeurink to hotel manager
Jeurink previously was director of food and beverage at the property, where he oversaw the hotel’s banquet program, on-site dining venues and large-scale culinary operations.
Hilton New Orleans St. Charles Avenue
Hilton New Orleans St. Charles Avenue, recently acquired by HRI Hospitality, appointed Shawn McWhorter general manager. McWhorter has more than three decades of hospitality experience and 10 years with HRI.
He joins Hilton New Orleans St. Charles Avenue from The Barnett and Maison Métier, two HRI portfolio properties, where he was complex general manager. Before that, McWhorter was the director of operations at the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Salt Lake City Downtown as well as area director of food & beverage while taking on multiple general manager task force assignments throughout Dallas; Miami; Jackson Hole, Wyo.; and New Orleans.
Monarch San Antonio
The upcoming Monarch San Antonio, slated to open in March, appointed Richard Slutter general manager.
Most recently, he was the managing director of lifestyle hotel operations for Driftwood Hospitality Management, where he oversaw a portfolio of properties and led several high-profile hotels including the Hotel Bourre Bonne in Louisville, The Scottsdale Resort & Spa, The Canopy by Hilton West Palm Beach and The Radical Asheville. Slutter also held leadership roles at PHR Goldkey, Ritz Carlton, The Hotel du Pont and Park Hyatt.
PGA National Resort
Salamander Collection appointed Allison Dlugatz the new managing director of PGA National Resort in Florida.
Dlugatz joins PGA National Resort from Trump National Doral in Miami, where she was general manager since 2021, and where she also was director of operations and director of catering and conference services during her 13-year tenure. Before that, she served in several leadership positions at the InterContinental Boston Hotel and has worked with Starwood Hotels & Resorts, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and Loews Hotels.