People Appointments for January 2010

Bulbrite has announced the appointment of Cathy Choi to president and Andrew Choi, the former president, to chairman. Cathy Choi previously served as vice president and Andrew Choi was the founder, president and CEO for the past 38 years. Bulbrite is a leading manufacturer and supplier of innovative, energy-efficient light source solutions and the premier educational resource for lamping technology.

Volker Grady has returned to the  Coast Bastion Inn in Nanaimo, BC as general manager of the 179-room property. He previously served as the hotel’s GM from 1999 to 2005. Grady has 14 years of dynamic and diversified hospitality experience serving in a general manager capacity as well as progressive responsibilities in marketing and sales, human resources and community relations. He was most recently sales manager of Three Point Motors Mercedes Benz in Victoria.

The Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) has brought George Young onto its board of directors. During his long career as a reporter with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Young has covered seven Olympic Games. His in-depth knowledge comes at the perfect moment, with the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games nearly upon us. As national private sector representative-at-large, he becomes the 24th member of the CTC board.

G7 Hospitality is a newly launched, full-service hospitality advisory firm that provides hotel owners and operators with a complete range of operational support services under one roof. The venture is the joint initiative of seven leading international hoteliers and executives with a collective professional pedigree spanning the world’s best known brands. The G7 power team includes Armin Schroecker (founder), Klaus Tenter, Gordon Carncross, John Cirillo, Fred Lawlor, Eric Malcolmson and Nicola Thomson. Headquartered in Toronto, the group boasts impressive international credentials with hands-on hospitality management and development experience on almost every continent. The complementary skill-sets of the principals encompass key aspects of hospitality asset management and operations.

The principals of newly-formed consulting firm G7 Hospitality, left to right: Nicola Thomson, Klaus Tenter, Gordon Carncross, Eric Malcolmson, John Cirillo, Armin Schroecker and Fred Lawlor.

Kathryn MacDonald is the new general manager for the 413-room upscale The Westin Edmonton Hotel.  MacDonald brings more than 14 years of hospitality and operations expertise to the position.  She makes the move to Edmonton from The Westin Ottawa in the nation’s capital where she was the director of operations.  Prior to her joining team Starwood, MacDonald worked with Fairmont in Vancouver, Victoria and Whistler.

Micros Systems, Inc., a leading provider of information technology solutions for the hospitality and retail industries, has announced that Gary C. Kaufman will be retiring on March 31, 2010, after serving almost 16 years as Micros’ chief financial officer.  Succeeding Kaufman as chief financial officer will be Cynthia A. Russo, who currently serves as senior vice president and corporate controller.  Russo, who has held various positions in the Micros finance department since 1996, will work closely with Kaufman over the coming months to assure a smooth and orderly transition.

OTEC has elected its directors for the 2009/10 term. Newly elected as chair is Alister Mathieson, dean, School of Hospitality, Recreation and Tourism, Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning. Beatrice Schmied, formerly CEO of Ontario Public Transit Association and currently president, Schmied Communications, becomes past chair. Schmied will continue to advise OTEC in the areas of Accessibility and Transportation Training programs. Anthony Hopkins, president, Anthony Hopkins & Associates, a Human Resource Consulting Company, becomes vice chair, and Paul Dinner, formerly of the Royal Bank of Canada will continue as Treasurer. Anne Marshall, Elmhirst’s Resort, leaves the post of vice chair to become Industry Liaison, and serves to represent the resort and tourism business sector.

Joining OTEC as new directors are: Robin Garrett, president & CEO, OTMPC (Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation); Tony Elenis, president & CEO, ORHMA (Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association); Dr. David Martin, director, Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Ryerson University; Kerry Painter, president & general manager, Niagara Convention & Civic Center; and Victor Cheng, president & CEO, ILogic Inc.

Chris Avery, currently WestJet’s vice-president, revenue and planning, will lead WestJet Vacations, effective November 30, 2009. Avery joined WestJet in 2005 and played a number of key leadership roles before becoming vice-president, revenue and planning. His airline experience spans more than 17 years, with positions at Alaska Airlines as director of capacity planning, at Canadian Airlines as manager of strategic planning, and with tour operators Transat Holidays and Fiesta West (now Signature Vacations).

Tracy Fahlman is the new chief executive officer of the Regina Hotel Association. A long-time resident of Regina, Fahlman’s experience and enthusiasm has created excitement throughout the association’s membership. She is well known in the city’s business and volunteer community; was an executive officer with the Saskatchewan Transportation Company and the former executive director of the Downtown Business Improvement District for Regina. As CEO, Fahlman is responsible for the strategic leadership of the association and will oversee Regina’s Destination Marketing Fund. The Regina Hotel Association is a private, member-based organization representing the finest hotel guest rooms throughout Regina. 

Jim Danz and Bill Tsao, managing partners of Trident Business Management, have recently named two additional advisory partners to their team, joining other respected executives within the lodging and timeshare sectors of the leisure industry. Newly selected advisory partners Frank A. Morrisroe and Gordon R. Bloeser have been chosen to provide strategic guidance and support to the Trident Business Management organization. They join previously selected advisory partners Steve Hicks and Sunil Aluvila. Trident provides services to clients requiring corporate, financial, or operational improvement, short-term crisis management, longer-term stabilization, and growth management.

Longtime hotelier Frank Vismeg has been named president of Skål International Toronto North for 2010. Vismeg brings extensive industry experience and a strong network of relationships developed within the hotel industry, business community, service organizations and at various levels of government. Vismeg has successfully opened three new Hilton Garden Inns, a Homewood Suites by Hilton and a Hampton Inn. He is also an active member of several professional associations.