Movers and Shakers

Sabrina Utting, the new director of sales & marketing at The Westin Harbour Castle has more than nine years of hospitality experience with Starwood Hotels to her credit, most recently serving as director of sales & marketing at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel. In her new role, Utting will be responsible for leading the sales and marketing initiatives at the hotel, as well as proactive communication initiatives.

Bear Mountain Resort is delighted to announce that relationship builder and destination marketing organization expert, Tracey Webster, has joined their team as director of sales. Webster’s career has included 18 years at Tourism Victoria, most recently as director of sales. Her solid connections and contacts from her work promoting Victoria as a world-class tourism destination will be invaluable in her new role at Bear Mountain Resort.

Webster will be overseeing the sales department at The Westin Bear Mountain Victoria Golf Resort & Spa. Her responsibilities will focus on further exposing corporate, meeting and incentive planners throughout North America and the world to The Westin Bear Mountain product.

Sequel Hotels and Resorts has announced three new appointments that reflect the increase in the numbers of youth and females graduating from hospitality and tourism management courses.

Elizabeth Dunn-Boylen has joined the Sequel Team as regional controller. She had worked in the past with Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities in the same capacity. Prior to this Dunn-Boylen worked with Fairmont Hotels, Delta Hotels, ClubLink, and Horseshoe Resort. A graduate of Ryerson in Business Administration and a Certified General Accountant, she will compliment the dynamic and energetic environment and embrace growth with her experience and proactive approach to continuous improvement.

Sequel Hotels and Resorts also welcomes Mathew Foot to Elora Mill where he has been appointed executive chef. Foot leaves Langdon Hall, a CAA 5-Star Property and Relais Chateau, to join Elora Mill. His past experience includes positions at the Four Seasons Toronto, Truffles and the Studio Café. Prior to this he was at Scaramouche for 3 years.

Jerry Feltis is now a regional director and remains the general manager at HV Muskoka Resort. Prior to joining Sequel in 2005, Feltis was the operations director at Deerhurst Resort.

Jillian Greenwood is now manager industry relations for Northern BC Tourism  Association. Based out of the newly created Northern BC Tourism Association satellite office in Prince Rupert, Greenwood will provide stakeholder relations for the region and will be responsible for the delivery of Northern BC’s travel trade program. An active member of the BC tourism industry, Greenwood was most recently the director of marketing for Tourism Prince Rupert, and her background includes roles in marketing, public relations and sales in both the private and non-profit sectors.

Full House Franchise Systems Limited has added two seasoned franchises sales representatives to their dynamic franchise service team to support their continued drive for growth. Rick Keene joins Full House with extensive experience in franchise sales and over thirty years in the hospitality franchising industry. Keene will concentrate on the development of both Howard Johnson and Knights Inn franchises within Canada, focusing on growth in Manitoba and Ontario. Pierre Payette, who helped establish brands such as Dunkin’ Donuts and Dunn’s Famous Restaurant in Quebec, will focus on the continued expansion of both Full House brands into that province. Howard Johnson and Knights Inn are currently looking to expand their portfolio of quality mid-market and budget-minded accommodations across Canada.

Destination Cape Breton is putting people in place to guide the development of a marketing strategy for the Island. Project manager Darlene Sponagle said Dave MacDonald, of the Normaway Inn, was named industry representative from Inverness County on the project management team. The goal of the marketing strategy is to make Cape Breton top of mind with visitors, Sponagle added.

There have been a number of personnel additions at the Canadian Tourism Commission.

Carolyn Jack has been appointed director, 2010 media relations at the Canadian Tourism Commission. A Gemini and Webster award nominee, Jack has worked with Global Television, CBC News, CBC Radio, the BBC and Al Jazeera International, and holds a Masters in Philosophy in Modern Middle Eastern Studies from Oxford University. She will work with global media to get reporters, editors and broadcasters interested in all aspects of Canadian life during the leadup to 2010.

Jean-Sébastien Lesage has been appointed manager, labour relations and employee relations at the CTC. Lesage, who first joined the organization in late 2005, previously worked in human resources at Hydro-Québec and Bell Canada.

Martine Garand has been appointed marketing project coordinator. Garand, who joined the CTC in late 2006 to assist the vice-president of marketing, has a background in education, both as a teacher at the high school and university levels and working for the Ministry of Education.

Walid Salem has been appointed acting executive director, e-marketing. Previously the CTC’s manager of CRM and web applications development, Salem has been instrumental in executing the organization’s e-marketing strategy.

Nicole Blackmer is the new director of human resources development, for Atlific Inns & Resorts, based in Vancouver.

"By the end of 2008 Atlific will manage over 40 hotels across Canada, many in tight labour markets" said Robert Chartrand, executive vice president and CFO, Atlific Hotels & Resorts. "With over 20 years of experience in hospitality, and a background in regional human resources recruitment, Blackmer will be instrumental in fulfilling our future talent needs."

Atlific also welcomed several new managers, including Philippe Guerrard who was appointed hotel manager of The Advantage West Inn and Suites, Ft. McMurray, Alberta. This announcement comes in conjunction with the appointment of Atlific Hotels & Resorts as management company of the property, its sixth in Fort McMurray, Alberta.

John Caneco assumes the role of general manager for the new Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Vaughan which will open in April, 2008. Prior to assuming this position, Caneco was a general manager with a Toronto area Holiday Inn.

Atlific also announced a number of internal appointments. Opening this month, executive suites Garibaldi Springs Golf Resort, Squamish, B.C. welcomes Kris Szylowski as general manager. Syzlowski comes from the Holiday Inn Express Vancouver Airport where he received the Atlific General Manager of The Year Award.

Replacing Syzlowski, Tanner Tredget assumes the role of hotel manager for the Holiday Inn Express Vancouver Airport.

After a strong performance since its opening in 2006, Deana Elchuck has been promoted to general manager of the 88 room Comfort Inn & Suites, Red Deer, Alberta.

And, after almost 20 years as director of sales & marketing of the Holiday Inn Vancouver Downtown, John Jennings assumes a new role as general manager of the Rosellen Suites at Stanley Park.

Egon von Foidl, president and CEO of HRG International recently announced appointment of two pivotal staff members: Andrew Trinder as the The Aerie Resort’s general manager and Castro Boateng as its executive chef.

Originally from the south coast of England, Trinder worked in London and Andorra before landing in Bermuda where he stayed for 10 years.

Boateng moved to Vancouver Island to work under chef Christophe Letard at The Aerie Resort & Spa. The two had a strong synergy and a deep respect for one another. When Letard decided to move on to other ventures, he asked Boateng to step into the executive chef role.