People ~ November 2011

Bryan Huskey, national director of marketing, Shell Vacations

Shell Vacations, an independent vacation ownership development organization with three Canadian properties, has recently promoted Bryan Huskey to national director of marketing. Huskey’s previous position was national marketing manager. Huskey has 13 years of experience in the vacation ownership industry. He started with Shell Vacations in 1998 as a call centre trainer/recruiter.

Huskey takes over for Jack Waller who has been named vice president of marketing for Shell Vacations. Waller brings over 18 years of vacation ownership industry marketing experience. He joined Shell Vacations in 1993 as a marketing manager and advanced to become SVC’s national director of marketing.

Master-Bilt, manufacturer of a full line of premier commercial refrigeration systems for over 70 years, recently announced the appointment of Ross Marketing as sales representatives for Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario. With an office in Winnipeg, Dave Ross has been in the refrigeration industry for 39 years working at the dealer/distributor level. Ross has also been involved in refrigeration installations for major foodservice chains like Tim Hortons.

Ian McAuley has left his job as president, Superior Lodging Corp.

Ian McAuley has left his job as president, Superior Lodging Corp., where he has worked for the almost 16 years. He has joined Renaissance Lifestyle Communities Inc. as president and CEO.

McAuley joined Superior Lodging Corporation in January 1996. The company is the Canadian Territorial Developer of Super 8 Worldwide, Inc. and Wingate by Wyndham Worldwide, Inc. Super 8 has 135 properties operating in Canada. Wingate by Wyndham has 3 properties operating in Canada. While at Superior, McAuley was also a director for Hallmark Properties Inc., Northern Vision Developments Ltd. and Airline Hotels & Resorts.

Michael Guzmicky, program manager, Certificate of Recognition, go2

go2, BC’s tourism industry human resource association, has appointed Michael Guzmicky to the position of program manager, Certificate of Recognition (COR). In his new role, Guzmicky is responsible for managing the COR health and safety program for tourism and hospitality operators. For the past 9 years, he has been at WorkSafeBC as an industry specialist for the hospitality sector and later for the area focusing on young and new worker injury prevention. Prior that, he was an instructor at Vancouver Premier College of Hotel Management and worked at Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver in various food and beverage management positions.

Michelle Leroux, director of sales & marketing, Sheraton Centre Toronto

Tony Dunn, general manager of the Sheraton Centre Toronto has announced the appointment of Michelle Leroux as director of sales and marketing. Leroux brings more than 25 years of hospitality and sales experience, most recently as director of sales at the Delta Chelsea Hotel in Toronto. During her five years at the Delta Chelsea, Leroux’s team was responsible for growing rooms and catering revenues and was recognized as Sales Leader of the Year in 2008. Prior to that, she was director of sales and marketing at Renaissance Toronto Airport Hotel and at Toronto Marriott Bloor Yorkville where she coached and developed the sales team, increasing market share and revenues. She currently serves as a member of Tourism Toronto Sales Advisory Committee.

Shurland George, manager education and skills development, OTEC

Shurland George has joined the OTEC workforce development team as manager, education and skills development. George’s background, which combines tourism and education, is a perfect complement as OTEC continues to grow and develop in the Ontario education and tourism sectors. George has over 15 years of Canadian and international experience in the tourism and hospitality industry. As a former post-secondary tourism instructor, he will be responsible for bridging the tourism and hospitality skills gap through partnerships with education, training partners and industry stakeholders.

Realstar Hospitality has added two new members to its corporate team.
Francesca Wylie has joined the marketing team as marketing associate reporting to Melissa Kenney, senior director, marketing. Wylie will be responsible for regional marketing, internal communications and public relations for Days Inns - Canada. Wylie previously held marketing positions at Sears Canada and City of Perth, Western Australia.

Marc Savoie and Francesca Wylie have joined Realstar Hospitality as customer and supplier relations associate, and marketing associate.

Marc Savoie joins the corporate office as customer and supplier relations associate. Reporting to Robert Frias, senior director, operations, Savoie will be responsible for strengthening and maintaining supplier relations. Prior to joining Realstar, Savoie was employed by Jonview Canada as a product - inventory agent for Quebec.

Ralf Strub, president and COO, Bellstar Hotels & Resorts

Ralf Strub is now president and chief operating officer (COO) of Bellstar Hotels & Resorts. “Ralf Strub’s promotion to president and COO recognizes his leadership in structuring and positioning Bellstar Hotels & Resorts for further growth and making it even more successful in its operations,” said Ed Romanowski, president and chief executive officer of Bellstar Group Inc.

Strub joined Bellstar in March, 2010 as vice-president of operations with over 28 years of international and Canadian hospitality industry experience. He earned his industry stripes while working in management positions in food and beverage, and sales and marketing with Moevenpick of Switzerland and independent luxury destination resorts. He managed turn-arounds of hotels and resorts in Switzerland, Canada, Republic of Maldives, and Austria. He also managed development projects in South Korea, Italy, Germany and Russia. In 2004, Strub joined Prime Restaurants of Canada, working out of Ontario. He took on the role as vice president of Western Canada and relocated to Vancouver in 2008.

Robert Pratt, a hotel industry leader for more than 25 years, has taken over as president of Coast Hotels & Resorts in the wake of Graeme Barrit’s departure.

Immediately prior to joining Coast Hotels & Resorts, Pratt was chief operating officer of Westmont Hospitality Group in Toronto where he oversaw operations of 160 hotels across Canada operating under 12 franchised brands employing 10,000 people.

Pratt built his career in the hospitality industry from the “ground floor up” working in hotels, restaurants and night clubs during his teen years. After graduating from Cornell University School of Hotel Administration with a Bachelor of Science, Pratt spent 17 years with Westin Hotels and Resorts eventually serving as general manager of the Westin Hotels properties in Ottawa and Edmonton. He then joined SilverBirch Hotels & Resorts rising to the position President in 2007. At SilverBirch, he was responsible for operations of 40 hotels coast-to-coast operating under 12 franchised brands employing 4,500 staff. Pratt has also held senior volunteer positions with the United Way of Ottawa, Winnipeg and Edmonton and is a current board member of the Hotel Association of Canada.

Samantha Geer has moved from representing Four Seasons Vancouver to public relations representative at the Fairmont Pacific Rim as of October 3. “I am thrilled to announce that as of October 3rd, I will be representing the Fairmont Pacific Rim. I am so excited to have the opportunity to be able to share the stories of this modern oasis and represent a truly amazing property,” Geer said in an e-mail.

Kate Colley and Sarah Peters at are taking over Geer’s previous responsibilities at Four Seasons.

Executive chef Mark Steele moved to Marriott Ottawa in September

Executive chef Mark Steele has moved from Ottawa’s Algonquin College to the Marriott Ottawa in September. Steele had served as executive chef at Algonquin since May 2009. Prior to that he held positions with Hilton Hotels, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Cara Operations. Steele has competed in many culinary competitions. His most recent Gold was for Canada’s Eastern Region at the CCFCC National Chef’s Challenge, which led him to represent Eastern Canada at the national CCFCC Conference at Caesar’s Palace in Windsor, Ontario. In September, 2010, he won Silver for his Newfoundland Seafood Chowder at the International Shellfish Festival.

David Garcelon, with bees on roof of Fairmont Royal York in 2008

David Garcelon put his mark on the Fairmont Royal York in his almost six years as executive chef by installing beehives and growing wild strawberries on the roof of the iconic hotel, and implementing menus to suit everyone from vegetarians to macrobiotic eaters. He has moved to New York as the director of culinary at the Waldorf Astoria, another iconic property. Prior to his work at the Royal York, Garcelon was executive chef at the Fairmont Southampton Bermuda.