Industry People 11-24-2005

“Luxury - A Universe Without Boundaries” was the theme of The Leading Hotels of the World’s 2005 Annual Convention held in New Delhi, India, from Oct. 27-30.

The event allowed top management of the Leading Hotels of the World to inform attendees of the company’s 2005 accomplishments, as well as plans for the coming year.

Both the Dalai Lama and India’s minister of tourism, Renuka Chowdhary, spoke at the convention. During her opening remarks Chowdhary referred to India as an experience saying, “You do not come to visit India, you come to experience her.”

As the keynote speaker, the Dalai Lama, gave an address entitled “A Human Approach to World Peace.”

The occasion also featured social events for the many hoteliers in attendance, including a welcome reception at The Oberoi, a dinner at the Taj Mahal Hotel, a polo match and cocktail party hosted at the Oberoi Polo Ground and a dinner at Uppal’s Orchid. The convention culminated with a banquet at Purana Quila (the Old Fort) that offered a red carpet for the guests.

St. Sure Moves to Papakea Resort

Charles “Charlie” St. Sure has been named general manager of the ResortQuest at Papakea Resort in Lahaina, Maui. With 36 years of experience in the travel industry, St. Sure was born and raised in Wailuku, Maui.

He was previously with Outrigger Hotels and then joined ResortQuest Hawaii, formerly Aston Hotels & Resorts. During St. Sure’s time as manager of the Aston Maui Lu, the property frequently acquired accolades for its customer service.

ResortQuest at Papakea Resort offers 174 rooms on a 13-acre oceanfront property. The condominium-style lodgings appeal to seniors and active travelers, and are popular for family gatherings, reunions and wedding celebrations.

West Coast Agent Goes the Extra Mile

At the World Travel Congress in Montreal, ASTA presented its Extra Mile Award to Susan Parr of Susan Parr Travel in Port Angeles, Wash. Parr went above and beyond her role as a travel agent when she came to the aid of a couple about to adopt a baby from Ethiopia.

Circumstances did not allow the couple to bring the baby home themselves, so Parr offered to travel and escort the child home herself. She did this for another family as well.

“Susan Parr truly went the extra mile for her clients by going all the way to Ethiopia to bring her clients’ babies home,” said ASTA president and CEO Kathryn Sudeikis. “Her selfless efforts make her extremely deserving of this honor.”

Parr received a free year of ASTA membership, complimentary registration, travel and accommodations for the congress, a plaque and $1,000, which she is donating to the Layla House orphanage in Ethiopia.

Sheraton Hands Raessler the Reins

Arizona’s Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa has named Todd Raessler resort manager. The position will entail overseeing key components of the resort, such as rooms operations, food and beverage operations and housekeeping.

“I’m very excited to be a part of the executive team at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa,” said Raessler. “I look forward to utilizing my luxury resort experience in one of the world’s most competitive resort, spa and golf markets.”

This experience includes Raessler’s most recent position as the hotel manager for the historic Westin Century Plaza Hotel and Spa in Beverly Hills, Calif., and his education from Cornell University, where he graduated from the School of Hotel and Restaurant Administration.

Coonan

Cochran

Cornwell

In addition to the recent appointment of Cheryl Phelps as general manager, the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa has also made the additions of Kay Cochran as director of sales and marketing, David Coonan as director of food & beverage and Gregory Cornwell as director of human resources.

All three new additions to the resort have had experience working for Hyatt. Cochran served as director of sales and marketing at the Hyatt Regency Long Beach. Coonan comes from a nearly two-year stay at the Grand Hyatt San Francisco and has been part of the Hyatt team since 1993. Cornwell also comes to Huntington Beach from San Francisco, where he was director of human resources at the Hyatt Regency.