Throughout the month of May and into early June, hotels across California welcomed leadership changes in the shape of general manager appointments.
The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco, hired Nicholas McDermott as its new general manager in mid-May. He comes from a previous general manager role at The St. Regis Houston in Texas and has a distinguished culinary background as well. Before his stint at The St. Regis, he held several positions at prestigious properties in Canada, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Texas—including director of operations at The Westin Houston Memorial City; during his time there, the city hosted the 2017 Super Bowl, which brought in close to 150,000 out-of-town visitors. The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco, offers 22,541 square feet of available function space spanning 14 event rooms and 10 breakout rooms, with its largest meeting space accommodating up to 826 attendees. ritzcarlton.com
Also in San Francisco, The Westin San Francisco Airport and the Aloft San Francisco Airport appointed Christopher Holbrook as complex general manager at the end of May; he will oversee operations for both properties. He brings more than 25 years of experience to the job and held previous positions at hotels in Massachusetts, New York, and California—his most recent being general manager of the now-closed San Mateo Marriott San Francisco Airport. “I have a passion for hospitality and a genuine love for the San Francisco Peninsula with all it has to offer for locals and travelers,” says Holbrook in a prepared statement. “I look forward to working alongside the hotel teams to provide exceptional service and elevated experiences for guests.” marriott.com
Just south of San Francisco in Santa Cruz, La Bahia Hotel and Spa hired Markus Krebs as general manager at the end of May. The beachfront property is slated to open next year and is managed by Ensemble Hospitality, which has offices in San Jose, California; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Phoenix, Arizona. It will join Ensemble’s other Santa Cruz property, Dream Inn. Krebs will be in charge of establishing the pre-opening offices and working closely with project managers on the construction of the hotel. La Bahia will offer 155 guest rooms, four on-site restaurants, a spa and other wellness areas, and space for meetings and events. ensemble.net
Down in Santa Barbara, The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara, appointed Bradley Cance as general manager in early June. He brings more than 30 years of luxury hospitality experience to the role, with previous positions held at other Ritz-Carlton properties alongside the prestigious Bethesda Country Club in Maryland. “I am thrilled to take on this role as general manager at this exception Ritz-Carlton property on the beautiful California coast,” says Cance in a prepared statement. “I’m passionate about delivering world-class service that exceeds expectations—and I’m looking forward to continuing the legacy of providing curated experiences with exquisite hospitality unique to Bacara.” The hotel sits on 78 acres of land and features 358 guest rooms, six culinary outlets, a 42,000-square-foot spa and wellness center, three salt-water infinity pools, and 70,000 square feet of meeting and event space. ritzcarlton.com
The Hollywood Roosevelt hotel in Los Angeles appointed Andrew Jay as its general manager at the end of May. The LA native brings a wealth of hospitality experience to the role, with a resume of former managerial positions at hotels in Louisiana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Texas, and Rhode Island, among others in California. “Joining the team at The Hollywood Roosevelt, a place steeped in the city’s rich cinematic and cultural heritage, offers the perfect home for me to use my passion for hospitality, entertainment, and the culinary arts,” says Jay in a prepared statement. “My goal in this new role is to ensure that every guest’s experience is as unforgettable as the hotel’s legacy, which I feel seamlessly blends the glamour of old Hollywood with the modern, innovative spirit of today.” The hotel features several on-site spaces for meetings and events. thehollywoodroosevelt.com