Meeting News - February 16, 2009 - (Page 24)

SOUTH REGIONAL People Making News Kimpton Hotels has tapped Mark Fischer to become general manager of the new 304room Hotel Palomar Atlanta, which is slated to open this spring. Also joining the hotel’s staff is Atlanta native Alicia Junca, who will serve as director of sales and marketing. Located in the growing Midtown area, the Palomar will have 304 guest rooms and 10,000 sf of meeting space. Fischer will work to integrate Hotel Palomar Atlanta, Kimpton’s first hotel in the market, into the Midtown community. He also will oversee all daily operations of Hotel Palomar Atlanta, bringing to life Kimpton’s guest experiences, from the “Guppy Love” program that provides guests with a goldfish companion upon request, to the evening Wine Hour that offers guests a chance to indulge in the art of conversation while tasting wines from around the world. “Hotel Palomar Atlanta will open our doors with stylish ambience and a certain playfulness in our programs that we believe will create memorable travel experiences,” said Fischer. “We’re eager to become an integral part of the Midtown community.” Part of Kimpton for over six years, Fischer most recently was general manager of the company’s 112-room Onyx Hotel in Boston. As director of sales and marketing, Junca is responsible for introducing the hotel’s meeting and event spaces to clients. Previously, she was responsible for sales and marketing at Twelve Hotels & Residences, managing activities at two of the brand’s Atlanta properties. The University of Virginia Foundation, owner of the Boar’s Head, a Charlottesville, VA, resort, has named industry veteran Matthew Harris as its new general manager. Harris has held top positions at other well-known resorts, such as Callaway Gardens, the Homestead, and the Hershey Lodge. He has also worked with the Hilton, Ritz-Carlton, and Hyatt brands. “We consider ourselves fortunate to have secured a leader of Matt’s caliber,” said Tim Rose, chief executive officer of the University of Virginia Foundation. “In each of his former positions, he’s energized the organization, created excitement around strategic planning, and implemented systems that boosted performance and increased revenues.” As Callaway Gardens’ GM, Harris instituted a feedback system that helped the resort extend its network of relationships with meeting planners. Going into Boar’s Head with over 25 years of experience, Harris plans to apply such practices at his new home, he said. “In my view, a high-performance organization wholly dedicated to guest satisfaction is critical to flourish in these challenging economic times,” Harris said. The 170-room Boar’s Head has 22,000 sf of meeting space.

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Meeting News - February 16, 2009

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