KOR HOTEL GROUP APPOINTS SENIOR MANAGEMENT
TO OPEN LODEN IN SUMMER 2007
- David Curell appointed General Manager and Barbara Hicks to direct sales
for launch of Kor’s first Vancouver property -
April 12, 2007 (Vancouver, BC) - Nicholas Clayton, President of Kor Hotel Group, the Los Angeles-based hotel, real estate development and management firm, is pleased to announce two new senior management appointments to its first venture in the Vancouver BC market, Loden Vancouver. David Curell has been appointed General Manager for the stylish new property opening summer 2007, and Barbara Hicks has been appointed Director of Sales.
“David and Barbara represent valuable assets as Kor launches its first Canadian property,” said Clayton in making the announcement. “They each have worked at upscale hotels in Vancouver and know the market and clientele well. Their performance records are exemplary, and both have demonstrated exceptional creativity, an understanding for the importance of customer relations, and the ability to successfully open or re-launch high-profile properties. We are pleased to welcome them to our team.”
• David Curell: In his position as General Manager of Loden, Curell will oversee all aspects of hotel and restaurant operations, from facilities and guests’ needs to special events and marketing. As the liaison to Kor’s corporate office, he will also implement Kor’s high standards in service, amenities and décor.
Curell joins Kor Hotel Group with over 18 years of experience in senior management positions in the luxury hotel industry. Most recently he opened and managed Hotel Vitale on San Francisco’s Embarcadero waterfront, an overnight success that was recognized by both Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler on their Readers’ Choice lists in January 2007. Prior to his position at Vitale, he opened the 96-room Opus Hotel in Vancouver, Canada, serving as its General Manager from 2001 to 2004. A residential-inspired hotel and a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, the boutique property was ideally suited to the hands-on management style and high visibility that Curell prefers. Curell began his hospitality career at Vancouver’s Pan Pacific Hotel in 1989, where he stayed for 13 years, quickly rising from Night Manager to Director of Operations. He holds a diploma in Hotel & Restaurant Management from the British Columbia Institute of Technology.
• Barbara Hicks: In her position as Director of Sales for Loden, Hicks will be responsible for direct sales for the property through the creation and implementation of proactive sales strategies. She will also assist with on-site sales training and development, as well as strengthening Kor’s relationships with key local sales affiliates.
Hicks brings to her position with Kor Hotel Group a 19-year career in sales with Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. Most recently she was the company’s Director of Global Sales for two years, managing sales and destination promotion efforts for both the Fairmont and Raffles brands. Prior to her corporate position, she was Director of Sales & Marketing for the Fairmont Orchid Hawaii, initially as a member of the Transition Team that re-branded the property from its Starwood origins and later as Director proper. Previously, she was Director of Sales & Marketing for four years at the Fairmont Waterfront in Vancouver. Hicks began her hospitality career with Fairmont in 1988 at the 550-room Fairmont Vancouver, where she progressed through a series of promotions during her ten years at the property, culminating with Director of Sales. She holds a diploma in Hospitality Tourism from the British Columbia Institute of Technology.
About Kor Hotel Group
The Kor Group is a privately held real estate development and management firm with investments primarily in hotels, resorts and multi-family real estate. Kor Hotel Group, the hospitality division of Kor, holds a diverse property portfolio and manages both its own assets and non-owned hotels under third-party management agreements. Kor Hotel Group’s properties include Viceroy Santa Monica and Viceroy Palm Springs, Avalon Hotel and Maison 140 in Beverly Hills, The Tides South Beach, Chamberlain in West Hollywood, Loden in Vancouver, The Tides Riviera Maya on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula and Villa del Sol in Zihuatanejo on the Mexican Riviera. Resorts and Residences projects in Miami, Anguilla and Riviera Maya are forthcoming in 2008 and 2009.
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CONTACTS:
Daniel Guerrero
Director of Public Relations
Kor Hotel Group
(323) 930-3832
Laura Serena
Immedia PR
(604) 408-6511
Amy Newcomb / Alisha Mahon
Hawkins International
(212) 255-6541
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