PEOPLE update as of Dec. 17, 2019

Radisson Hotel Group recently announced that Ken Greene, president, Americas has resigned from his position with the company for personal reasons effective December 2, 2019. The company has embarked on a search for his replacement. “I want to thank Ken for his contributions to Radisson Hotel Group,” said Federico J. González, chair, Global Steering Committee for Radisson Hotel Group. “Growth of our brands in the Americas continues to be a key component of our five-year strategic plan and I look forward to building on the strong foundation and owner centric culture we have established.” Best known in Canada for his role leading Delta Hotels from 2012 to 2015, Greene joined Radisson in June 2017.

Calgary-based Superior Lodging Development TL Corporation is pleased to announce the appointment of Jesse Nagle to the position of marketing manager for Travelodge Canada. Nagle has spent many years within the marketing and communications industry, and he brings extensive experience leading creative planning, execution and the analysis of strategic global marketing campaigns. He also possesses further experience with creative content development across social media, global product launches and corporate communications. Nagle will manage Travelodge Canada’s marketing initiatives and be based out of Calgary, Alberta.

Four Seasons Hotel Toronto has appointed Chad Merced (left) as hotel manager and Maxime Regad (right) as director of Food and Beverage. Both Merced and Regad started their hospitality careers with Four Seasons.

Merced began his career in 2008 in Atlanta as an assistant Front Office manager. He has since held positions at multiple Four Seasons properties including Four Seasons Hotel Corporate Office, Toronto; Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver; Four Seasons Hotel Denver; Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta; and Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, San Francisco.

Regad took his first role with the company in 2005 as a pot washer at Four Seasons Hotel Washington, D.C. He went on to learn various roles across the world, including Room Service manager at Four Seasons Hotel Toronto in 2008. “One of the most important things to me is working closely with this very talented team,” says Regad. “This kind of collaboration and support is essential to the delivery of exceptional customer experience.”

Downtown Vancouver’s only casino is getting a new CEO at the beginning of 2020, with former BC Gaming Industry Association executive director Peter Goudron taking over for Joe Brunini, after his three and a half years at the helm. Goudron spent three years at the BC Gaming Industry Association. Prior to that he worked for Great Canadian Gaming Corporation, rising through the ranks over 11 years to become executive vice-president, Strategic Resources. Goudron’s career also includes being vice-president of River Rock Casino Resort and director of gaming at the PNE.

Best Western Hotels & Resorts has announced that Peter Kwong is the board chairman for 2020. Kwong, who previously served as vice-chairman of the board of directors, brings 35 years of hospitality experience and 25 years of Best Western ownership to his role as chairman. During his time as a Best Western owner, Kwong has served as a governor for Best Western Hotels & Resorts as well as a member of the District VI Marketing Co-op and the Best Western Reservation Technology Committee. In 2015, Kwong was elected to the board of directors to represent the interests of hotel owners in District VI, which includes California, Nevada and Hawaii.

When ARDA CEO Howard Nussbaum retired after 20 years at the helm, the association conducted a year-long national search for his replacement and they found Jason Gamel (left). Gamel’s most recent position was six years as senior vice-president of legal at Wyndham Destinations. Gamel holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Florida – Fredric G. Levin College of Law – and is licensed to practice law in Arizona, California, and Florida. His career includes almost 21 years of experience in the hospitality and timeshare industries, with six years as an associate in the real estate and hospitality practice of BakerHostetler, one of the largest law firms in the U.S.

Tourism Vancouver is embarking on a global recruitment process to replace CEO Ty Speer, whose departure was effective November 28. Ted Lee, the CFO and director of destination development, will be the interim CEO, Tourism Vancouver announced in a memo to members. Speer became Tourism Vancouver CEO in mid-2014, after heading the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Before that, he was director of client service for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games for more than five years. His career also includes work as general manager, consumer publishing and content sales for Australian Broadcast Corp., and GM sales and commercial for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games.