Smart Moves—at Salamander, Hotel del Coronado and More

Salamander Hotels & Resorts has named Tracey Slavonia as chief sales and marketing officer. In this role, she’ll oversee corporate strategic sales, marketing and revenue management initiatives for the brand’s portfolio of properties in Middleburg, Virginia, New Orleans, Charleston and various cities in Florida. Slavonia previously worked as chief marketing officer for the Enchantment Group and Canyon Ranch in Tucson. She was also vice president of sales and marketing for Miraval Resorts in New York and Tucson and vice president of sales, marketing and revenue development for PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

San Diego’s Hotel del Coronado has added Dane Gorup as director of events and catering. In this position, he’ll oversee conferences and catering at the beachfront resort. Gorup worked at Hilton Anaheim Hotel, where he served in several positions over the last six years, including director of catering and group sales and food and beverage director.

Rhanee Palma has received a promotion at Visit Oakland in California. After two years as director of sales, Palma will take on oversight of meetings and conventions as vice president of sales and services. She’s previously worked as director of sales at Hilton San Francisco Financial District and in local and regional sales roles at various Marriott International properties, including Oakland Marriott City Center and Courtyard by Marriott Oakland Downtown.

Daniel Ben-Efraim is ready to dip his toes in the sand as vice president of sales and marketing at Shutters on the Beach and Hotel Casa del Mar in Santa Monica, California. Both are part of Edward Thomas Collection of Hotels. Most recently, Ben-Efraim was director of marketing for Loews Regency New York in New York City. He has also been director of sales and marketing at The London New York City. He began his hospitality career at Hyatt West Hollywood in California. Ben-Efraim has also held positions in entertainment at Paramount Pictures and A&R Worldwide/MUSEXPO in Beverly Hills, also in California.

Brian Coughlin is assuming the role of general manager at the new flagship Live! Hotel in Hanover, Maryland. In this position, he will manage hotel operations, raise brand awareness, train staff and oversee guest services, compliance, financial planning and revenue management. Most recently, Coughlin was director of rooms at Caneel Bay Resort on the island of St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and he boasts than 20 years of experience at luxury hotel properties. Among these are St. Regis Houston, The Elysian Hotel (now Waldorf-Astoria Chicago), The Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia and The Hotel Hershey.

Benchmark, a global hospitality company, announces the return of Eric Gavin to the company. He’ll be senior vice president of sales and marketing at The Woodlands, Texas, near Houston. Previously, he was the company’s regional vice president of sales and marketing, overseeing properties in Florida, California, Tennessee and the Caribbean, before accepting the role of chief marketing officer at Salamander Resorts & Hotels. Gavin has also worked as vice president of marketing for Noble House Hotels & Resorts.

Chicago-based Arbor Lodging Management has appointed Lucio Pelloso as corporate director of sales. He first entered the world of hospitality as catering rooms manager and departmental trainer with InterContinental Hotels Group in Chicago. From there, he moved to Dow Hotel Company as sales manager, Fireside Land Development as director of sales and marketing and Hospitality Ventures Management Group, where he oversaw properties in Illinois and Michigan as regional director of sales and marketing. Pelloso was also director of sales at the Chicago Marriott Naperville for Janko Hospitality Group.

A round of applause goes to Neisja Jones for her promotion by Mainsail Lodging & Development to general manager of Mainsail Housing of Tampa, LLC. Since joining the company in 2001, she’s been director of sales and general manager of Mainsail Suites Hotel & Conference Center and director of sales of Epicurean Hotel. Jones has also worked in various roles for Marriott hotels in the Tampa Bay area.