Ilkin Imanov has been appointed Chair at Marriott Business Council Qatar

Pendry Washington DC - The Wharf is pleased to announce the appointment of Amanda Santiago as Director of Sales and Marketing. In her role, Santiago is responsible for implementing innovative strategies to garner business from meetings, events and leisure clientele, while driving growth and greater awareness to the hotel situated in the vibrant waterfront neighborhood The Wharf, along the Potomac River. With over a decade of experience in group sales and hospitality, Amanda Santiago will direct the team to deliver top-line revenue while preparing and executing innovative and refreshed sales and marketing strategies for Pendry Washington DC - The Wharf. Santiago joins the team most recently as the Director of Sales & Marketing at the Sagamore Pendry Baltimore,and prior to that waswith the Mandarin Oriental, bringing refocused sales objectives and improving employee buy-in, ownership, and engagement.

Italian brings flair and experience to a constellation of venues including freshly refurbished Azura

Carter Creek Winery Resort & Spa, a premier destination in the heart of Texas Hill Country known for its exceptional winery and brewery experiences, announces the appointment of Derek H. Stutz as its new general manager. Equipped with more than 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Stutz takes charge of overseeing all operational facets of the wine country destination directing resort, winery and microbrewery operations. According to Jeff Carter, president of Carter Hospitality – operator of Carter Creek Winery Resort & Spa – Stutz is a seasoned executive with extensive experience in operations management and team development. “Derek is a dynamic and skilled leader with considerable senior level management experience,” Carter said. “We are thrilled to have him take our resort to even higher levels of excellence as we strive to showcase the very best of Texas Hill Country.” Stutz brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having previously served as general manager at Remington Hotels in Corpus Christi, Texas. Before that, he led operations at Sequoia Development’s Hyatt House in Pleasant Grove, Utah, a 125-room full-service property. His extensive background also includes leadership roles with Marriott Hotels and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts across Texas. Beyond his professional career, Stutz is actively involved as a recruiter and team organizer for Team Rubicon, a nonprofit organization that mobilizes veterans to utilize their skills in aiding communities affected by natural disasters and humanitarian crises. He spent 10 years as a senior medical non-commissioned officer and operations supervisor/senior trainer in the United States Army and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in construction project management from Boise State University and Master of Science degree in civil engineering from the University of Iowa.