Chef Andre Walker has joined Toronto’s Sheraton Centre Hotel as executive chef. Chef Walker excels at providing restaurants with innovative
solutions while driving expansion and his past success proves he will take the
hotel to new heights. Most recently he worked
as the director of operations and corporate brand chef for Richtree Natural
Markets. Previously he was at the Distillery Restaurant Corporation as an executive chef where he spearheaded the culinary operations for the opening of
two of their restaurants. His contributions resulted in both concepts making
Toronto Life’s prized Top 10 Restaurant List. He is no stranger to the hotel
scene, with tenures as executive sous-chef at the Hilton Hotel Toronto’s Tundra
Restaurant and chef de partie at the King Edward Hotel in Toronto. Chef Walker hails from a small
town in the North Island of New Zealand and his experience has taken him across
the globe to countries such as Switzerland and China.
Choice Hotels International, Inc. has promoted Brian Kirkland to the position of chief technology officer. In this new leadership role, Kirkland will oversee the company's overall information technology strategy, development and operations. He will report directly to John Bonds, senior vice president, enterprise operations and technology. Kirkland has been a key member of Choice's technology innovation team based in Phoenix, Ariz., since 2015. He previously served as vice-president of engineering. Recently, Kirkland led Choice's efforts to successfully design and launch the industry's first new global reservation system in 30 years, choiceEDGE. Prior to joining Choice Hotels, Kirkland held leadership and software development positions at leading technology companies, GoDaddy and Media Temple.
Newly appointed to the Hotel Association of Canada Board of
Directors for 2018 is Sara Glenn, senior vice-president of operations, Canada,
Bermuda and the Caribbean for AccorHotels. As the association implements its
new strategic plan, Sara will bring immense value to the association drawn from
her extensive knowledge of the industry. Sara will bring over 25 years of
senior hospitality experience uniquely based in both the ownership and
operating sides of the industry. “We are thrilled to have a great female
executive in Sara Glenn,” said Susie Grynol, president, HAC. Before she joined Accor in 2016, Glenn led InnVest's asset management and capital investments teams.
Jeff Hyslop joined
InnVest Hotels in January 2018 as the Senior vice-president of Asset
Management. In his role Jeff leads the Asset Management team, which is focused
on maximizing performance and value of InnVest’s portfolio of 93 hotels. He has over 20 years of
experience in the hospitality industry including 12 years in progressive Asset
Management roles. Prior to joining InnVest he held senior roles at
Pomeroy Lodging, Westmont Hospitality, Legacy Hotel REIT and PKF Consulting.
Hyslop started his career in the hospitality industry in many front line
positions at hotels in Toronto, Vancouver and New Brunswick. He received his
Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Guelph’s School of Hospitality and
Tourism Management and has a Certificate in Urban Land Economics from the
Sauder School of Business at UBC.
Robin Cumine is now general manager of River Cree Resort and Casino, located in Enoch, Alta. Prior to that, he was vice-president Operations for APX Hotels Group for three years. AT APX, he was responsible for establishing and
optimizing operational processes and functions to ensure a solid platform for
future growth in line with APX strategy. Before that, Cumine was area general manager for SilverBirch Hotels & Resorts where he was responsible for all aspects of hotel operations
as well as for the coaching and mentoring of all senior leadership team
members. He is also past president of Skal Club of Edmonton, chair of the human resources committee for the Alberta Hotel & Lodging Association, and previously served on the Board of Directors for Edmonton Northlands.