Jim Hollister Named GM at Hotel Palomar Phoenix

Phoenix, AZ (USA) – 26 April 2012 – Set to open downtown in early June, Kimpton’s Hotel Palomar Phoenix at CityScape named Jim Hollister general manager of the hotel. Hollister brings more than 30 years of hospitality experience to the position, including 15 years in general manager roles in Arizona and Southern California. Also appointed was Marty Bertone as director of sales and marketing. In his new role, Bertone will be responsible for corporate and group sales, marketing, developing relationships in the Phoenix business community and directing the efforts of the hotel’s sales team.

Jim Hollister, General Manager
As general manager of Hotel Palomar Phoenix, Hollister will be chief of operations, marketing and creativity for the 242-room destination at CityScape , footsteps from Chase Field, US Airways Center, the Phoenix Convention Center and a host of theaters, music venues, museums and cultural attractions, shopping, bars and restaurants. Hollister will lead the hotel team, managing the day-to-day operations while ensuring an ongoing commitment to locally minded and environmentally conscious practices, as well as upholding the fun and comfortable boutique guest experience for which Kimpton hotels are known and loved.

“Beyond his exceptional resume and familiarity with the local tourism landscape, Jim possesses a true gift for management and leadership,” said Tori McLaughlin, regional director of sales and marketing, West Coast, for the award-winning Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants group. “His passion for authentic hospitality and ability to inspire others made him the perfect person to for the position. We’re proud to have him usher this new hotel into the market.”

Hollister comes to Hotel Palomar Phoenix from FireSky Resort & Spa , which was Kimpton’s first hotel in the Valley of the Sun. He joined FireSky when Kimpton took over management of the hotel in 2005, overseeing the Old Town Scottsdale destination through a series of renovations, as well as the integration of sustainable operations practices. Under his leadership, FireSky became one of the first hotels in Arizona to bear a sustainable certification and to employ composting to divert food from landfills. During his tenure, FireSky also earned three “Best Places to Work” awards from the Phoenix Business Journal, which recognizes Valley businesses based on employee surveys. In 2010, Hollister was honored by Kimpton as general manager of the year.

Prior to joining Kimpton, Hollister was the corporate general manager of the Wyndham Buttes in Tempe, Ariz. Before that, he held titles of area general manager and general manager for various Wyndham destinations in Southern California, including The U.S. Grant, A Wyndham Historic Hotel; Wyndham San Diego; Wyndham Belage Hotel on Sunset Strip; and Wyndham Emerald Plaza Hotel San Diego, where he was recognized as general manager of the year.

Hollister fell in love with the industry at the age of 17 while working as a busboy at a hotel. He launched his hospitality career full-time after graduating from Northeast Louisiana University with a Bachelor of Science in management.

“I quickly realized hospitality was the place for me, and began working my way up through operations departments, a wonderful road that let me to where I am today,” said Hollister. “I truly enjoy what I do, and I couldn’t be more excited about this next chapter at the new Hotel Palomar Phoenix.”

Marty Bertone, Director of Sales and Marketing
Bertone brings nearly 30 years of industry experience to the position, overseeing sales and marketing efforts, as well as leading sales teams at hotels and resorts throughout the United States. Prior to joining the Hotel Palomar Phoenix team, Bertone worked as director of sales and marketing at the 349-room Ravella resort in Henderson, Nev., where he oversaw the re-branding of the hotel from The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas. Previously, he held the position of director of sales at The Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix (281 rooms) and director of sales at La Quinta Resort & Club (796 rooms) in La Quinta, Calif.

“Marty’s depth of experience in sales and leadership in the hospitality industry, along with his local relationships and market savvy, made him the go-to selection to lead our Hotel Palomar sales team. His expertise will help ensure a successful launch of our downtown Phoenix destination,” said Tori McLaughlin, Kimpton’s regional director of sales and marketing, West Coast.

Bertone received a Bachelor of Science in hospitality from Niagara University in Niagara Falls, New York.

ABOUT KIMPTON’S HOTEL PALOMAR PHOENIX AT CITYSCAPE
Kimpton’s Hotel Palomar Phoenix will open June 5, 2012 in the heart of vibrant downtown Phoenix at CityScape, a dynamic new mixed-use development featuring shopping, entertainment and dining. Hotel Palomar Phoenix is an urban retreat that strikes the balance between the energy of its city setting and Arizona’s laid-back lifestyle. The boutique hotel offers 242 spacious guest rooms and suites, all with modern interior touches and views of the surrounding city and mountains. In step with the signature style of Kimpton’s Hotel Palomar, this Phoenix destination combines contemporary design with an “Art in Motion” theme embracing the undercurrent of artistic energy throughout. Amenities include approximately 10,000 square feet of multi-use space across 10 meeting rooms, which can be customized for social and business events. The adjacent Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails showcases a menu of new American cuisine for lunch, dinner, late-night and weekend brunch and a blazing cocktail program that raises the bar for drink culture in the city’s urban core, while the hotel’s third-floor outdoor pool terrace and adjacent Lustre bar provide a scenic venue for gathering. Hotel Palomar Phoenix at CityScape is located at 2 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, Ariz. 85004. To learn more, visit www.hotelpalomar-phoenix.com .

ABOUT KIMPTON HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, a collection of boutique hotels and chef-driven restaurants in the US, is an acknowledged industry pioneer and was the first to bring the boutique hotel concept to America. In 1981, Bill Kimpton founded the company that today is well-known for making travelers feel welcomed and comfortable while away from home through authentic and unscripted customer care, stylish ambience and embodying a certain playfulness in its approach to programs and amenities. Adjacent to the hotels are locally-loved, top-rated, Kimpton restaurants. Kimpton leads the hospitality industry in ecological practices through its innovative EarthCare program that spans all hotels and restaurants. Market Metrix, a recognized authority and leader in feedback solutions, consistently ranks Kimpton above other hotel companies in luxury and upper upscale segments for customer satisfaction. Privately held Kimpton was recognized by Fortune Magazine as a Best Company to Work for in 2012. The company operates more than 50 hotels and more than 50 restaurants in 23 cities. For more information, visit www.KimptonHotels.com or call 1-800-KIMPTON.

ABOUT CITYSCAPE PHOENIX
Located in the heart of Downtown Phoenix, CityScape Phoenix is a place where people come together for dining, nightlife, shopping, entertainment, business, community events and celebrations of all kinds. The perfect spot for a spontaneous night out on the town, CityScape Phoenix is a $500 million mixed-use, high-rise destination that is home to more than 20 retailers including Urban Outfitters, Lucky Strike, Chloe’s Corner, Stand Up Live, Charming Charlie, The Arrogant Butcher and soon-to-open Palomar Phoenix hotel by Kimpton. Surrounded by light rail stops and adjacent to the Valley’s premier professional sports and entertainment venues, CityScape Phoenix is steps away from US Airways Center, Chase Field, the Phoenix Convention Center, Arizona State University’s downtown campus and state and government offices. In an area that once lacked a central core, CityScape Phoenix has become an authentic urban space that connects people and generates energy, creativity, enterprise and excitement all day, every day in one central location. It all starts here. For more information, a tenant directory or to see what’s happening, visit www.cityscapephoenix.com.

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