Brian R. Wells and Julie Walsh.
Also Benchmark has named Julie Walsh area director of revenue management.
THE WOODLANDS (HOUSTON), TEXAS – Benchmark, a global hospitality company, has named Brian R. Wells general manager for The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center, which is part of Curio – A Collection by Hilton.
“It is such a pleasure to welcome Brian to Benchmark and to The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center,” said Cedric Fasbender, vice president of operations for Benchmark. “Brian brings extensive hotel and conference center experience to this vibrant institution so closely identified with our region.”
The historic Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center, located in Roanoke, Virginia, is owned through a partnership with Virginia Tech and the City of Roanoke, and is managed by BENCHMARK, a global hospitality company, as a member of the Benchmark Resorts & Hotels brand. “Brian understands the importance of the hotel and conference center as both a community gathering place and an economic engine for the entire region,” said John Dooley, CEO of the Virginia Tech Foundation. “We look forward to continuing the tradition of making The Hotel Roanoke ‘a special place’ for our guests and visitors.”
“Roanoke has so much to offer visitors to this region. Brian brings the hotel, conference center and the community a great mix of leadership skills, operational experience and Hilton brand knowledge that makes him such a good fit for Roanoke at this time,” said Chris Morrill, City Manager of Roanoke.
Brian Wells brings 25 years of exemplary leadership experience as general manager, in food and beverage and within property operations to his new position at The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center. He was most recently general manager for the Hilton Durham located in Durham, North Carolina. During his tenure there, the hotel received numerous awards of excellence from the Hilton brand and TripAdvisor among many others. Mr. Wells has also served as area general manager for the Nathan Hale Inn & Conference Center, a full-service hotel complementing the University of Connecticut, and as task force general manager for the Sheraton Colonial of Wakefield, Massachusetts.
Mr. Well’s ties to the communities where he has lived and worked run deep. He recently served as the Lead volunteer photographer for Sara P. Duke Gardens – Durham NC. In a previous position, he was the President and 5 year Executive Board Member of the Windham Region Chamber of Commerce. He also served as a Board Member of The Last Green Valley – a National Heritage Corridor. Additionally, he was appointed to the Joint Use Committee, the Conference Partners Committee, and the Family Weekend Committee at the University of Connecticut. Mr. Well’s looks forward to being involved in business and community groups in the Roanoke region as well.
Also Benchmark has named b area director of revenue management. Kim Nugent, vice president revenue management, made the announcement. Ms. Walsh will be based in Benchmark’s New Brunswick, New Jersey, offices.
"It is a great pleasure to welcome Julie back to Benchmark", said Ms. Nugent. “Not only is she supremely qualified for her new responsibilities, she comes with a complete understanding of her market and of Benchmark.”
Julie Walsh's area revenue management responsibilities will span Benchmark properties coast to coast, including select hotels and resorts located in California, Wyoming, and Massachusetts. This is a return to Benchmark for Ms. Walsh, as earlier in her career she served as front office manager for the company's Heldrich Hotel in New Brunswick, New Jersey. She was most recently revenue manager for the Wyndham Hotel Group.
Ms. Walsh is a graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the International School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. She resides in Morristown, New Jersey.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
