The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation Names New Executive Pastry Chef

The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation has appointed 20-year industry pro David Nolan as executive pastry chef for the luxurious 251-room resort located on Georgia's Lake Oconee.

According to Ralph Vick, general manager of The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation, Nolan takes charge of all bakery operations for the award-winning property, including creating the seasonal desserts for its signature restaurant Georgia's Bistro. He will work closely with newly appointed Chef Yann Chupin and the entire Ritz-Carlton Lodge food and beverage team to create an inventive line-up of pastries, breads, confections, in-room amenities, spectacular showpieces and specialty cakes; as well as to develop the menu for the Lodge's celebrated steakhouse, Linger Longer, which will reopen in April.

"David is a talented, forward-thinking pastry chef with years of experience with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and other world-class hotels; and we are excited to have him present his extraordinary pastry, chocolate and sugar creations at The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation," comments Vick.

He was most recently the executive pastry chef at The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner near Washington, DC, spearheading the pastry program for six dining venues as well as the hotel's signature Pastry Shop for weddings and other special occasions. He was also the executive pastry chef at the AAA Five Diamond Ritz-Carlton Rose Hall Resort in Jamaica.

A native of Canada, Nolan was a chef instructor for the culinary arts program at Malaspina University-College in Nanaimo, British Columbia; and worked for Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Canada for 12 years. He graduated from Niagara College Canada and honed his skills at the famed Empress Hotel in Victoria.

Jared McLachlan appointed Director of Sales at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel

The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel has named Jared McLachlan director of sales.

McLachlan brings nearly 20 years of hospitality experience to his new position, for which he is responsible for overseeing the group sales operation at the 2,265-room hotel. Prior to joining the hotel, he was director of operations for Riverwalk Jacksonville Development, where he managed all aspects of the mixed use development project which included 697 hotel rooms, a free standing restaurant and retail office complex.

McLachlan's career includes a 15-year tenure with the Hilton Hotels Corporation, where he started and learned in several hotel operational departments. He worked his way up to the position of director sales and marketing. His passion for the customer experience and relationship engagement makes him a great fit with the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin team.

He graduated from the University of Central Florida and is actively involved with several charitable organizations including the Princeton House and the Children's Cancer Cooperative.

The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel is a nationally respected and recognized leader in the convention hotel arena. Ideally located in the heart of Walt Disney World Resort, the hotel offers 2,265 guest rooms and over 329,000 square feet of meeting space. Features consist of 84 meeting rooms, including two executive boardrooms, four ballroom options, 110,500 square feet of contiguous convention/exhibit space, outdoor function areas, two business centers, and Disney benefits. Groups also enjoy sophisticated guest rooms featuring Westin Heavenly Beds, the luxurious Mandara Spa and 17 world-class restaurants and lounges.

Chef Brett Smith Named Executive Chef At The Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village

Chef Brett Smith has been named Executive Chef at The Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida. In his new position, he is responsible for overseeing the culinary team at the 301-room Northeast Florida resort, which includes overseeing cuisine for banquets, receptions and meetings at the resort. Together with the adjoining St. Johns County Convention Center and the adjacent World Golf Hall of Fame, The Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village is the largest combination hotel and conference center between Atlanta and Orlando, with 86,000 square feet of meeting and event space.

Prior to joining The Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village, Smith served as the Executive Chef de Cuisine at Sawgrass Marriott in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida for the past seven years. Previous to that, he was the Executive Chef for the San Francisco Marriott Fisherman's Wharf for three years. He also has served as Banquet Chef at the Sawgrass Marriott, and as Chef de Cuisine at the Boca Raton Marriott. He graduated with honors from the Culinary Institute of America. Among the many honors bestowed on him was the "American Culinary Federation Chef of the Year Award" by the Pacific Coast Chef's Association in San Francisco, California. He also was one of an elite group of chefs selected to participate in the "Taste of the NFL," an honor that he received for four consecutive years.

"We're so very pleased to have Chef Brett now overseeing the culinary team at The Renaissance Resort," said Jeffrey Oliasami, the resort's general manager. "I worked with Chef Brett when I was the hotel general manager at Sawgrass Marriott, and he is an exceptional chef who will take The Renaissance Resort culinary to the next level. The food will be absolutely delicious, and beautifully presented too."

Located within the lush 6,300-acre World Golf Village right next to the World Golf Hall of Fame, the resort completed a $10 million resort-wide renovation in 2008, and now features 301 completely remodeled guest rooms and suites, a dramatically-renovated lobby, newly-remodeled guest room corridors, an expanded fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment, enhanced meeting space, and the 500 South Restaurant & Bar.

Guest rooms and suites feature new furniture, soft goods, window treatments, lighting, 37" flat-panel screen LCD HDTV televisions, and the Marriott JackPack, which provides complete connectivity to the guests for laptops, MP3 players, digital cameras, and video game players. The rooms and suites feature a contemporary design with an Asian feel, which includes rich red bed coverings, crisp white linens, along with a color scheme of warm neutral gold. In-room offerings also include high-speed Internet access, two telephones with data ports, a wet bar and refrigerator, an in-room safe, and in-room coffee.

The resort also boasts a dramatically remodeled 10-story atrium lobby, featuring a Colonial/Asian theme with lush foliage and a colorful 7-story modern hanging sculpture that is reminiscent of open Florida skies.

Recreational offerings at the resort include two championship golf courses, the popular Slammer & Squire (just steps from The Renaissance Resort), and the renowned King & Bear (co-designed by Arnold "The King" Palmer and Jack "The Bear" Nicklaus). Guests also have access to four additional golf courses within 15 minutes of the resort, for a total of 108 holes of golf. Additional offerings at the resort include a sauna, pool, hot tub, and full-service concierge.

Guests also are an easy walk to The World Golf Hall of Fame's 18-hole real grass putting course, a 132-yard Island Challenge Hole, an IMAX® 3D Theater, and the Walk of Champions. In addition, guests can take golf lessons at the renowned PGA TOUR Golf Academy.

When visiting the resort, guests and groups have the opportunity to visit nearby pristine Atlantic beaches, take fun eco-tours and chartered fishing trips, enjoy exceptional shopping at two large outlet malls, and explore historic St. Augustine. Founded in 1565, the area is rich with Spanish architecture, with charming cobblestone streets and many fascinating historical sites such as the historic Castillo de San Marcos fortress, and The Fountain of Youth.

For information on The Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village, call 888-740-7020 or 904-940-8000, or visit www.WorldGolfRenaissance.com

Movita Hernandez Appointed Spa Director at Mokara Hotel & Spa

Mokara Hotel & Spa, San Antonio's only Forbes four-star hotel and spa, has appointed Movita Hernandez as spa director of Mokara Spa. In her position, Hernandez will oversee all aspects of operations, staff management and treatment protocol at Mokara Spa and will ensure all services offer the continued brand promise of "exceptional included."

Hernandez's wellness career has spanned more than a decade. Most recently, she was the Spa Director at The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale, where she oversaw all spa operations, which included management of a 35-member team consisting of license therapists, aestheticians and personal trainers. Prior to that, Hernandez was the Spa Director at the Grand Mandara Spa at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort and Spa, where she oversaw spa operations of over 140 employees and coordinated the re-opening of the second property spa. She also held senior-level positions at New York's Peninsula Hotel and Spa and the I-Spa at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel in Washington D.C.

A native of Belize, Hernandez brings extensive luxury spa experience to Mokara Spa and has studied several fields including biology, finance and merchandising. Through her extensive experience in the luxury field, she has been instrumental in the openings of spas as well as creating and implementing new luxury standards and signature treatments.

"Ms. Hernandez's extensive experience as a manager in the luxury spa market will be an invaluable asset to our newly re-branded Mokara Spa," said Rusty Wallace, general manager of Mokara Hotel & Spa. "This is an exciting time at the Mokara Spa, as we have just introduced our new couple's treatment room, and we look forward to having Ms. Hernandez take the reins on our new ventures."