Global Hyatt Corporation has established a real estate and development team dedicated exclusively to the Americas. Reporting to Steve Haggerty, Global Hyatt Corp.'s recently appointed global head of real estate and development, are team leader Jim Abrahamson, senior vice president, The Americas; Chris Ivy, SVP, western region; and David Tarr, SVP, eastern region.

Gino Belmonte joined Vantage Hospitality as Midwest director of development for The Lexington Collection. The son of Lexington President & CEO Steven Belmonte will work out of Chicago. Most recently a loan officer for American Fidelity Mortgage Service, he also will serve as vice president of franchise termination negotiations for hospitality solutions. In related news, Bill Hanley, a former Cendant hotel executive, has joined Vantage as managing director of international development for the new Vantage Hospitality Group Canada.

Oakwood Worldwide promoted Steve Selcer to president and COO. He had been senior vice president and CFO.

Hotel Equities named Andrew J. Pace director of acquisitions and construction. He joins the Atlanta-based company from Longhouse Hospitality, an Atlanta-based hotel owner and operator.

Bancroft Gordon has been named corporate secretary and vice president and senior counsel for Marriott International. He was assistant general counsel, corporate & securities, with Freddie Mac and general counsel and corporate secretary, Freddie Mac Foundation.

NYLO Hotels has beefed up its corporate team by hiring Stephen Taylor, construction director; Bona Allen, corporate controller; Bhavesh Patel, development manager; and Armand Emmo, design associate.

Michael Morton was appointed corporate vice president of operations for BMC, the former Boykin Management Company. Morton has been involved in single- and multi-property hotel operations since 1985 with brands including Doubletree, Hilton, Holiday Inn, Hyatt and Marriott.

Howard C. Karawan was named chief operating officer of Fontainebleau Resorts. Karawan most recently was president of Kerz-ner International's destination resorts business. Fontainebleau is a Las Vegas-based resort and casino developer best known for the Fontainebleau Miami Beach. Its Fontainebleau Las Vegas, a 63-story, 3,889-unit complex, is to open on the Strip in fall 2009.

Laura Pazzini was appointed director of travel industry sales for the Northeast for Noble House Hotels & Resorts. She already spent 2001 to 2005 as Noble House's director of leisure and travel industry sales.

Gregory M. Smith joined Denihan Hospitality Group as executive vice president of human resources. He is a former HR executive with Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants.

Robb Webb joins Global Hyatt Corp. as chief human resources officer. He comes to Global Hyatt from Citi.

Matt Rhodes has joined the American Hotel & Lodging Association as director of legislative communications.

responsible for the media relations and public outreach strategy of the AH&LA's government affairs division. He comes to the hospitality-industry lobby following a 10-year career with the U.S. House of Representatives.

Shawn Hauver was promoted from hotel manager to managing director of the Loews Miami Beach Hotel in South Beach. He has worked at the Miami-area hotel since 1999. Named public relations director at that Loews hotel was Sarah Murov.