Offer Nissenbaum was named managing director of The Peninsula Beverly Hills. He joins the California property from Omni Hotels, where he was regional VP of operations.

Patricia Monteson was elected chairperson of the International Society of Hospitality Consultants. Other officers elected at the recent ISHC convention in Hong Kong were Thomas Morone, president; Angelos M. Loizou, vice president; Sean Hennessey, treasurer; and Matt Arants, secretary.

Dori Familiant was named general manager of the Hilton Irvine (CA). Also new to the California property is Leah Harrison, director of sales and marketing.

Tom Seddon rejoined InterContinental Hotels Group as chief marketing officer. He replaces Peter Gowers on IHG's Executive Committee and will report directly to Chief Executive Andrew Coslett. He held numerous executive positions with IHG before his most recent post as chief executive of the franchisee advertising trust fund at Subway, the restaurant business. In related news, Gopal Rao was appointed IHG's regional vice president for sales and marketing for Canada.

Paul Sonnabend retired from Sonesta International Hotels Corp., where his last position was executive vice president. Now 80, Sonnabend spent 58 years with Sonesta, including more than 20 as its president. Now, his niece, Stephanie, is president and several other Sonnabends hold executive Sonesta positions.

As the new director of franchise sales and development for AmericInn International, Thomas Giuliano covers New England and the Mid-Atlantic..

Wiley Bates III was hired as f&b director of the NYLO Plano at Legacy, NYLO's inaugural property. He will help develop The Loft, the restaurant and bar at this NYLO in suburban Dallas.

Vesta Hospitality President and CEO Rick Takach was elected chairman of the board of directors of IAHI, the owners' association of InterContinental Hotels Group.

Ronald Parker was named general manager for The Ritz-Carlton Club, St. Thomas, USVI. He had been vice president of purchasing for the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co.

Destination Hotels & Resorts hired Andrew Furrer as vice president of information technology/chief information officer. He joins Destination from Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, where he was technology VP.

Intrawest Hospitality Management promoted Mike Speicher to vice president and general manager, the Westin Imagine Orlando, and appointed Bob Geller its director of sales and marketing. Speicher was VP of sales and marketing at Intrawest's Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. The Westin Imagine Orlando is scheduled to open this spring.

Omni Hotels veteran Mike Garcia was promoted from CFO to SVP, development. He also will serve as SVP of business development for Omni parent TRT Holdings.

Robert Swenson is the new general manager of the Sheraton Waterside Hotel in Norfolk, VA. He joined the hotel, currently under renovation, from the Renaissance Quail Hollow Resort in suburban Cleveland, where he was VP and GM.