[Dana Point, Calif.] May 12, 2015 – Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) has named Chris White as area director of sales and marketing for Southern California where he will oversee luxury properties including The St. Regis Monarch Beach, The U.S. Grant Hotel, W San Diego, The Westin Gaslamp Quarter, The Westin Mission Hills, The Westin South Coast Plaza and Sheraton San Diego.
With more than 20 years of combined sales and marketing experience, Chris will oversee all sales, marketing and public relations strategy for the Starwood properties. His initial focus will be on elevating The St. Regis Monarch Beach’s multi-million dollar refresh of the resort’s 400 guest rooms and suites, to be completed in June of this year.
As the resort approaches its 15th anniversary, White is leading the charge on additional updates such as enhanced in-room technology, the reimagined Motif restaurant, and new hyper-local culinary offerings such as an on-site vegetable garden and rooftop bee program. These renovations will complement and elevate the coastal luxury amenities at the resort, which include a private beach, golf course and Forbes Five-Star spa.
“Chris’ branding expertise in the hospitality industry, specifically with positioning and connecting to the luxury consumer, gives us an edge as we look ahead to the exciting renovations we are making at the resort,” said Ian Pullan, general manager at The St. Regis Monarch Beach. “His experience developing teams with strong guest-oriented culture is sure to deliver growth and success for all the Starwood properties.”
Prior to his new role in California, White honed his skills at several prestigious leisure destination properties. Most recently he served as director of marketing at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, the first and only AAA Five-Diamond and Forbes Five-Star resort on Hawaii Island, which was named the #1 Hotel in Hawaii in the 2015 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards. Chris also served as the director of sales and marketing at the St. Regis Princeville Resort in Kauai where he played an instrumental role in the successful $100 million renovation, re-branding and opening of the full resort, spa and golf course in 2009.
Previously, White served in directorial and managerial roles in sales and marketing at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler in Whistler, British Columbia; the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis; the Hyatt Regency Calgary; the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa; and at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver. In 2010, he was awarded “Sales Leader of the Year” by St. Regis Hotels for his work at The St. Regis Princeville Resort, and in 2003 was awarded “Sales Leader of the Year” by Hyatt Hotels & Resorts.
A triathlete, golf and overall outdoor adventurist, Chris graduated from University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, with a Bachelor of Commerce in marketing.
For more information about The St. Regis Monarch Beach visit www.stregismb.com.
