NASHVILLE, TN/UNITED STATES — JW Marriott Nashville is pleased to announce the appointments of five key leadership positions to the Turnberry Associates owned hotel slated to open this summer. The team expands with Silvia San Martin as Director of Sales & Marketing, Michael Klein as Director of Food & Beverage, Susie McDaniel as Director of People + Culture, Lindsay Staniszewski as Director of Marketing, Ross Bruce as Director of Revenue Management, Michael Edwards as Director of Finance and Steve Vaughn as Director of Engineering. Bringing a combined 115 years of extensive hospitality experience to JW Marriott Nashville, the newest executive members will ensure the success of the highly anticipated property.
“We’ve established a seasoned team of professionals, each bringing his / her diverse background and experience to create a refreshing perspective on hospitality,” said Lukus Kindlesparker, General Manager of the JW Marriott Nashville. “Having strong, well-rounded executives is critical to a successful and impactful opening. We are confident that under this leadership, the JW Marriott Nashville is perfectly positioned to be a leader is the luxury hospitality space in Nashville and beyond.”
Silvia San Martin, Director of Sales and Marketing Overseeing all planning and implementation of sales strategies, San Martin works with her team of sales managers to maximize hotel revenue in all market segments. Fostering and forging key business and client relationships, San Martin works to optimize the reach of the $250 million hotel regionally, nationally and internationally. She also oversees the recruitment, training and operations of the business travel sales and catering sales teams. Prior to joining the JW Marriott Nashville project, San Martin spent nearly 20 years working for Omni Hotels & Resorts. Most recently, San Martin served for four years as the Director of Sales at the 800-room Omni Nashville Hotel, where she spearheaded the sales efforts both pre- and post-opening. San Martin is a graduate of University of Houston’s Conrad N. Hilton & Restaurant Management.
Michael Klein, Director of Food & Beverage Klein oversees the property’s three food and beverage outlets, all banquet and catering services, as well as in-room dining. He works to maintain high standards of quality, service and merchandise to maximize hotel profitability. Prior to his time with Turnberry Associates, Klein served as the Director of Hotel Operations for the Renaissance Austin Hotel. With nearly 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Klein has worked for a number of high-grossing properties, including the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa as Director of Restaurants and Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center as General Manager of Fine Dining Restaurants. Klein has worked as General Manager for both Garden Conservatory Restaurants and Delta Island Restaurants, both organizations which owned and managed restaurants within Gaylord Opryland. Michael graduated from American University in Washington, D.C., with his Bachelor of Arts from the School of Public Affairs. He then went on to obtain his Master of Management in Hospitality from Cornell University in New York.
Lindsay Staniszewski, Director of Marketing As a strategic leader for the property, Staniszewski oversees all marketing, public relations, advertising, digital media and brand creative. Working closely with the sales and revenue management leaders, Staniszewski is responsible for ensuring all external marketing efforts align with the property’s overarching financial goals, directly impacting the overall revenue. Prior to joining the JW Marriott Nashville project, Staniszewski oversaw marketing for the Omni Nashville Hotel, where she helped to garner numerous accolades for the hotel and for the hotel’s outlets. Before stepping into the world of hospitality, Staniszewski worked for notable brands, including Under Armour, Sony Corporation of America and Pandora Jewelry, serving as a key communications leader, both internally and externally. Staniszewski graduated from the University of Maryland College Park, earning her Bachelor of Arts in Communications.
Ross Bruce, Director of Revenue Management As an instrumental leader of JW Marriott Nashville, Bruce is responsible for driving top-line revenue and market share through implementation of strategic pricing and inventory controls. Understanding the trends in the local market, Bruce ensures that all business decisions are made with the financial goals of the property at the forefront. He also oversees the reservations team and works closely with the sales and marketing leaders to manage e-commerce business. Prior to JW Marriott Nashville, Bruce served as the Director of Revenue Management at The Westin Charlotte, a 700-room property in the heart of the city. He has over 10 years of experience working in the hospitality industry in both operations and revenue management. After spending time at the W Atlanta – Buckhead, Bruce was promoted to lead the revenue support team for eight Starwood Hotels & Resorts properties, which included Westin, Sheraton, W and St. Regis brands. A graduate of Georgia State University, Ross Bruce earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in Hospitality Administration.
Michael Edwards, Director of Finance In his role, Edwards provides financial expertise across all hotel disciplines to maximize the return on investment and ensure successful implementation of the Turnberry Hospitality service strategies. Edwards is responsible for the creation and execution of JW Marriott Nashville’s business plan and ensures that all business operations are aligned with the company’s financial goals. Prior to joining the JW Marriott Nashville, Edwards served as Director of Finance & Accounting at Gaylord Opryland. Edwards has worked in the hospitality industry for nearly 20 years, with experience in both operations and financial management. This is his second JW Marriott property, as he spent nearly five years working for the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa. Edwards has worked at the San Diego Marriott Del Mar, the Seattle Marriott Waterfront and at multiple high-grossing waterparks across the country. Michael Edwards is a graduate of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Psychology. He then went on to graduate from Texas State University with his Master of Business Administration.
JW Marriott Nashville The JW Marriott Nashville offers the ideal location in the heart of downtown, adjacent to the state-of-the-art Music City Center. The first-to-market JW Marriott property will offer 533 guestrooms, inclusive of 37 suites, along with a broad array of amenities, including renowned chef and restaurateur, Michael Mina’s Bourbon Steak. Offering a diverse setting for business, meeting and pleasure travel pursuits, the 33-story hotel will feature 50,000 square feet of indoor function space, including a 15,000-sq. ft. Grand Ballroom. JW Marriott Nashville is conveniently situated a few blocks from the Bridgestone Arena, the legendary “Honky-Tonk Highway” on Lower Broadway and the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum. Owned and operated by Turnberry Associates, the JW Marriott Nashville is located at 250 8th Ave. South, Nashville, TN and will officially open its doors in 2018. To learn more, visit the official JW Marriott Nashville website at www.jwmarriottnashville.com or follow the hotel on social media via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
