Belmond | February 12, 2024

FEBRUARY 12, 2024 – El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel, a serene hideaway overlooking the Pacific Ocean amidst the hills of Santa Barbara, today announces two appointments to its dynamic leadership team. These strategic hires will bolster the property’s position as the premier hotel in the American Riviera and reinforce its commitment to providing the highest standards of excellence for guests.

KATHRYN CARLTON, DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING

Kathryn Carlton, a seasoned sales and marketing leader with over twenty years of experience in entertainment and hospitality, joins El Encanto as director of sales and marketing. Over her career, she gained sales experience across diverse geographic regions through her work with luxury, boutique and global brands, and destination marketing with convention and visitor bureaus. She was most recently director of entertainment and media accounts for Hilton Hotels Worldwide, where she focused on entertainment sales strategy and managed a world-class portfolio of entertainment industry clients. At El Encanto, Carlton will leverage her unique cross-industry experiences to lead sales and marketing strategies for the property and strengthen its legacy as a destination for the Hollywood elite. 

ALEX BOLLINGER, EXECUTIVE CHEF

Alex Bollinger has been appointed as executive chef at El Encanto, where he will assume leadership duties over the hotel’s acclaimed culinary program. After graduating from the renowned Culinary Institute of America, Chef Bollinger continued to hone his technical prowess at Aureole, the iconic New York City restaurant that launched the career of celebrity chef Charlie Palmer. He then joined Charlie Palmer Steak in Washington D.C., where he quickly rose to the position of executive sous chef and garnered a reputation for culinary excellence among the local restaurant scene. He has since led restaurant teams at luxury hotel groups, including Mandarin Oriental and IHG. Known for his creative approach to well-loved classics and his passion for supporting local food systems, Chef Bollinger will bring his culinary philosophy to support operations at El Encanto’s dining venues, including its signature restaurant The Dining Room.