September 12, 2024 – Hotel La Jolla, Curio Collection by Hilton, a landmark 50-year-old property located in the picturesque seaside community of La Jolla Shores, has announced the appointment of Maria Sifuentes as its new Director of Sales & Marketing. Sifuentes joins the property on the heels of an extensive multi-million-dollar reimagination encompassing all 110 guestrooms and suites, 1,600 square feet of meetings and space, and its 11th floor restaurant and private events room.
In her new position at Hotel La Jolla, Sifuentes will lead the property’s sales team to drive transient and group business by leveraging the hotel’s newly elevated spaces including its penthouse level restaurant Sea & Sky, as well as its prime coastal location, and personalized, boutique-inspired service structure, positioning the property as one of La Jolla’s most desirable options for conferences and private events.
Maria brings over 20 years of hospitality experience with a focus in hotel sales, marketing, and food and beverage to Hotel La Jolla, having excelled in various leadership roles across the hospitality industry. Her expertise includes hotel transitions and openings, as well as the development of independent restaurant marketing strategies. Most recently, she served as the Director of Sales & Marketing for Colorado-based Sage Hospitality, where she oversaw sales operations for Marriott select brands. At Sage Hospitality, she built and maintained high-performing sales teams to consistently drive business in competitive markets and maintain consistent RevPAR and ADR growth, while also spearheading successful branding, marketing, and digital initiatives on behalf of multiple properties. During her tenure, she and her team garnered multiple awards and accolades within Sage Hospitality including the company’s Community Service, and Service Excellence – Team of the Year awards. Prior to that role, Sifuentes held leadership positions at San Diego’s Excel Hotel Group as Opening Director of Sales, and Huntington Hotel Group as Dual Property Sales Leader, in addition to holding multiple sales manager positions at high-profile properties around the country including the iconic Queen Mary, located in Long Beach, CA.
Sifuentes holds a Professional Certificate in Meeting and Event Planning from San Diego State University and has been recognized with several awards, including the Sage Hospitality Trend Setter Award and the Certificate of Appreciation from the United States Marines Special Operations Command.
A native Southern California, Sifuentes is currently based in Oceanside and enjoys taking advantage of San Diego’s exceptional year-round weather by visiting the area’s local beaches, hiking, and exploring new places to eat.
Hotel La Jolla, Curio Collection by Hilton is located at 7955 La Jolla Shores Drive in La Jolla and is managed by Aimbridge Hospitality, a leading global hospitality management company and the world’s largest third-party hotel operator. For more information visit www.hotellajolla.com.
