Salt Lake City, Utah (February 23, 2023) – Le Méridien and Element Salt Lake City Downtown is pleased to announce Scott Cochran as its Complex General Manager and Kitty Chau as its Complex Director of Sales and Marketing. Cochran will be responsible for all aspects of hotel operations and Chau will oversee all direct sales, public relations, and marketing communications. Veterans of the hospitality industry, Cochran and Chau possess nearly forty years of combined experience in operations, sales, and marketing communications in hospitality.
Cochran joins Le Méridien and Element Salt Lake City Downtown with a strong background in luxury and lifestyle hotel operations, including with companies such as Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Destination Hotels, Two Roads Hospitality and W Hotels. Most recently, Cochran served as Director of Operations at W Aspen. He has also held the roles of Director of Operations as well as Director of Food & Beverage at Two Roads Hospitality’s properties in Stowe, Vermont. Cochran began his hospitality career as Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ Director of Food and Beverage in Aspen.
Originally from Manhattan, Cochran grew up around cooks and culinary enthusiasts, which guided him to graduate from the International Culinary Center. He then continued his education at Cornell University and Harvard University. Cochran now lives in Salt Lake City with his wife, three children and two dogs. When not overseeing hotel operations, Cochran enjoys snowboarding and watching sports, including his beloved Golden State Warriors and New York Yankees.
Chau comes to the dual-brand property from Aloft Denver Downtown, where she served as Director of Sales. Previously, Chau was Area Associate Director of Sales at Stonebridge Companies, where she oversaw sales for Marriott International’s Aloft, Residence Inn and Courtyard Denver Airport at Gateway Park. She has worked in various sales positions at several Hilton hotels, including in Denver, Colorado; Albany, New York; Boston, Massachusetts; and Providence, Rhode Island.
Born and raised in New York City, Chau graduated from Johnson & Wales University with a B.A. degree in Hospitality Management. She now lives in Salt Lake City with her two dogs. In her spare time, Chau enjoys hiking, traveling, trying new foods, working out and watching her new favorite basketball team, the Utah Jazz.
Le Méridien Salt Lake City Downtown and Element Salt Lake City Downtown opened February 7, 2023. Element Salt Lake City Downtown marks the global brand’s milestone 100th property, with Le Méridien Salt Lake City Downtown arriving as the brand’s first property in Utah. The dual-branded destination is the first time the two extraordinary brands from the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio are combining forces, and together giving the area its first hotel with a full-scale rooftop bar. Salt Lake City’s newest property is managed by Azul Hospitality Group, a San Diego-based hospitality management platform that provides an innovative approach to maximizing performance.
