SONOMA, CALIF. (December 22, 2023) – The Lodge at Sonoma, an Autograph Collection Resort, the quintessential luxury resort located in the heart of Northern California’s wine country, is pleased to welcome Fungai Muzunze as General Manager. With more than 25 years of experience working in luxury hotels across the globe, Muzunze brings a wealth of expertise to his new role where he will oversee strategic and day-to-day operations at the expansive 182-room resort, including food and beverage management, sales and marketing, team member engagement, overall guest experience, and more.
The Lodge at Sonoma is an oasis for the ultimate wine country vacation experience, appointed with farm-to-table dining at all on-site establishments – including the destination-worthy Wit & Wisdom by celebrity chef Michael Mina – as well as luxurious and expansive guest rooms and suites, a dynamic outdoor pool and bar, a tranquil spa, versatile meeting and event spaces, distinctive amenities, dynamic locally inspired partnerships and events, and access to Sonoma’s local heritage.
Prior to joining The Lodge at Sonoma, Muzunze served as General Manager of Hotel Emblem in San Francisco, where he successfully supported the hotel’s reopening, following its pandemic closure. During his tenure, Hotel Emblem achieved the coveted status of becoming the number one rated hotel in San Francisco, on TripAdvisor. Additionally, Muzunze has managed several notable hotels throughout San Francisco, including having Management roles at Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco and leading The Alise Hotel, and Infinity Hotel.
“I am honored to join the team at The Lodge at Sonoma and to call this stunning wine country enclave home,” says Muzunze. “Sonoma is a beloved destination for travelers and locals alike and I look forward to working alongside each team member and delivering a luxury experience that singularly highlights our enchanting locale to every guest at the resort.”
Originally from Zimbabwe, Africa, Muzunze began his career at Meikles Hotel, Zimbabwe’s premier hotel, before accepting a role at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Doha, Qatar. During this time, he held various food and beverage roles before being selected to participate in Sommelier training, orchestrated by The Ritz-Carlton, in France and Italy. Upon completing his training, Muzunze was accepted into Les Roches International School of Hotel Management, in Switzerland, where he earned a Post Graduate Diploma in Hotel Management. After which, he was then recruited by Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts for a Management position in San Francisco, where he led teams in the Food and Beverage and Rooms Departments before leaving to attain a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Golden Gate University.
Today, Muzunze is local to the Bay Area and looks forward to working with the team in the world-renowned wine-making region and enriching lives, one experience at a time. When he is not at work, he enjoys traveling with his wife, Michelle and daughter, Alexis, reading, watching sports, exercising, and taking walks with their 100-pound German Shepard dog, Lincoln.
