SEATTLE, Wash. – Thompson Hotels announced the appointments of Amanda Parsons as General Manager and Serena McCabe as Director of Sales & Marketing of Thompson Seattle, the brand’s first property in the Pacific Northwest, set to open June 2016. With extensive boutique hotel industry experience and vast knowledge of the luxury travel sector, the management team will oversee operations and lead initiatives to support Thompson Hotels’ global reputation of delivering sophisticated experiences to its discerning clientele.
"Amanda and Serena have an intimate understanding of the transforming downtown Seattle destination, and their knowledge will play a key role in delivering dynamic experiences to Thompson Seattle guests and locals alike,” said Niki Leondakis, CEO, Commune Hotels & Resorts. “Thompson Hotels creates luxury lifestyle properties that are reflective of the local community. Amanda and Serena’s extensive backgrounds and their shared passion for the neighborhood will further that commitment."
Boutique Hospitality Expert Amanda Parsons as General Manager
Amanda Parsons brings more than 15 years of experience in national hospitality operations, sales and marketing, and management to her role as General Manager opening the 158-key Thompson Seattle, poised to emerge as a top luxury hotel and dining destination in Seattle.
Parsons, an active member of the Seattle Tourism Improvement Assessment board, honed her skills in many roles across the country with major hotel brands. Most recently, she served as General Manager of Hotel Vintage Seattle, spearheading a multi-million dollar transformation and rebranding of the hotel including a name change. Parsons also held the position of General Manager for the Grand Hotel Minneapolis, during which she was named one of the “25 Women to Watch” by the Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal for guiding the Grand Hotel team through a successful transition and a $6 million renovation. Prior to that, Parsons held various positions with Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, working her way up from Director of Sales & Marketing at the Alexis Hotel and then Assistant General Manager of the Hotel Monaco in Seattle before opening Hotel Palomar in Chicago. Parsons is an alumna of University of Iowa where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications.
Luxury Veteran Serena McCabe as Director of Sales and Marketing
Serena McCabe joins Thompson Seattle after more than 12 years at prestigious properties in Northern California, with a specialty in boutique and independent hotels catering to leisure, business and group travelers. At Thompson Seattle, she will spearhead the hotel’s marketing and sales initiatives to drive the property toward a successful entry that will quickly position it as a top destination in Seattle’s celebrated attraction, dining and entertainment district.
Before joining Thompson Seattle, McCabe served as Director of Group Sales at the award-winning Carmel Valley Ranch in Carmel, California where she designed and implemented sales action plans, consistently exceeding annual sales goals and leading targeted campaigns in key, lucrative feeder markets. McCabe also worked with The Carneros Inn in Napa, California for seven years, highlighted by her tenure as Group Sales Manager for the property and cross-departmental involvement in its $45 million expansion. McCabe graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Communications.
