Hilton Waikoloa Village on the Kohala Coast of Hawaii’s Big Island announces the addition of five new executive team members, adding a total of 100 years of combined hospitality experience to the Waikoloa Beach Resort team.
Michael Donahue has been named executive director of marketing and will lead brand management at Waikoloa Beach Resort, delivering top line results through direct interaction with all revenue generating departments at the resort. Donahue has an extensive hospitality background with 25 years of successful senior executive hospitality and management experience. Most recently, Donahue served as the executive director of sales and marketing for the LaQuinta Resort and PGA West.
Abby Murtagh will oversee concept development and day-to-day operations of all food and beverage outlets at Hilton Waikoloa Village, as the new director of food and beverage.. Most recently, Murtagh served as vice president, food and beverage for HEI/Merritt Hospitality. During this role, she helped develop the successful “Beyond Banquets” concept that embraces a more contemporary, restaurant-like approach to hotel banquets.
The culinary team at Hilton Waikoloa Village will now be led by award-winning Executive Chef Charles Charbonneau. Chef Charles attended the Culinary Institute of America, where he learned from the European Masters Chefs. Chef Charles brings more than 30 years of hospitality experience to the Waikoloa Beach Resort and will oversee the culinary operations, including staff training, food preparation and service, of the nine dining outlets, as well as banquet and group catering operations.
Michele Wilkin has been named the Kohala Spa director at Hilton Waikoloa Village. Wilkin has been a leader in the spa world for more than a decade and has continued to evolve resort spa services as treatments and trends change over time. Prior to joining the Hilton Waikoloa Village team, Wilkin was the spa director at the Spa at Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
The most recent appointment at Hilton Waikoloa Village is Scott Ward, the new resident manager. Ward will implement and manage daily quality processes at the hotel, assisting the general manager in the administration of the hotel. Ward has more than 15 years of experience in the full-service hotel industry under well-known flags including Marriott, Westin and Crown Plaza. Most recently, Ward was general manager at Crown Plaza Tampa East.
Visit www.waikoloabeachresort.com.