25/4/2009 - Pyramid Hotels Group
Pyramid Hotel Group LLC (Pyramid), a Boston-based hotel development, management and ownership firm, today announced that Mr. Davis Sezna has joined the firm as president of La Quinta Resort & Club(R) and PGA WEST (R). In his new role, Sezna is responsible for asset management and community relations for both Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund assets. consulting firm focused on restaurant, golf course, private club, hotel design, master planning and development. He has spent 35 years developing, owning and operating hotels, golf courses and restaurants. "Mr. Sezna's vast and wide-ranging set of experiences make him uniquely qualified for this critical role." states Richard M. Kelleher, chairman and chief executive officer of Pyramid. "He will be representing Morgan Stanley's and Pyramid's interests in the further development and enhancement of these two remarkable, one-of-a-kind assets. We're proud to have someone of his professional distinction on our team." "I am struck by the sense of place, history and community evident in both La Quinta Resort & Club and PGA West. It will be an honor to be associated with these magnificent resorts. I have never before seen facilities with more ingredients, texture and just pure sensory energy. The chance to be associated with Pyramid and Morgan Stanley was also a significant factor in my decision to take on this responsibility," stated Sezna. La Quinta Resort & Club and PGA West are owned by Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund (MSREF) in partnership with Pyramid, as part of a portfolio of luxury resorts, recently acquired from CNL Hotels and Resorts, Inc. Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund is comprised of three major global businesses: Investing, banking and lending. Since 1991, the company has acquired $135.9 billion of real estate assets world-wide and currently manages $68.0 billion in real estate assets on behalf of its clients. A complete range of market-leading investment banking services for real estate clients, include advice on strategy, mergers, acquisitions, restructurings, as well as underwriting public debt, private debt and equity financings. As a global leader in real estate lending, Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund has offered approximately $156.0 billion of CMBS through capital markets since 1997, including $35.5 billion in 2006. For more information about Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund, please visit www.morganstanley.com/realestate. Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) is a leading global financial services firm providing a wide range of investment banking securities, investment management and wealth management services. The Firms employees serve clients worldwide. Pyramid Hotel Group LLC, founded in 1999, is a full-service hotel company that owns, manages and asset manages hotels and hotel construction and renovation projects. For more information about the company and its affiliates, visit the company Pyramid Hotel GroupJohn GreenSenior Vice President, Operations EastMr. Green brings over 30 years of hospitality experience to the Pyramid Hotel Group team. His ten year tenure with Wyndham International included five years as Area Director of Operations Northeast supervising as many as 19 hotels in Boston, New York City, Philadelphia and other domestic and international markets including Montreal, Toronto and Bermuda. General Manager assignments included opening the 4-diamond Wyndham Chicago and the Wyndham Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Golf Resort. Prior to Wyndham, Mr. Green was Vice President Operations for Signature Hospitality Resources and a Regional Vice President Operations for John Q. Hammons Hotels. During the 1980’s Mr. Green served with Doubletree Hotels as General Manager in Scottsdale, AZ, Overland Park, KS and Walnut Creek, CA. Larry VitaglianoSenior Vice President, Operations WestMr. Vitagliano spent 20 years with Doubletree, Hilton, and Promus Hotel companies as a general manager for hotels throughout the country. Property experience includes general manager positions at Doubletree Hotels in Seattle, Tysons Corner, Dallas, and Kansas City. He led the Antlers Doubletree Hotel in Colorado Springs from 1989 to 1995, and has now returned to the property under Pyramid's management. In addition to his general manager position at the Antlers Hilton Colorado Springs, Mr. Vitagliano oversees Pyramid's San Antonio, Texas hotel, the Crowne Plaza San Antonio Riverwalk.Alan BednowitzVice President, Sales & MarketingAlan Bednowitz is an accomplished sales and marketing executive with a track record of success at both the property- and corporate-level of hospitality organizations. For more than a decade he was affiliated with Promus Hotel Corporation (and its predecessor companies Doubletree and Guest Quarters), where he rose to the position of senior director, national sales. Prior to joining Pyramid Hotel Group, Mr. Bednowitz was vice president, sales and relationship management for StarCite, Inc., a meeting industry technology company.Edgar NugentVice President, Hotel AccountingMr. Nugent is a senior hospitality executive with more than 25 years of financial management experience. His 20-year tenure with Marriott Corporation took him from Texas to Panama to Saudi Arabia and Germany. Prior to joining Pyramid Hotel Group he was a partner in his own hospitality consulting firm, where he counseled hotel owners and investors seeking development support.Robert DiDucaVice President, Managing DirectorMr. DiDuca has 24 years experience in independent and franchised hotel operations including Marriott, Hilton, Doubletree, and Sheraton. He has also successfully transitioned more than 30 properties to new ownership and management including brand conversions. Renovation responsibilities consisting of over $40 million in project improvement have been executed. Mr. DiDuca, based in Boston, oversees hotels in the Northeast and Michigan and continues with Hotel Transitions.Harry GreenblattVice President, Managing DirectorMr. Greenblatt's nearly 30-year career began as a management trainee with Hyatt Hotel Corporation. Following a decade of food and beverage management experience, he switched to operations and began a lengthy association with Doubletree Hotels. During his 17 years with Doubletree Mr. Greenblatt was GM of the Doubletree Hotel Allen Center and Hotel Post Oak, both in Houston. Today he is general manager of the Houston Marriott Westchase with regional operations responsibility for Pyramid's additional Texas properties.Robert (Tico) Bevier, CHAVice President, Managing Director Mr. Bevier has 25 years of experience in the hospitality field, encompassing food and beverage, rooms, operations, and consulting. His affiliation with Pyramid began in 2003 when he consulted with the company on hotel acquisitions and transitions. His extensive hospitality career started with Hyatt Hotels; moving on to La Mansion Hotels; and then he spent 15 years with Hilton Hotels Corporation, mostly at the Doubletree Hotel New Orleans as General Manager. Immediately prior to joining Pyramid he was President of Expotel Hospitality Services for three years. Mr. Bevier remains in New Orleans with Pyramid, where he is responsible for the Maison Dupuy and the New Orleans Lakeside hotels.George McGannVice President, Managing DirectorGeorge McGann has over 25 years experience in the hotel industry, with over 10 years of this experience as a General Manager. He started his career in the food and beverage discipline, as a trainee for the Hyatt Corporation. Presently, George is General Manager of the Burbank Airport Marriott Hotel with regional responsibility for the Pleasanton Crowne Plaza (soon to be Marriott) and the Sonoma County Hilton. He joined Pyramid as the General Manger of the Crowne Plaza San Antonio Riverwalk Hotel. Prior to joining Pyramid Hotels, George was the General Manager/Complex General Manager for Starwood Hotels for over 7 years.Bruce CarltonArea Managing DirectorBruce has over 25 years of hotel experience holding various positions. After receiving his BSBA Hotel and Restaurant Management from the University of Denver, he completed the Corporate Management Trainee program with Hyatt. Most recently, Bruce was the GM at the Doubletree Hotel San Francisco Airport.Mark FallonArea Managing DirectorMark has over 25 years experience with both upscale independent and branded hotels. He managed the La Mansion Del Rio hotel in San Antonio, TX and then joined the team at Guest Quarters in Boston, MA Following his 11 year association with Guest Quarters, Doubletree, and then Promus, Mark was the opening General Manager at the Mystic Marriott Hotel in Mystic, CT and the Marriott Hartford Downtown at Adriaen's Landing in Hartford, CT. Prior to joining Pyramid, he was VP of Operations for Magna Hospitality Group.
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