Fajardo, Puerto Rico (April 13, 2012) – El Conquistador Resort, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, today announced the appointments of Jennifer Findlay as Spa Director, Gamal El Fakih as Director of Food & Beverage and Matt Leavitt as Director of Revenue Management. Together, Findlay, El Fakih and Leavitt have more than 35 years of hospitality and tourism experience.  They join El Conquistador Resort’s team of 1,300 employees, fulfilling the resort’s mission of ensuring over-the-top service and hospitality to each and every guest.

“Jennifer, Gamal and Matt each bring an unparalleled level of expertise in their respective fields, along with an inherent passion for their work,” said Dermot Connolly, Managing Director at El Conquistador Resort. “I am so pleased to have them onboard with us here and am confident that their efforts will translate into incredible experiences for our guests.”

Jennifer Findlay (left) joins the El Conquistador Resort team as Director of the world-renowned Golden Door Spa. Effective immediately, Findlay will oversee spa operations to ensure every guest receives the top-quality service and hospitality expected from the award-winning 26,000 square-foot Caribbean spa.  Most recently, Findlay served as Spa Director at the W Retreat & Spa on Vieques Island. She is the founder of Core Essence Development, which has helped develop and operate wellness programs, services and retreats, including a recent Mayan Healing Retreat at Ka’ana, a renowned Small Luxury Hotels of the World property in Belize. Findlay graduated from the University of Western Ontario with an HB.A. in Kinesiology and Health Psychology.

A seasoned food and beverage executive with a focus on the hotel business, Gamal El Fakih, (right) joins El Conquistador Resort as Director of Food & Beverage. In his new role, El Fakih will manage and oversee the 750-room resort’s 23 restaurants, bars and lounges, in addition to the resort’s overarching food and beverage program. Most recently, El Fakih served as the Executive Assistant Manager of Food & Beverage at the Institute of Tourism and Hospitality of Quebec. He holds a Master’s Degree in Hotel Management from the University of Angers in France and a Certificate in Food and Beverage Management from Cornell.

Matt Leavitt (left) joins the resort team as Director of Revenue Management. With over 10 years experience in revenue management, Leavitt will oversee the resort’s leisure efforts with wholesale agents and reservation teams while maximizing resort revenue and continuing to create a streamlined process for bookings. Previously, Leavitt was the Director of Revenue Management at the Hilton Los Cabos Beach and Golf Resort. He graduated from Brigham Young University with a B.S. in Business Management and an emphasis in Finance.

Located on the eastern tip of Puerto Rico near the fishing village of Las Croabas and dramatically set along the length of a 300-foot bluff, El Conquistador Resort, A Waldorf Astoria Resort spreads across 500 acres and overlooks the converging waters of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The resort boasts 750 guestrooms and suites; the private, 100-acre Palomino Island, which offers an array of water sports and other recreational activities along white-sand beaches; the Coquí Water Park; a renowned Golden Door Spa; an Arthur Hills 18-hole golf course; a tour desk offering varied local excursions; a casino with table games and a collection of slot machines; as well as numerous dining options including an outpost of New York’s famed Strip House steak restaurant.