HOUSTON – APRIL 5, 2016 – Hilton Americas-Houston announced today the appointment of Jacques D’Rovencourt as general manager of Houston’s largest hotel, located in the heart of downtown and directly connected to the George R. Brown Convention Center via two indoor sky bridges, effectively immediately. D’Rovencourt will take over for Joe Palmieri who has retired after 28 years with the Hilton Worldwide and eight years at Hilton Americas-Houston. He will report to Area Vice President, Andy Slater.
“We are excited to have Jacques at the helm,” said Slater, “A sharp leader, Jacques is well familiar with the property and the team. I am confident that he will continue to carry on the success that Joe left behind while also bringing a fresh perspective and new opportunities to this convention hotel.”
D’Rovencourt will be responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of this 1,200-room Green Seal-certified convention hotel featuring over 91,000 square feet of technologically advanced and flexible meeting space. No stranger to the property, D’Rovencourt most recently has been hotel manager for the AAA Four-Diamond, award winning hotel since April 2011.
In his capacity as hotel manager, D’Rovencourt oversaw the completion of a $12 million guest room renovation project and was part of the team that received Hilton’s Award of Excellence for four consecutive years.
"Everyone here at Houston First joins me in congratulating Jacques as the new general manager of the Hilton Americas-Houston. He certainly has our support and we look forward to continued success under Jacques’ capable leadership," said Dawn Ullrich, President and CEO, Houston First Corporation which owns the Hilton Americas-Houston Hotel.
Prior to joining the team in Houston, D’Rovencourt was the resident manager and part of the pre-opening team of Hilton Baltimore since 2008. While there, the hotel also received Hilton Worldwide Award of Excellence and the company’s prestigious Connie Award in 2009.
D’Rovencourt began his Hilton hospitality career in 1989 in the Hilton Professional Development Program and in 1992 became assistant food and beverage director and part of the pre-opening team of Hilton Minneapolis. After a year, Jacques went to The Palmer House, A Hilton Hotel in Chicago as assistant food and beverage director where he stayed until his promotion to director of food and beverage at Hilton Long Beach in California. He returned to Chicago’s Palmer House as director of food and beverage in 1999 where he remained until 2005 when he was promoted to resident manager at Hilton Short Hills in New Jersey until 2008 when he went to Baltimore, Maryland.
D’Rovencourt received his bachelor of science in Hotel Administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He has won a number of leadership awards during his career including Leadership Award 2005 Hilton Short Hills; Leadership Award 2000 Palmer House and Leadership Award 1997 Hilton Long Beach.
D’Rovencourt enjoys traveling with his wife, Renee and sons, Luc and Daniel and daughter, Jordan as well as cooking when time permits.
