 |
|
News for the Hospitality Executive |
|
Under New Ownership, Cap Juluca Appoints New Management
Team; John Vasatka
and Tania Rydon Named General Manager and Co-General
Manager Respectively
.
|
-- Hansjoerg Maissen promoted to Asset Manager -- John Vasatka recruited from Aman Resorts to become Cap Juluca's new General Manager -- Tania Rydon also recruited from Aman Resorts to become Co-General Manager and Director of Sales and Marketing  Anguilla,
British West Indies, June 6, 2008 - In a major step forward
adding world class talent to its management ranks, the renowned Caribbean
resort Cap Juluca announced three new senior appointments, to be effective
in mid-August, 2008.. All three individuals have experience leading some
of the most famous and luxurious hotels and resorts in the world.
The announcements were made today by noted travel industry executive Adam
M. Aron, who has wasted no time in his efforts to enhance and upgrade Cap
Juluca, since acquiring the Cap Juluca resort just eight weeks ago on April
9, 2008.
The three appointments include the promotion of Hansjoerg Maissen to become Cap Juluca's new Asset Manager, which will require his relocation to Miami. In this new role, Maissen will plan the renovation and expansion of Cap Juluca. Recruited to serve as General Manager at Cap Juluca will be the husband and wife team of John Vasatka and Tania Rydon. The couple have spent the past nine years jointly managing as Co-General Managers four Aman Resorts, each among the best resorts in the world, including the legendary Amanpuri in Phuket. Most recently, they opened and co-managed Amanyara in the Turks and Caicos Islands, where they have been living and working the past three years with their two young children. They also have extensive Caribbean experience at the Caribbean's finest resorts, holding positions of senior responsibility during their impressive lodging careers at Little Dix Bay (Virgin Gorda), Jumby Bay (Antigua), Caneel Bay (St. John), the Four Seasons Resort (Nevis) and Cap Juluca (Anguilla). Rydon, who spent three years living on Anguilla in the 1990's, will also hold the position of Director of Sales and marketing for Cap Juluca. Hansjoerg Maissen Hansjoerg Maissen, who has served as General Manager of Cap Juluca on an interim basis over the past eighteen months during its sale process, will relocate to Miami and has been promoted to become Asset Manager of the hotel. Maissen has had a distinguished hospitality career, including having been the longtime General Manager of the top ranked hotel in the world, Orient Express' Windsor Court in New Orleans. In addition, he was General Manager for seven years of the world of the world renowned Grand Hotel du Cap in St. Jean de Cap Ferrat, France, where during his tenure he was responsible for the renovation of the hotel. The Swiss-born Maissen was also previously Vice President of Food and Beverage worldwide for Trust House Forte and Regional Director Middle East for Marriott International. John Vasatka John Vasatka, a Minnesota native, studied in Minnesota, Denmark and England. Prior to being named General Manager of Cap Juluca, he spent the past nine years with Aman Resorts serving along with his wife Tania as Co-General Manager of four of Aman's world-class properties: in Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Aman's extraordinary flagship Amanpuri in Phuket, Thailand, and most recently opening Amanyara in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Before Aman, Vasatka was Resident Manager of Rosewood's Little Dix Bay in the British Virgin Islands and Manager of Florida's five star, five diamond Boca Beach Club at the Boca Raton Resort & Club. Tania Rydon Tania Rydon, who is English, studied in both the UK and the US. She served as did Vasatka as Co-General Manager for Aman of Amanwella, Amanpulo, Amanpuri and Amanyara. Indeed, Rydon has some 12 years of Carribean experience including having been Director of Rooms at Little Dix Bay, Executive Assistant Manager Rooms at Jumby Bay on Antigua, opening Front Office & Reservations Manager of the Four Seasons Resort Nevis, and Assistant Front Office Manager at Caneel Bay in the US Virgin Islands. In 1993, she had a six month consultancy at Cap Juluca conducting guest services training. Rydon will now serve again at Cap Juluca, this time both as Co-General Manager and as Director of Sales and Marketing. Commenting on the appointments, Cap Juluca Properties Ltd Chairman and CEO Adam Aron said, "I am incredibly fortunate to have a real pro like Hans Maissen joined at my hip in Miami as we oversee the bright future of Cap Juluca. And both Hans and I are thrilled to have a team as uniquely experienced and talented as John Vasatka and Tania Rydon jointly manage Cap Juluca on property. Their past leadership at Aman demonstrates their understanding of sophisticated service delivery and their commitment to style and perfection for the benefit of both guests and staff. Their deep and intuitive Caribbean knowledge and experience also sets them apart as they take the helm at Cap Juluca. The new ownership of Cap Juluca has a grand vision of excellence for Cap Juluca. Getting a dream team of Hans, John and Tania is an enormous milestone for us in achieving our ambitious plans." Maissen added, "I am genuinely excited to be working closely with Cap Juluca's new ownership that truly understands the value of the hotel and its people, and who therefore is willing to make serious financial investments in Cap Juluca to dramatically enhance Cap Juluca's appeal to its guests. John and Tania's experience with small, exclusive, luxury resorts will greatly enhance the value of the team as we all work together to keep the integrity and spirit of Cap Juluca alive and thriving." In a joint statement, John Vasatka and Tania Rydon said, "We are thrilled to become a part of the Cap Juluca family and help fulfill Adam Aron's vision by leading Cap Juluca to a new level. Throughout our careers, we have demonstrated a keen interest both in the well-being of our employees and in impeccable service being delivered to our guests. That commitment to our staff and our guests quickly will be evident at Cap Juluca. Having been to Anguilla frequently in the past, we are also very excited to move our family to the island, and to live and work with the extraordinarily welcoming people of Anguilla." About Adam Aron. Noted as an innovative travel industry leader for many years, Aron has served as Senior Vice President of Marketing of Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, Senior Vice President of Marketing of United Airlines, President and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line, Chairman and CEO of Vail Resorts (including its RockResorts luxury hotel subsidiary) and Chairman and CEO of World Leisure Partners. In this latter role, Aron is affiliated with Apollo Management LP, the leading private equity firm, and helped engineer Apollo's controlling investments in Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Aron sits on the Board of Directors of the three cruise lines as well as of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide. In December 2007, Travel Weekly magazine named him a member of 'Club 33' the 33 most influential travel and tourism executives in the world. In January 2008, in addition to his Apollo and Board of Director duites, Aron formed Cap Juluca Properties Ltd., becoming its Chairman and CEO. Shortly thereafter, on April 9, 2008, he led an investor syndicate that acquired the Cap Juluca resort. About Cap Juluca. Insulated from the outside world, yet only minutes by air or motor launch from St. Maarten, Cap Juluca resort is a private self-contained enclave on Anguilla in the British West Indies along two miles of the best pristine white-sand beaches in the Caribbean. At Cap Juluca, spacious Moorish villas with 98 luxurious suites and bedrooms, five-star restaurants, exotic landscaped tropical gardens, and friendly and gracious service professionals provide an unparalleled level of luxury. Currently celebrating its 20th anniversary, for years Cap Juluca has been at the top of every list of the best hotels and resorts in the Caribbean and in the world. |
| Contact:
Adam Aron 305-807-5077
|
|
|