The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, December 3, 2009 … Benchmark Hospitality International has announced the appointment of Kelly Lewis as general manager for Makena Beach & Golf Resort, located in Makena, on Maui’s southern shore.  Bob Boyle, vice president, made the announcement.
 
“I am most pleased to welcome Kelly to Benchmark Hospitality and to this magnificent resort on Maui,” stated Mr. Boyle.  “He comes with significant leadership experience and has previously worked within the Maui market.  Kelly is a terrific addition to our company and to the resort’s management team.”
 
Kelly Lewis brings two decades of senior-level expertise in hotel operations and food & beverage to his new position at Makena Beach & Golf Resort.  This includes significant international and off-shore experience.
 
Mr. Lewis was previously general manager of The Hotel Victor, a luxury boutique property located in Miami’s South Beach, where he was successful in growing revenues and profitability while reducing costs.  He also served as general manager for The Grove Isle Hotel & Spa, a condo-hotel property located in Miami.
 
Prior to this, Kelly Lewis held the title of general manager for The Carefree Resort and Villas, located in Carefree, Arizona.  He served in the same role for Daufuskie Island Resort & Breathe Spa of Hilton Head, South Carolina.  He was initially hired at the resort as director of resort operations.
 
Mr. Lewis gained international experience serving as hotel manager for the Shangri-La Golden Sands Resort of Batu Feringgi Beach, Batu Ferringhi, Pulau Penang, Malaysia.

He also previously held the title of resident manager for the Half Moon Golf, Tennis and Beach Club of Montego Bay, Jamaica; and as director of food & beverage for Pacific Islands Club Resort, Saipan, Southeast Asia.  He served as director of food & beverage and executive assistant manager for Princess Hotel in Hamilton, Bermuda. 
 
Earlier in his career, Mr. Lewis held positions of increasing responsibility within the hospitality industry, including as acting food & beverage director for the Hyatt Regency Maui, located in Lahaina. 
 
Kelly Lewis is a hotelier and leader who has helped his properties garner top awards of excellence, including the Conde Nast Top Hotel award, Top 50 Small Resorts by Zagats Hotel Guide, Top Performing Hotel 2007 award, and Miami’s Most Romantic Restaurant by Gourmet magazine.  He attended the University of Arizona and resides on Maui with his family.
 
About Makena Beach & Golf Resort
Makena Beach & Golf Resort is situated on 1,800 acres of the southern shore of Maui in the Makena district of the island. The property offers 310 guestrooms and suites, each featuring private lanais, and commands sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean, as well as vistas of Maui's diverse landscape and the 10,000-foot Mount Haleakala.
 
The resort also features championship golf on the acclaimed Makena Golf Course, a Robert Trent Jones, Jr., 18-hole course that runs along the Pacific coastline, adjacent to the hotel. With stunning views from nearly every hole, the course is renowned for its ancient Hawaiian rock walls, natural gullies and stream beds, which were incorporated into the course's design.  Makena Beach & Golf Resort is operated by Benchmark Hospitality International.  For more information on Makena Beach & Golf Resort and for reservations, call 800.321.MAUI (6284) or 808-874-1111, or visit www.makenaresortmaui.com.  For information on Makena Golf Course, visit www.makenagolf.com.

About Benchmark Hospitality International
Benchmark Hospitality International is a leader in the management and marketing of resorts, conference centers, hotels, and Personal Luxury Hotels™.  The privately held company, launched in 1980, is a founding member of the International Association of Conference Centers.  Benchmark Hospitality is a worldwide organization operating properties in major metropolitan and resort destinations.  Benchmark's international headquarters is located in The Woodlands, Texas, near Houston, with regional offices in New Jersey and Connecticut.  International offices are located in Tokyo, Japan, and Santiago, Chile. For the location of Benchmark’s properties and additional information, visit www.benchmarkhospitality.com.