May 9, 2011 (Chicago) -
The Renaissance
Blackstone Chicago Hotel has announced the
appointments of two executives to head up the historic property on
Michigan
Avenue: Wendell Bush as General Manager and Melanie Koscelnak as
Director of
Sales and Marketing. Two seasoned hotel professionals with nearly 40
years of
combined experience behind them, Bush and Koscelnak will oversee
on-property
management, sales and marketing operations for the historic Beaux-Arts
landmark
in Chicago's South Loop.
"We are thrilled to have two such experienced
hospitality professionals join the team at the Blackstone," said
Alexandra
Walterspiel, Senior Vice President of Premier & Lifestyle Brands
for Sage Hospitality,
which manages the Renaissance Blackstone
Chicago Hotel. "Both Wendell and Melanie bring infectious passion
for hospitality, and we're excited to welcome them to what one of the
city's
most dynamic historic hotels."
Wendell Bush, General Manager
Bush joins The Renaissance Blackstone Chicago Hotel from
The Omni Fort Worth Hotel, which he joined as opening Hotel Manager in
2009.
Previously, he spent several successful years with Starwood Hotels and
Resorts,
serving as Hotel Manager of the 1,068-room Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel
in
Atlanta and General Manager of the Westin Grand in Washington, D.C.
Bush got
his start in hospitality as a desk clerk at the Doubletree Hotel in
Nashville.
An active and involved professional, he served on the Board of
Directors for
the Hotel Association of Washington, D.C. and the Hotel Association of
Tarrant
County, Texas.
A native of Tennessee, Bush credits his passion for his
profession to this grandmother, who ran several restaurants while he
was
growing up and taught the valuable lesson of treating people like they
are
guests in your home. Bush earned a Business Administration degree from
University of East London in England. He currently resides in Chicago,
where he
enjoys spending time with his family and traveling.
Melanie Koscelnak, Director of Sales and Marketing
Koscelnak joins The Renaissance Blackstone Chicago Hotel
from The Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel, where she began as a Sales
Manager in
2000 and was promoted first to Director of Group Sales, then to
Director of
Sales & Marketing. Previously she held an sales positions at an
array of
hotel properties in or near the Steel City, including Pittsburgh
Marriott City
Center, Embassy Suites Pittsburgh Airport and the Harrisburg
Marriott.
She got her start as an Executive Meeting Manager at Pittsburgh Green
Tree Marriott
back in 1995.
Born and raised Pittsburgh,
Koscelnak earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business
Administration/Marketing at Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh. She
currently resides Chicago and enjoys exploring the city and spending
time with
friends and family.
The Renaissance Blackstone Chicago Hotel
The Renaissance Blackstone Chicago Hotel
is located in the heart of Chicago's arts and theater district and
adjacent to
Grant Park. The historic property, which has accommodated 12 U.S.
presidents,
is a Beaux-Arts architectural landmark offering 332 stylish rooms,
among them
the fabled Presidential Suite and legendary "Smoke-Filled Room"; the
award-winning destination restaurant, Mercat a la Planxa, serving
Catalan-inspired cuisine; an extensive collection of contemporary art
by
emerging artists; a 23rd floor Concierge Lounge with sweeping views
of Lake Michigan; and 12,000 square feet of meeting space, including
the
lavishly restored Crystal Ballroom. Opened in 1910, closed in 1999, and
reopened in 2008 following a $128 million showcase restoration by Sage
Hospitality,
The Blackstone's décor is a dynamic mix of historic architecture
and savvy
design combined with luxury amenities and thoughtful guest
services. For
reservations: 1 888-236-2427; www.theblackstonehotel.com.
About Sage Hospitality
Founded in 1984, Sage
Hospitality has strategically grown into one of the largest privately
held
hotel management and development companies in the nation operating a
variety of
large, full-service hotels and extended-stay and select-service
properties. Sage Hospitality's comprehensive management portfolio
includes major international brands for Marriott, Starwood, Hilton and
IHG as
well as the independent boutique hotels. Sage Hospitality has
further
differentiated with the creation of the Sage Restaurant Group, which
has
created and is managing 10 unique restaurant concepts including the
acclaimed
Mercat a la Planxa in Chicago. For more information, visit www.sagehospitality.com.