Hotel Operations Moves from Geographic to Brand-Specific Organization

For the last 18 months, Starwood�s North America Division was aligned geographically, allowing the company to integrate rapidly; complex its hotels to take advantage of synergies; and quickly infuse Starwood�s corporate culture and operating style within North America, following Starwood�s acquisition of ITT Sheraton and Westin Hotels Resorts Worldwide, Inc. According to Darnall, the company believes the brunt of its integration objectives have been met, and therefore, as planned, hotel operations will now be structured around Starwood�s renowned hotel brands: St. Regis; Luxury Collection; Westin Hotels Resorts; Sheraton Hotels Resorts; Four Points Hotels by Sheraton and W Hotels.

�Starwood unites some of the world�s most illustrious hotel brands, and we believe boasts the best hotel portfolio in the business,� said Darnall. �It is critical that the operating organization align itself by individual brands in order to honor and protect the integrity of these world class brands and to better deliver on our brand promises to our guests, employees and owners.�

Hotel Veterans Promoted to Top Operations Posts for Sheraton and Westin

To accomplish its new brand structure, Starwood�s North American Division has created two new positions: executive vice president of Sheraton hotel operations and executive vice president of Westin hotel operations. 

Randy Kwasniewski, formerly senior vice president of operations, has been named executive vice president of Sheraton hotel operations which also includes supervision of the Four Points and Luxury Collection brands.  Norman MacLeod, also a senior vice president of operations, has been promoted to executive vice president of Westin hotel operations. Each will be responsible for owned, managed and franchised hotels within their brand, and will have several existing senior vice presidents and vice presidents of operations reporting to them.  Kwasniewski and MacLeod, who will work closely with the brand managers from their respective brands, will report to Darnall.

Kwasniewski is a 25-year hotel executive who most recently came from Starwood Lodging Corporation and throughout his career has served in senior executive and managerial roles with Wyndam Hotels, Doubletree Hotels and Hyatt Hotels.

MacLeod, also a 25-year hotel executive, joined Starwood from Westin Hotels Resorts where he served as an area managing director after a long career with Omni Hotels where he served in a variety of senior management roles. 

In his new role, Netzhammer�s responsibilities will include managing Starwood�s revenue management systems on a global basis, as well as creating a new revenue management system for the millennium. Netzhammer begins his position January 1, 2000 and will report to Keith Ferrazzi, Starwood�s chief marketing officer.  

Netzhammer brings to the position more than 15 years of experience in hotel management at leading properties throughout the United States. Most recently, he was managing director of The Westin Century Plaza Hotel, West Los Angeles� premier meeting, convention and exhibition destination. Prior to that, he was area managing director for The Westin Mission Hills Resort, Rancho Mirage, California and spent two years as area managing director at The Westin Horton Plaza, San Diego. In addition, Netzhammer oversaw such luxury properties as The Westin La Paloma, Tucson; Arizona Sheraton El Conquistador, Tucson; The St. Regis, Aspen, Colorado; and The Phoenician, Phoenix.

Before Netzhammer began his career with Westin in 1996, he held key positions at the San Diego Marriott Suites -- where he received the David Ling Award for Sales Leadership�the Houston Marriott North at Greenspoint; the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Manhattan Beach, California; and several luxury hotels in Florida, Missouri and Louisiana.

Netzhammer received a B.S. degree in general business at Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, LA. Netzhammer and his family are relocating to the New York area from Los Angeles.