Hyatt Place Chelsea Appoints Hilton Willoughby Iii As Director Of Food & Beverage And Michael Newman As Area Director Of Sales & Marketing

December 12, 2022

New York, NY – Hyatt Place Chelsea, among the newest of properties to join the vibrant Chelsea neighborhood, announces two new appointments to its managerial team. Hilton Willoughby joins the team as the new Director of Food & Beverage, and Hyatt alum Michael Newman is appointed as the Area Director of Sales and Marketing.

Hilton Willoughby, Director of Food & Beverage
In his new role, Mr. Willoughby will oversee all facets of food and beverage operations at Hyatt Place New York Chelsea’s dining venues, including The Breakfast Bar, The Placery lobby bar, The Market, and the upcoming, year-round outdoor terrace. Mr. Willoughby brings years of industry experience to lead the hotel’s thoughtful blend of dining experiences, perfect for guests needing a quick meal before meetings to friends and family looking to relax and catch up with a round of custom cocktails.

Mr. Willoughby studied corporate communications at Radford University and started his career in advertising and marketing. Soon after, Mr. Willoughby decided to pursue his passion of cooking, which he attributes to his grandmother. He gained knowledge at RUI Plaza NYC and Glory Days Grill (GDG), serving in a vast array of roles in the hospitality industry, including restaurant manager, bartender and bar manager.

Michael Newman, Area Director of Sales and Marketing
Mr. Newman brings years of experience to his role with Hyatt Place New York, including over 11 years working with Hyatt Hotels brand. Within this new role, Mr. Newman will oversee all sales and marketing of the property in an effort to continue building revenue.

A graduate of Johnson & Wales University with a Bachelor of degree in Hospitality Management, Mr. Newman recently served as the Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Blue Sky Hospitality Solutions. Prior to that, he served at a multitude of hotels management companies, including Millennium Hotels, InterstateHotels and Melia Hotels. He has held the DOSM position since 2003 at several hotels including Hyatt Regency Jersey City, Grand Hyatt New York, The Millennium UNPlaza, and INSIDE New York amongst others.

“We’re delighted to have both Mr. Willoughby and Mr. Newman join the Hyatt Place New York Chelsea family,” said the property’s General Manager, Gary Maida. “Their combined expertise and talent will help enhance every guest’s experience, making it memorable and enticing return visits. We’re excited to see what they can accomplish.”

About Hyatt Place
Hyatt Place hotels combine style, innovation and 24/7 conveniences to create an easy to navigate experience for today’s multi-tasking traveler. Guests can enjoy thoughtfully designed guestrooms featuring distinct zones for sleep, work and play, and free flowing social spaces that offer seamless transitions from work to relaxation. With more than 400 locations globally, Hyatt Place hotels offer freshly prepared food around the clock, efficient service and differentiated experiences for World of Hyatt members. For more information, please visit hyattplace.com. Join the conversation on Facebook and Instagram, and tag photos with #HyattPlace and #WhySettle.

About Hyatt Hotels Corporation
Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company guided by its purpose – to care for people so they can be their best. As of September 30, 2022, the Company’s portfolio included more than 1,200 hotels and all-inclusive properties in 72 countries across six continents. The Company’s offering includes brands in the Timeless Collection, including Park Hyatt®, Grand Hyatt®, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt®, Hyatt Residence Club®, Hyatt Place®, Hyatt House®, and UrCove; the Boundless Collection, including Miraval®, Alila®, Andaz®, Thompson Hotels®, Hyatt Centric®, and Caption by Hyatt; the Independent Collection, including The Unbound Collection by Hyatt®, Destination by Hyatt™, and JdV by Hyatt™; and the Inclusive Collection, including Hyatt Ziva®, Hyatt Zilara®, Zoëtry® Wellness & Spa Resorts, Secrets® Resorts & Spas, Breathless Resorts & Spas®, Dreams® Resorts & Spas, Vivid Hotels & Resorts®, Alua Hotels & Resorts®, and Sunscape® Resorts & Spas. Subsidiaries of the Company operate the World of Hyatt® loyalty program, ALG Vacations®, Unlimited Vacation Club®, Amstar DMC destination management services, and Trisept Solutions® technology services. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com.