McKibbon Hospitality Announces the Promotions of Three Long-Time Operational Leaders
McKibbon Hospitality, an award-winning leader in hotel management, today announced the promotions of three long-time leaders, Kari Elofson, Karl Oates and Sebastian Peralta, who are now serving as Senior Vice Presidents of Operations. In their new roles, they will be responsible for leading McKibbon’s ever-growing hotel portfolio and supporting a team of eight Regional Vice Presidents of Operations.
“As the demands of our industry and the needs of our hotel teams evolve, we remain focused on strategically staffing and deploying our corporate team to best serve and support the needs of our leaders in the field,” said Bruce Baerwalde, president of McKibbon Hospitality. “Kari, Karl and Sebastian are invaluable assets to our company, and we congratulate them on their well-deserved promotions, leading and developing the leadership teams across our portfolio.”
Kari Elofson joined McKibbon nearly 10 years ago as regional vice president of operations, leveraging her extensive background in hotel management to support a portfolio of properties and general managers. She started her career in hospitality as a front desk team member in Clearwater Beach, becoming a first-time general manager with Hampton Inn and continuing to serve in general manager roles within multiple brands and markets, including exclusive beachfront resorts. Prior to joining McKibbon, Kari served as a regional director of operations with Concord Hospitality. She has been recognized throughout her career for her focus on service, attention to detail and dedication to her hotels – important leadership characteristics that she instills in her teams every day.
Karl Oates joined McKibbon in 2001 as the opening general manager for the company’s Courtyard Chattanooga Downtown following a ten-year term with Marriott International that started on the front desk of a Courtyard by Marriott. He quickly established himself as a determined and distinguished leader as the hotel received a host of notable awards under his leadership, including 2001 Marriott Opening Hotel of the Year and 2003 Marriott Southeast Region Hotel of the year, with Karl himself recognized as the 2003 Marriott Southeast Region General Manager of the Year. Since then, Karl has served as director of operations support, regional director of operations, regional vice president of operations, and most recently, vice president of lifestyle hotels, overseeing all aspects of hotel operations for McKibbon’s portfolio of lifestyle locations.
Sebastian Peralta started his hospitality career in Orlando, Florida while completing his degree at the University of Central Florida. After graduation, he held leadership roles at a variety of hotels near Walt Disney World as well as in New Jersey. Sebastian joined McKibbon in 1998 as the opening assistant general manager of the Courtyard by Marriott Orlando/Maitland, later becoming the property’s general manager – his first general manager role. From there, he went on to hold general manager roles at the Courtyard Savannah Historic District, the Hampton Inn & Suites Orlando Airport, followed by a dual general manager position at the Hampton Inn & Suites/Homewood Suites Orlando Airport. Sebastian joined McKibbon’s above-property team as regional vice president of operations in 2014. In that role, he has supported hotel operations for a portfolio of hotels, using his experience and passion for hospitality to help develop winning teams and produce impressive results.
McKibbon Hospitality continues to experience growth with expanded team members, third party-management contracts and development projects on the horizon. Over the past two years, the company has assumed management of 25 new hotels and four new restaurants, bringing its current portfolio to 97 total hotel properties and 8 food & beverage outlets throughout the United States.
To learn more about McKibbon Hospitality, please visit www.mckibbon.com.