Pacific Hospitality Group (PHG) announced the expansion of its corporate leadership team with the appointment of Melanie Bucci as its Chief Financial Officer, Ajeet K. Anand as its Vice President, Sales and Marketing, and Stephen Schackne as its Regional Food and Beverage Director. The new team members will report to PHG President and COO Paul McCormick.
"Our corporate leadership team is one of the organization's most valuable assets," said McCormick. "We are pleased to have such an elite team of hospitality experts join us at PHG as each individual will be instrumental in the growth of the company."
As Chief Financial Officer, Bucci will provide strategic direction and leadership to PHG's accounting and finance teams, oversee corporate programs and initiatives for the company, and manage policies, procedures and best practices at the hospitality brand's properties. Most recently Bucci was Vice President of Finance at Montage International where she advanced her career within the organization over eight years. Prior to her role with Montage, she held various accounting and finance management roles with Orient Express Hotels in Europe and Deloitte & Touche in Costa Mesa. Bucci graduated from the University of California Santa Barbara with degrees in Business Economics and Global Socioeconomics and Politics and is a California licensed CPA.
Anand will lead the sales and marketing initiatives for the group's portfolio of 11 properties as well as oversee the hospitality company's dedicated sales and marketing team in her role as Vice President, Sales and Marketing. Prior to joining PHG, Anand was Senior Vice President, Global Marketing for emerging hospitality brand Cachet Hospitality where she assisted with the development of a growing management team and established the brand's marketing discipline focused on driving lead generation. In a previous role as Senior Director, Sales Innovation at Wyndham Hotel Group / Dolce Hotels & Resorts, she enabled the brand's global sales organization to achieve $800 million in annual revenue by conceptualizing and developing a multifaceted plan. Before Dolce, Anand served on the sale operations and strategy team at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide where she developed an account profitability model that addressed rising sales costs and market uncertainties. Anand received her MBA from Georgetown University and Bachelor of Arts degree from American University in Washington D.C.
As part of its new leadership structure, PHG has expanded its corporate food and beverage management team with the newly created role of Regional Food and Beverage Director. In this role, Stephen Schackne will be responsible for continuing to elevate and heighten the culinary experience at each of PHG's properties, which prove to be a vital part of the guest experience. Prior to joining the company, Stephen was a team leader and hotel manager at the iconic Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego and consulted for Outrigger Hotels in Hawaii where he was responsible for a restaurant conversion project with a $10 million gross operating income. In addition, Schackne worked with KSL Resorts for 17 years where he increased revenue by $20 million over a decade and garnered numerous local and national awards for the hospitality brand's culinary concepts and restaurants.
Pacific Hospitality Group is comprised of 11 hotels and resorts located throughout the United States, and the company continues to expand its existing portfolio with the recent opening of the dual-branded AC Hotel and Residence Inn Dallas by the Galleria and debut of Vista Collina Resort in Napa Valley, California.