Viceroy Palm Springs
As the founder and CEO of Viceroy Hotel Group (formerly Kor Hotel Group), Brad Korzen has developed a dynamic portfolio of resorts and hotels, while guiding the diverse corporation behind its growth and operations.
Recognized in the trade and popular media as a leading force on the contemporary hotel scene, Korzen launched his burgeoning collection of distinctive hotels and resorts with the Southern California debut of Viceroy Santa Monica, Beverly Hills' famed Avalon Hotel and Maison 140, and Viceroy Palm Springs. Adding to the Urban Retreats collection is the Sheraton Delfina Santa Monica, a full-service business and leisure destination, with other unique properties in the planning stages.
In 2009 Korzen partnered with The Related Group of Florida to launch Viceroy Miami, the centerpiece of the groundbreaking Icon Brickell enclave. Additional Viceroy-branded properties now span across the globe in Anguilla, Snowmass, Colorado, Maldives and Abu Dhabi.
A Chicago native and graduate of the University of Illinois, Korzen holds a Juris Doctorate from University of Miami School of Law.
Nicholas Clayton ensures that Viceroy Hotel Group's hotels and resorts remain dedicated to the highest standards of excellence. He oversees expansion efforts for the company's growing portfolio while maximizing value in current operations.
A 28-year veteran of the luxury hospitality industry, Clayton has worked with leading hospitality groups, including Four Seasons and The Ritz-Carlton hotels and resorts. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President of Operations for Hong Kong-based Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, where he was responsible for the group's Asian and European properties, as well as the entire portfolio's Food & Beverage and Spa divisions. In this role, Clayton proved instrumental in developing innovative processes to further build and differentiate the brand.
Clayton's career has been distinguished by a series of significant accomplishments. For more than ten years, Clayton served as General Manager for several high-profile Ritz-Carlton hotels and resorts, and later was appointed Director of Operations for Ritz-Carlton's Australia properties and assigned to restore profitability to their two five-star hotels in Sydney.
In 1998 he became Managing Director for the Ritz-Carlton Millenia in Singapore. In this post, he led a team of 750 associates in the successful implementation of total quality management that improved market share for the property and elevated guest satisfaction ratings. As a result, the hotel was frequently recognized both regionally and internationally for outstanding customer service and overall quality.
Clayton holds a Bachelor's of Business Administration, Finance degree from the University of Texas, Arlington.
Mary Pierson oversees the company's asset management group and both corporate and hotel finance and accounting, including financial reporting, cash management, investor relations, business planning, financial analysis and risk management. Working closely with operations executives, she is leading the company to standards of financial management and reporting on par with the leading publicly traded companies in the industry.
Pierson has both CFO and CEO experience with retail and consumer products businesses, as well as an extensive background in private equity, investment banking, real estate investing and venture capital. In the last 25 years, in CEO/CFO roles she restructured two companies for GE Capital, served as Bristol Farms CFO for Oaktree Capital Management and was Managing Director, Mergers & Acquisitions for Morgan Stanley Dean Witter. Additionally, she was a founding partner of a regional investment banking firm, Pennsylvania Merchant Group, and co-founder of Radnor Venture Partners, a Philadelphia-based venture capital fund.
Pierson graduated from Wellesley College with a major in economics and holds an MBA from The Amos Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth College.
Located in the Abu Dhabi office, Anton Bawab oversees the operations and the growth of Viceroy Hotel Group in the Middle East and European market. With over a decade in the industry, he has focused on strategy, business excellence and business development. Prior to joining Viceroy's executive management team, Bawab spent four years with Mubadala's Real Estate & Hospitality team.
Bawab started his career in the industry as a SixSigma Black Belt with Starwood Hotels and Resorts in Frankfurt Germany, then in Warsaw. Bawab then transitioned to manage the online distribution for the company's properties in Northern Italy. Following that he joined GHRS as Director of Business Development, leading the growth of the company in Europe. He then spent a year at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers in Dubai as director of business excellence.
Bawab holds a Bachelor of Sciences (Hons) degree in International Hospitality Management from the Swiss Hotel Management School, Les Roches in Switzerland. He also holds Master's of Business Administration degree from the Cranfield School of Management in the United Kingdom.
Brenda Tscharner joined Viceroy Hotel Group in 2001. Her responsibilities include developing benefits and compensation plans, implementing successful recruiting, retention and training plans, overseeing succession planning, handling colleague relations, ensuring consistency and compliance within the company's human resources practices, and helping establish Viceroy Hotel Group as an "Employer of Choice."
Tscharner brings an extensive level of luxury hospitality and human resources experience to the Executive Team. She spent the first 14 years of her career with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. She was a Corporate Trainer for the Company while holding the role of Director of Human Resources.
Tscharner holds a B.A. Degree in Political Science with an emphasis in International Relations from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and completed her sophomore year at the University of California, Los Angeles. Tscharner is a member of the Society of Human Resources Management and also has participated in a number of leadership training programs through the Center for Creative Leadership in La Jolla, California.
With 25 years of experience in premier resort, hotel, hospitality and leisure project development worldwide, Michael Paneri brings an invaluable skill set to the Viceroy Hotel Group team. A licensed architect and seasoned corporate executive, Paneri has been overseeing the design and construction of various Viceroy Hotel Group projects including initial site assessment/project feasibility, business development and operational luxury hotel management since he joined in 2005.
Most recently he headed his own firm, Michael Paneri Consulting, with projects including the renovation of New York's Plaza Hotel. Previously, Paneri was Vice President, Design & Construction for Rosewood Hotels & Resorts. During his six-year tenure, he was a key member of the company's corporate leadership through a period of significant worldwide growth, and developed and administered Rosewood's luxury quality standards. Prior to Rosewood, Paneri was Director of the Board, Vice President and Senior Principal at Wimberly, Allison, Tong & Goo. During 14 years there, he managed some of WATG's largest resort, hotel, casino, retail and entertainment projects including The Venetian and Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
Paneri holds a BS in Architecture from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and studied Land Development & Management at University of California, Irvine. He is a licensed architect in California, Nevada and New Jersey, and is NCARB certified.
With over 16 years of experience operating and managing prestigious hotels and resorts, her role includes developing and implementing brand standards for properties across the Viceroy Hotel Group portfolio. Over the last seven years, Clare has overseen Viceroy Hotel Group's General Managers on brand standards, service initiatives and customer experience. She also facilitates the Franklin Covey "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" throughout the Company.
Previously, she held a two-year position as General Manager of the NINE ZERO hotel in Boston, and also held the position of General Manager of Starwood Hotels' The Westin South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa.
Clare holds a bachelor of science degree in Business Administration from Colby Sawyer College in New London, New Hampshire.
David G. Starr started with Viceroy Hotel Group in 2007 and is based at Viceroy Anguilla, overseeing the construction, operation and maintenance of all company properties in Florida and the Caribbean. His responsibilities include project management for infrastructure installation and commissioning, planning and implementation of all standard operational procedures in an engineering context, and ensuring the standards and budgets are managed in all of the region's properties.
Before joining Viceroy Hotel Group, Starr was the Senior Director of Engineering at the Atlantis Paradise Resort in Nassau, Bahamas. During his two years there he ran the operational and maintenance programs throughout the 2,300-room, themed resort, including facilities management and meeting fiscal goals and budgets for the division.
Starr studied at Alabama Technical College in Gasden, Alabama and Electronic Technology at Brevard Community College in Palm Bay, Florida. He also holds multiple certifications, including a 100 Gross Ton Master Captain's License from the U.S. Coast Guard, Master Electrician, CX 9000 controls, Infinity I controls, HVAC systems and oscilloscope technology.
After working with Marriott International and Ritz-Carlton Hotels for over 18, Steve Sowards joined Viceroy Hotel Group in 2010 and oversees all financial responsibilities of the hotels. His responsibilities include all financial process and procedures, financial reporting, auditing for internal and external SAS-70 compliance, annual operating budgets and capital planning, procurement, and ethical behavior. His objective is to ensure increased asset valuation, strong financial performance of owner assets, and compliance to meet the balanced scorecard performance for the properties.
Prior to joining Viceroy, Steve spent many years in various roles with Marriott and Ritz-Carlton. This included senior leadership roles in regional Finance roles and property operations. His most recent position was that of a property General Manager for a RC Club in SW Florida. He has opened hotels in Brazil as Financial leadership role and has extensive experience in golf and resort management for Marriott and RC.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting with a minor in Behavioral Sciences and Business Technology. He graduated summa cum laude from Ohio University.
Michael Lorenz brings over 20 years of sales and marketing knowledge to Viceroy Hotel Group. His responsibilities include management of budgeting, business plans and proformas at the property and corporate levels. Lorenz folds in the domains of revenue management, central reservations, e-commerce, national sales and property sales leaders to create revenues above and beyond company projections.
Lorenz has been based in regional and corporate offices while working with some of the hospitality industry's top names, such as The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, Mandarin Oriental, Fairmont, Raffles, Hyatt, Auberge, Wyndham, Trump and Nicklaus.
In addition to earning a Bachelor of Science degree with a Major in Economics and a Minor in Mathematical Sciences for Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois, Lorenz has completed seven training programs in sales, marketing, leadership and hospitality. He has served on numerous committees focused on staff training and held memberships with MPI, SFMPI, ASAE and HSMAI. His awards include the Ritz-Carlton Sales Team of the Year award, received in 2004.
Joanne Cox manages the evolving financial, accounting and insurance needs of the Viceroy Hotel Group, and her responsibilities extend to all properties in the company's portfolio. For the last two years, her responsibilities include managing the corporate budget and five year forecast; the company's accounts payable and receivable, general ledger and month-end closing processes; manages the annual audit and tax process; and manages the insurance programs for all properties.
Prior to joining Viceroy, Cox spent three years as both the Controller of Corporate Accounting and Tax Credit Funds and the Real Estate Reporting Manager at The Alliant Company in Woodland Hills, California. She also worked as Asset Manager and Fund Controller at Trimont Real Estate Advisors in Atlanta, Georgia as well as five years at J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.
Cox graduated from the University of Western Ontario in London, Canada with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Kinesiology, and is in the process of finishing a Masters of Business Administration in Finance which she started at Oglethorpe University's Graduate School of Business in Atlanta, Georgia.
Cheryl Bennett joined Viceroy Hotel Group in 2009, and manages the Group's worldwide travel industry segment, including wholesale and retail travel agencies and marketing consortias, as well as establishing a solid travel industry foundation for new hotels. In addition, Bennett ensures that Viceroy Hotel Group is ideally represented in the travel industry, and manages all operations associated with events, tradeshows, sales strategy, familiarization trips, advisory boards and education of the travel industry about the Group's hotel portfolio.
Bennett brings more than a decade of management and senior-level experience in her field including the role of Regional Director of Travel Industry Sales at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. During this time she attained entry into the company's exclusive Chairman's Circle. Bennett began her career in the hospitality industry at Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino, as a Sales Manager for corporate groups and citywide convention bookings.
Bennett holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Having spent more than a decade leading global e-commerce efforts exclusively for hospitality brands, Mary Bennett now holds the role of Vice President for E-Commerce, overseeing e-commerce and digital marketing for Viceroy Hotel Group. Her responsibilities include directing all online commerce and digital activities, such as website and mobile development, search engine and email marketing, and online analytics. Working closely with corporate and hotel executives, Bennett leads the company to ensure its online and e-commerce strategy is sustainable, maximizes profits and scales for the global marketplace and customer.
Bennett's comprehensive experience in digital marketing includes nearly seven years with The Ritz Carlton Hotel Company, where she established and led the e-commerce division, collaborating closely with Marriott International.
Bennett is a frequent speaker at Luxury Interactive conferences in New York and London, presenting topics such as search engine marketing, online development and web analytics. She graduated with honors from Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing.
Azadeh Hawkins has spent the last 6 years managing the Viceroy Hotel Group's brand and its premier status in the international market across all properties. Her responsibilities include public relations for the brand's portfolio, marketing, advertising, social media, creating and implementing custom amenity programs, strategic brand partnerships and retail conceptualization, buying and merchandising. Hawkins works closely with sales and business development in expanding the brand as the portfolio grows.
With over 14 years of marketing and brand development experience she has managed multiple luxury hotel brands while elevating Viceroy's reputation for excellence in the marketplace. Hawkins' extensive knowledge of the Viceroy Hotel Group brands comes from over 3 years at Viceroy properties, starting with her position of Event Manager at Viceroy Santa Monica as well as General Manager for Maison 140, Chamberlain and Viceroy Palm Springs. Prior to her career at Viceroy, Hawkins worked as Senior Producer at Reverb Studios managing clients like Hewlett Packard, Sony and The Kor Group (now Viceroy Hotel Group).
Hawkins holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in Journalism from San Francisco State University.
Andrea Evans joined Viceroy Hotel Group in 2006 and is currently the Assistant Vice President of Human Resources. She has been strategic in her current role, closely partnering with the company's leadership to align and provide service, insight and solutions to advance the international business objectives. Partnering with the human resources directors in the international Viceroy locations, Evans has ensured the effective roll out of programs, initiatives and colleague communications.
Prior to her position at Viceroy, Evans worked for eight years at the prestigious Los Angeles law firm of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP.
Evans holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Politics from the University of San Francisco, and also studied abroad at the Universidad de Costa Rica. She is a member of the Society of Human Resources Management.
As Corporate Director of Spa Operations, Patrick Huey oversees Viceroy Hotel Group's global standards for spa development and maintenance for all current properties and future resort expansion. His responsibilities include liaising with design firms and architects to clarify property specific spa designs and ensure their operational feasibility as well as harmony in design; creating all of the operating supplies, furnishings, fixtures and equipment for each spa and fitness center; overseeing menu development and treatment selection for each property; and identifying appropriate candidates to fill the spa director position at each property.
Huey managed and oversaw all daily operations of the 28,000 square-foot spa, fitness center and two-acre pool deck as Viceroy Miami's Director of Spa before taking on his current role.
Prior to Viceroy, he proved his mastery in the spa industry at Equinox Fitness Club in West Hollywood, California, then at two Four Seasons Hotel properties from 2006 to 2008.
Huey holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative/Non-Fiction Writing and Theatre from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, and a Masters of Fine Arts degree for Acting from Yale University's School of Drama in New Haven, Connecticut.
