Los Angeles, CA, January 7, 2008 - Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, the country's leading boutique hotel company, today announced the appointment of veteran hospitality executive Barbara Piagari as the director of sales and marketing for Kimpton's new Hotel Palomar Los Angeles, located in Westwood. Piagari, who most recently held the post of director of sales and marketing at the Viceroy Santa Monica and Viceroy Palm Springs hotels, joined Hotel Palomar in September. The Hotel Palomar, located at 10740 Wilshire Blvd., is scheduled to open in April 2008.
Piagari is responsible for building and directing the Hotel Palomar's sales team and realizing the hotel's unique branding concept. With more than 20 years of experience, Piagari has held executive positions at Le Meridian Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels Corporation, Destination Hotels & Resorts, Millennium Hotels and Resorts and The Warwick.
Hotel Palomar pays homage to art, architecture, fashion, dance and literature. Seeking to make each guest's stay a masterpiece, Hotel Palomar focuses on sensual décor, thoughtful amenities and exemplary service. Los Angeles' sparkling film and art landscape will play a leading role in Hotel Palomar Los Angeles' "Art in Motion" focus. "We are excited to have Barbara on board. Her proven skills and extensive background in the hospitality industry, as well as her enthusiasm for Hotel Palomar's creative approach to the luxury hotel concept, make her a key member of the team," said Christine Lawson, vice president of sales for Kimpton.
John McKay is Piagari's first hire at Hotel Palomar. McKay, formerly the regional sales manager of Regus - The Global Meeting Place, has joined the Hotel Palomar Los Angeles team as a sales manager focusing on corporate business travelers. "I am jumping into this new challenge and excited to provide a luxurious option for business and leisure travelers in Los Angeles," McKay said.
Piagari, whose experience is largely focused on helping to launch luxury hotels, said she is particularly pleased with Hotel Palomar's dedication to the environment. "It brings another level of service previously unavailable in Los Angeles," she said.
In keeping with Kimpton's more than 40 EarthCare practices at all of its hotels across the country, all rooms and public spaces are cleaned with non-toxic, environmentally friendly cleaning products. In-room and back-of-house recycling programs and conservation programs are used to cut down on waste energy and water usage, and organic mini bar snack options round out Hotel Palomar's eco-chic amenities. "It is part of the Hotel Palomar culture and I think it is a key point of difference for us that I am proud to be a part of," Piagari said.
The Hotel Palomar Los Angeles is situated in the heart of Los Angeles's thriving Westwood neighborhood, at 10740 Wilshire Blvd. For more information or reservations, call 1-800-KIMPTON or visit www.kimptonhotels.com.
ABOUT HOTEL PALOMAR
Hotel Palomar is a luxury boutique hotel that draws inspiration from the world of art to make each guest's stay relaxing and indulgent. Music, visual art, film, architecture, fashion, dance and literature are the basis for Hotel Palomar's uniquely elegant and stimulating brand concept.
ABOUT KIMPTON
San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants is the first and leading collection of boutique hotels throughout the United States and Canada. Founded by Bill Kimpton in 1981, privately held Kimpton Hotels offers services and design elements focused on care, comfort, style, flavor and fun. Every Kimpton hotel reflects the energy, personality and pulse of its location, history and architectural style. Each property features personalized guest services, comforting in-room amenities, specialty rooms and suites, and provides a range of exciting culinary experiences through affiliated top-rated destination chef-driven restaurants. Kimpton takes pride in its commitment to social responsibility and leads the hospitality industry in ecological practices through its innovative EarthCare programs. In addition, Kimpton demonstrates a unique dedication to its female guests with the Women InTouch program, offering comfortable and safe environments, in-room fitness and wellness options as well as the company's unique "Forgot It, We've Got It" honor bar, providing essentials that women travelers may have forgotten at home. Among the company's newest properties are the Hotel Palomar Arlington at Waterview, which opened in November 2007. Additional projects are underway in Los Angeles, New York, Florida, Philadelphia and Virginia. For more information, please visit www.KimptonHotels.com or call 1-800-KIMPTON.
Tiffany Caronia/ Evolutionary Media Group/ 5979 W. 3rd St, Ste 203/ Los Angeles, CA 90036/ Phone: 323-658-8700/ Mobile: 323-459-2138/ Email: tiffany@emgpr.com
