Commune Hotels & Resorts Appoints Scott Williams as Executive VP, Chief Creative Officer
SAN FRANCISCO - March 7, 2014 - Commune Hotels & Resorts, the international lifestyle hotel group comprising the Joie de Vivre, Thompson Hotels and tommie brands, has announced the appointment of Scott Williams as Executive Vice President, Chief Creative Officer. A seasoned creative and brand executive in the luxury hospitality space, Williams will develop and drive a strategic, creative vision across the Commune Hotels & Resorts brands. With more than 15 years as a leading innovator and game-changer in creating unparalleled luxury brand experiences, including highly influential stints at both Starwood Hotels and Morgans Hotel Group, Williams joins Commune's executive team at an exciting moment in the company's expansion. In his new role, Williams will put particular emphasis on overseeing brand efforts for the upcoming launch of the new tommie brand, as well as for Commune's latest projects in Chicago, Miami, Palo Alto and Playa del Carmen, Mexico, among others.
“We're in the business of creating transformative experiences for our guests, across all lifestyle segments, and Scott is a master of the discipline,” says Niki Leondakis, CEO of Commune Hotels & Resorts. “His passion for driving customer satisfaction and engagement is contagious, and his originality, an inspiration to our executive team. We're thrilled to have him.”
Scott Williams joins the Commune team from the brand development agency Hitchcock Partners, where he served as Founder and Chief Executive Officer since 2010. At Hitchcock Partners, Williams provided services ranging from global brand development and brand strategy to the creation and roll-out of enterprise-wide marketing initiatives for clients, including AOL, Univision, The Algonquin Hotel, Renaissance Hotels and David Barton Gyms.
Williams began his career in New York, working in the creative departments at HBO, ESPN Classic Sports Network and CBS Inc. before transitioning to the world of hospitality as Chief Creative Office for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. During his tenure with Starwood, Williams implemented the brand's visual and verbal communications strategy, managed $80 million in advertising activity and was awarded the Starwood Global Leadership Award. Williams then joined Morgans Hotel Group as Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President, where he led the divisional brand management teams, ensured delivery against global strategy and managed global marketing funds. Under Williams' leadership, in 2009, Morgans Hotel Group was awarded the HSMAI Adrian Awards Platinum & Gold Awards, and earned the cover of Conde Nast Traveler's “Hot List.”
Williams is a graduate of Harvard Business School's General Management Program and holds a master's degree from American Conservatory Theatre, as well as an undergraduate Theater degree from the University of Washington. He is currently a member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and a graduate advisor at the School of Visual Arts. He also serves on the President's Council for the Red Ribbon Foundation, and on the boards for The American National Theater and the YMCA.
About Commune Hotels & Resorts
Formed in October 2011, Commune Hotels & Resorts is an international, multi-brand lifestyle hotel group comprising Thompson Hotels, a luxury lifestyle brand, Joie de Vivre Hotels, a collection of independently branded boutique hotels, and tommie, a new, youthfully-minded brand launching in 2015. The San Francisco-based company manages more than 40 hotels and resorts across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, and is expanding its portfolio while establishing a presence in Mexico. Since its inception, Commune Hotels & Resorts has announced its acquisition and/or management of Chicago's historic Chicago Athletic Association, Thompson Chicago (formerly Sutton Place Hotel), Thompson Playa del Carmen and The Epiphany in Palo Alto, California, among several other exciting developments. For more information, please visit www.communehotels.com.
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