The People

Guillermo Veloso has joined the team at Ocean Place Resort and Spa as their new executive chef. Veloso is no stranger to the region, being a New York City and northern Jersey native. 

Veloso has an extensive culinary career extending more than 35 years, but he has also spent time as an archaeologist and naturalist. He was the executive chef at Miami’s Yuca Restaurant and has also served as executive chef at Philadelphia’s Cuba Libre and the Please Touch Museum. 

Sean Keliiholokai has been hired as the executive director for Visit Dana Point. In his role, he will be responsible for growing the local tourism industry with improevments on visitor attraction and retention, lodging offerings, and meetings and groups iniatiavies.

Keliiholokai, who started his position last month, formerly was the director of sales and marketing for the Greater Ontario Convention and Visitors Bureau in California. Keliiholokai also spent time at the Hyatt Regency Orange Count, Marriott International and Disneyland Resort.

These interviews are part of a series that highlights new hires within the industry. Have you recently started a new role or do you know someone who has? Submit your ideas to brittany.trevick@tigeroak.com.

Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau has selected Richard Staub as the senior vice president, convention sales. 

In his role, Staub will be in charge of leading the CVB’s convention sales and services team in hitting booking goals through the marketing of Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Convention Center. He will start in September. 

Connect Magazine recently published its 40 Under 40 list, and Daniel Gallagher, national sales manager, Meet AC and the Atlantic City Sports Commission, made the list.

He’s handsome, friendly and fit. But that’s not the only thing attracting hotel guests to this particular greeter. He’s furry, too.

Jack, an Australian Shepard that lives at Lone Star Court with General Manager Marcus Latner, spends his days greeting guests, supervising group activities, doing walkthroughs of the property and meeting with business associates.

THE CRAFT COCKTAIL MOVEMENT has created a handful of superstar bartenders, but none quite approach the mad genius of Matthew Biancaniello. Who else would think up drinks made with arugula, candy cap mushrooms, squid ink, sea urchin and emu egg foam?