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Hospitality

The Ritz-Carlton Paradise Valley, The Palmeraie builds leadership team

Leadership team in place ahead of resort’s 2023 opening

Posted 8/31/22

The Ritz-Carlton Paradise Valley, The Palmeraie has announced the appointment of its leadership team under the guidance of General Manager Steven Szenasi ahead of the resort’s 2023 …

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Hospitality

The Ritz-Carlton Paradise Valley, The Palmeraie builds leadership team

Leadership team in place ahead of resort’s 2023 opening

Posted

The Ritz-Carlton Paradise Valley, The Palmeraie has announced the appointment of its leadership team under the guidance of General Manager Steven Szenasi ahead of the resort’s 2023 opening.

A new build Ritz-Carlton resort, The Ritz-Carlton Paradise Valley is the centerpiece of a $2 billion, 122-acre luxury master-planned development of The Palmeraie, according to a press release.

With extensive backgrounds in five-star hospitality, the team includes:

Amy Ballard, director of sales and marketing

In her role, Ballard will be responsible for the resort’s overall positioning and revenue performance as well as marketing and public relations initiatives. A seasoned hospitality leader with more than 25 years of experience across diverse markets including New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Scottsdale and Vancouver, Ballard has served in various sales and marketing roles at such properties as The Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park; The Ritz-Carlton, Georgetown; The Beverly Hilton; OPUS Hotel Vancouver; JW Marriott Parq Vancouver and the DOUGLAS.

Maria Ferraris, director of residences

In her role, Ferraris will manage the team of residence ladies and gentlemen who deliver Ritz-Carlton service to the resident homeowners at The Ritz-Carlton Paradise Valley, The Palmeraie. Ferraris joins the team after a long tenure with various Ritz-Carlton Residences including The Ritz-Carlton Club, St. Thomas; The Ritz-Carlton Club and Residences, Lake Tahoe; The Ritz-Carlton Club and Residences, Vail; The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach and most recently, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Miami Beach. She is a graduate of Boston University’s School of Management, the press release stated.

Charles Njuguna, director of engineering

In his role, Njuguna will be responsible for overall building and grounds maintenance with particular attention towards safety, security and guest satisfaction. Njuguna started in the engineering field in his home country of Kenya and has been with Marriott International for more than a decade serving in various roles at The Ritz-Carlton, Doha in Qatar; The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman; JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort & Spa; Scottsdale Marriott at McDowell Mountains and Scottsdale Marriott Old Town.

Giovana Rodriguez-Postorino, director of national accounts

In her role, Rodriguez-Postorino will develop relationships with business partners to position The Ritz-Carlton Paradise Valley, The Palmeraie as the premier location for high-end meetings and incentive events. With Marriott International since 2012, Rodriguez-Postorino has served in various sales and special event roles with properties such as Orlando World Center Marriott; The JW Marriott and The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grand Lakes. Rodriguez-Postorino is a graduate of the University of Central Florida, Rosen College of Hospitality Management.

Rebecca Regaldo, assistant residences manager

In her role, Regaldo will ensure core elements of The Ritz-Carlton service are in place to serve the residence owners at The Ritz-Carlton Paradise Valley, The Palmeraie. As a graduate of The Eller College of Business at The University of Arizona, Regaldo began her career in the hospitality industry at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas before returning to Arizona where she joined the team at The Phoenician as a guest experience expert and later an ambassador for The Canyon Suites.

“The time has come to assemble our first-in-class leadership team for The Ritz-Carlton Paradise Valley, The Palmeraie,” said Szenasi, resort general manager. “I am incredibly fortunate to work alongside these individuals as we progress toward opening and creating memories for our beloved Ritz-Carlton guests.” 

With 215 guestrooms, The Ritz-Carlton Paradise Valley, The Palmeraie expects to be one of the finest resorts in North America, the press release stated. Situated over 20 acres, the hotel features abundant oversized suites and detached casitas. Guests will be greeted with unobstructed views of Camelback Mountain and can enjoy Arizona’s idyllic sunsets from spaces that promote the resort’s indoor/outdoor living ethos.

“We have brought exceptional leaders to The Ritz-Carlton Paradise Valley, The Palmeraie, who will enliven The Ritz-Carlton mystique at this iconic property,” said Bob Kharazmi, managing director for luxury operations, U.S. and Canada, Marriott International.

Developed and owned by Scottsdale-based Five Star Development, the resort is surrounded by 80 single-level Ritz-Carlton Residences Villas, ranging in size from 1,700 to 4,800 square feet, and 32 single-family Ritz-Carlton Residences estate homes, from 5,500 to 12,000 square feet. The Villas and Estate Homes are whole-ownership and Ritz-Carlton branded, serviced and managed.

Residence owners will have their own clubhouse that will encompass a common lounge area along with a junior Olympic sized-pool; fitness facilities; private, landscaped grounds; a dedicated director of residences; concierge who will curate world-class experiences for homeowners; priority access to hotel amenities, and a host of a la carte services such as in-residence dining, housekeeping and engineering services.

For more, visit RitzCarlton.com or call 866-779-7489. To inquire about residential opportunities, The Ritz-Carlton Residences Gallery, 6720 N. Scottsdale Road, suite 120, is open by appointment only.

An artist's rendering of the Ritz-Carlton Paradise Valley, The Palmeraie bar. (Submitted graphic)