Hotel Association of Vancouver Board of Directors

Darren Simpson

Chair

Darren is the current General Manager at The Burrard Hotel. With over 15 years of experience, Darren proven his passion and dedication to the hospitality industry by working his way through the ranks at the Whistler, Vancouver, and Fairmont Waterfront properties. He began his career as the Assistant Front Office Manager at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler and stayed in the Fairmont family for 11 years. In June 2014, Darren left Vancouver bound for Christina Lake in Alberta to take on the role of Field Accommodations Manager for Cenovus Energy. One year later, he returned to the big city to lead the team at The Burrard and hasn’t looked back.

Graduating from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor of Commerce in 2003, Darren has proven himself as a lifelong learner garnering even further education and accolades. In 2010, while he was Reservations and Revenue Manager at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, Darren received his Revenue Management Certificate and Strategic Management Certificate

Sascha Voth

PAST CHAIR

Sascha  is currently the General Manager for the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel. He has been on the board of the Hotel Association of Vancouver since 2014.  

Sascha began his career in the hotel business as a summer job after college before going to law school. That summer he discovered a profound love for Vancouver, a desire to share this spectacular city with as many visitors as possible, and a fundamental sense of pride and self-worth that came from  helping guests. Subsequently, Sascha never went to law school and instead worked his way to Banquet Manager, then Director of Catering, then Assistant Hotel Manager, and finally Hotel Manager, all with the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre.  

Sascha is also a member of the Vancouver Hotel Destination Association Management Committee.

Amrit Sandhu

DIrector

Amrit is currently the General Manager of the Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown. He was born in India to an Army family and spent his formative years there studying in Military school. After completing his Hotel Management studies he started his hospitality career as a banquet server with Delta Hotels in 1996 in Richmond B.C. He held progressive positions in various Delta Hotels in British Columbia and Alberta before starting his current role in 2016.

Amrit is an avid reader and takes active interest in world affairs and economics. He holds a Bachelor of Hospitality Management from Vancouver Community College and is also a member of the Vancouver Hotel Destination Association Management Committee.

Ken Flores

DIrector

Currently the Fairmont Waterfront General Manager, Ken has 30 years of experience in the tourism industry; the past 20 with Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. Successive positions with Fairmont include stints in British Columbia (x3), Manitoba, Texas and California. A graduate of the Faculty of Forestry at the University of British Columbia, he balances his career in luxury hotels with a passion for the outdoors. Ken is an avid birder and active volunteer with WildResearch, a non profit organization that monitors migratory birds populations as they travel through the Fraser estuary. He is volunteers time as a board member of the Gulf of Georgia Cannery Society—which operates the Parks Canada National Historic Site located in Steveston, B.C.

MARION HARPER TRESKIN

DIRECTOR

Marion is currently the Dual General Manager for the new JW Marriott parq Vancouver and The Douglas. She has been a member of the Hotel Association of Vancouver since its inception and was the Chair for the Board of Directors for the association for two terms.

She has held management positions within the hospitality industry since 1985 with Canadian Pacific Hotels & Resorts, Delta Hotels & Resorts and for 17 years with O’Neill Hotels and Resorts, the management company of The Westin Grand, Vancouver and The Westin Resort & Spa in Whistler. Prior to assuming her current role, Marion was the General Manager of the The Westin Bayshore, Vancouver for 5 years, as well as the General Manager of The Westin Grand, Regional Director of Sales & Marketing for The Westin Grand & The Westin Resort & Spa Whistler, and in 2005 was named ‘Sales Leader of the Year’ by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc.

Marion’s experience includes a number of hotel openings, of which one was The Westin Resort & Spa in Whistler in 2000.

Recently Marion is actively engaged in the hotel community and several boards including Tourism Vancouver and the Hotel Association of Vancouver.

JONAS MELIN

Director

Jonas Melin is the General Manager of the Pinnacle Hotel Vancouver Harbourside Jonas brings over 23 years of extensive knowledge and experience related to the hospitality industry in British Columbia and North America.

As Franchise Service Director and National Sales Manager for Choice Hotels, he contributed to the strategic planning of the national lodging franchise for ten years plus lead quality assurance reviews and developed property improvement plans for hotels across western Canada. More recently, Jonas led development and marketing for the Kelowna based Braemar Hospitality Group as Vice President of Operations and Strategic Growth.

Jonas continues to be committed to the tourism and hospitality industry of Vancouver and British Columbia. He is on the board of the Hotel Association of Vancouver

Nicholas Gandossi

Director

Nicholas Gandossi, General Manager, OPUS Vancouver

Nicholas Gandossi began his career in the hotel industry at age 19 with a job as a valet, parking cars at the Four Seasons Vancouver. Over the course of the next six years with Four Seasons, Nicholas worked a variety of positions including concierge, doorman, and bell services manager. An opportunity to teach English abroad was too enticing to pass up, and led Nicholas to Japan where he spent two years immersed in Japanese culture.

Upon his return to Vancouver, Nicholas was ready to continue his journey in the hotel industry and he landed a full time positon at the front desk of the Pan Pacific Hotel Vancouver. Nicholas worked as the guest services manager, duty manager, and front office manager.

In 2002 Nicholas joined the opening team of OPUS Hotel, an independent, locally owned property in Yaletown.  Moving through the ranks from director of operations to hotel manager and then to his current role as general manager since 2007, Nicholas’ contributions have been instrumental in establishing the culture of service excellence that have seen OPUS gain international recognition.  Amongst its many accolades OPUS Hotel is currently the only boutique hotel in Vancouver to hold the coveted Forbes Four-Star rating (for the past three years consecutively) and has been named "Top 5 Trendiest Hotels in the World

Navid Sariolghalam

Director

Navid has been with The Sutton Place Hotel Vancouver for almost 30 years, originally joining when it was a Le Meridien Hotel.  He has progressed through numerous areas within the hotel, winning many Quality Service Awards over the years, both as a Team Member and a Leader.  In his current position of General Manager, he leads the management team in ensuring successful day-to-day operations, as well as execution of strategic and business goals for a 561-room luxury hotel. Navid has an unparalleled attention to detail, and has proven to be dedicated to providing an outstanding experience for both our Guests and our Employees.  

Navid has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication Studies from California State University, and has built upon his hospitality experience and knowledge over the years by attending many workshops and seminars. An active member of the  Hotel Association of Vancouver, Vancouver Hotel Destination Association (will be Vice Chair 2017), Tourism Vancouver and Vancouver Board of Trade. He has also volunteered his time guest-lecturing at several local hospitality organizations and management schools, such as Go2, Vancouver Premier College, and various high school hospitality programs.  

In his spare time, Navid enjoys spending time with his family, playing tennis & soccer, and expanding his food and wine knowledge.

Kris Syzlowski

DIRECTOR