Several hospitality and tourism professionals are taking on new leadership roles, bringing experience in events, F&B and destination development to organizations looking toward their next phase of growth.
The latest moves include appointments at Glasshouses, South Seas and MOON World Resorts, along with a lifetime achievement honor for a longtime Texas tourism leader.
Glasshouses has brought back Erica Tefel as Business Development Lead for Glasshouse Downtown, its planned 70,000-sf venue at Westfield World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan. Expected to open in 2028, the property will accommodate nearly 1,500 guests across two floors.
Tefel previously worked with Glasshouses during the development and pre-opening sales of its 660 12th Avenue venue in 2018. She brings nearly 20 years of experience in New York’s hospitality and events industry, including positions with Gansevoort Hotel Group and Sonnier & Castle. In her new role, she will oversee business development, client relationships and strategic partnerships for the upcoming venue.
On Florida’s Gulf Coast, Roque Medina has joined South Seas on Captiva Island as Director of Food and Beverage. Medina brings more than 30 years of culinary and luxury hospitality experience, including work with Fontainebleau, Solage and Woodside Hotel Group. During his time with The Ritz-Carlton, he helped open 18 hotels across several international markets. At South Seas, he will oversee the resort’s collection of restaurants and dining outlets as the property continues its transformation.
Meanwhile, Jeremy Hansen, an astronaut and Artemis II mission specialist, has been named astronaut and space strategist for MOON World Resorts. He will advise on the space-related elements of the company’s MOON Smart City masterplans, including space tourism, astronaut training, lunar habitats and aerospace partnerships. Hansen brings 17 years of experience as a Canadian Space Agency astronaut and a 32-year career with the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Also receiving recognition is Paul W. McCallum, Executive Director of the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau, who received the Texas Travel Alliance’s Lifetime Achievement Award. The honor recognizes his decades of leadership in destination development and industry advocacy, including his role in establishing Grapevine as one of Texas’ leading tourism destinations.
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