Kimpton’s Tideline Ocean Resort & Spa, Palm Beach, announced the appointments of General Manager, Abe Liao, and Director of Sales, Kate Connor, as the hotel makes its official transition to Kimpton management.
“The appointment of these two hospitality industry pros comes at an exciting time as the Kimpton brand expands its Florida portfolio by making its debut on Palm Beach,” said Eric Jellson, Area Director of Sales and Marketing, Kimpton Hotels. “Abe and Kate each bring tremendous energy and enthusiasm, experience, and an invaluable and specialized skillset to the management team—Abe, from the perspective of the Kimpton brand, and Kate, as an expert in launching hotels within the destination. Together, we know that they can ‘change the tide’ within the market and deliver the resort’s signature service, style and spirit as a new mainstay of Palm Beach’s global appeal.”
Liao began his career in hospitality 13 years ago as the Assistant Banquet Manager at the Colony South Hotel in Clinton, Maryland, and joined the Kimpton Group as the Hotel Monaco’s Banquet Captain in 2004. He transitioned through several Senior Management positions in operations and sales before serving as Assistant General Manager at Hotel Rouge and Donovan House, and later Hotel Palomar, a Kimpton Hotel in Washington, D.C., where he served as Hotel Manager.
As General Manager of Tideline Ocean Resort & Spa, Liao hopes to utilize his extensive sales and operations experience to bring the Kimpton culture and highly personalized service approach to Palm Beach, elevating the resort and the destination that defined sophisticated travel with amenities that meet the demands of a new and spirited traveler. A first-time Florida resident, Liao takes full advantage of the year-round mild temperatures, jogging on the beach whenever he gets the chance—a routine he plans to carry over into a Tideline program – “Morning Jogs with the GM.”
Originally from Atlanta, Connor is a longtime resident of Palm Beach County, and has been a seasoned sales professional and leader within the hospitality industry for almost 22 years when she landed her first sales management position in 1994. Since then, she has worked for the Palm Beach County Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, along with four other area hotels including most recently, the Hilton Cabana in Miami Beach. A proven leader of revenue generation, Connor frequently restructures and redevelops sales organizations to keep pace with the industry’s ever-changing demands and trends. She prides herself in her ability to consistently deliver results. As Tideline’s Director of Sales, she hopes to utilize her close relationships in the destination to make the hotel an inviting place that the community turns to for business meetings, weddings, last-minute getaways, a memorable evening out with friends for drinks or dinner, or a special place to return to year after year.
