MacNaughton Hospitality is delighted to announce the appointment of Carmine Iommazzo as Director of Hospitality Operations, effective May 21. MacNaughton, a local family-owned, award-winning hospitality and real estate investment, development, and management firm, currently has ownership interests in, and manages, three hotels in Oahu, on Waikiki – Hotel Renew, Lotus Honolulu at Diamond Head Hotel and Waikiki Malia – all of which fall under Carmine’s purview in his new role.
Iommazzo brings with him extensive hospitality experience across three continents, including nearly 20 years in Hawaii. A native of Australia, Iommazzo is a graduate of the International College of Hotel Management in Australia. His experience includes leadership roles at hotels in Southern California and Hawaii, where he began his career in hospitality.
“We are thrilled to welcome Carmine to the MacNaughton Hospitality team to help guide our Hawaii portfolio to even greater success,” said Emily Porter, Chief Operating Officer, MacNaughton, “His expertise and dynamic leadership style will be a wonderful addition to the already impressive management teams at each of our hotels.”
Iommazzo’s first professional role was in the food and beverage division at Kapalua Bay Hotel in Maui, before working his way up as a leader at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, The Westin Maui Resort & Spa and The Kahala Hotel & Resort in Honolulu. His first General Manager role was at The Makena Beach & Golf Resort in Maui, where he successfully oversaw the repositioning and rebranding of the resort after a $33 million USD renovation of the hotel and golf course. He then returned to The Kahala Hotel as GM, during which time the hotel’s ranking increased on Tripadvisor from #14 in to #3 in Honolulu, thanks in large part to Iommazzo’s focus on service training and standards.
During his tenure at The Westin Anaheim Resort, he oversaw the opening, design and build of the hotel, which features 48,000 square feet of meeting space. He took the initiative to collaborate with the local Visitors Bureau, Convention Center, and Marriott’s global and national sales teams, allowing the hotel to open with $20 million of definite group business on the books. He then served as Managing Director of KNORESOL Hospitality Consulting & Project Management in Irvine, CA before joining the Kimpton Alma in San Diego as GM for the last two years.
“I am truly excited to return to Hawaii, where I started my career,” said Carmine Iommazzo. “To be part of a company that is committed to creating an authentic and people-led hospitality experience in a destination that is so special to me and my career is truly an honor.”
In his new role at MacNaughton Hospitality, Iommazzo will serve in a leadership capacity, working in collaboration with the General Managers at each of the three hotels in Oahu – Rena Agngarayngay, GM of Hotel Renew; Julie Arigo, GM of Lotus Honolulu at Diamond Head Hotel; and Sheryl Tsugawa, GM of Waikiki Malia.
