INNOVATIVE.
INSPIRED.
INTRIGUED.

Welcome to INTRIGUE

Let’s be honest, it’s not just what you know, but also who you know . . . And, with INTRIGUE Hotels & Resorts by Interstate, you’ll be in the know . . . With industry insiders experienced in what it takes to compete in today’s ever-changing, independent, lifestyle hospitality market.

Highland Lobby

INDEPENDENT. INNOVATIVE. INTRIGUING.

INTRIGUE Hotels & Resorts by Interstate brings a modern, lifestyle-focused management psyche to a variety of independent and soft-branded properties including urban boutique hotels, upscale restaurants, spa retreats, and international resorts. By delivering innovative culture, in-style creative, and inspired guest experiences, INTRIGUE is creating the new generation lodging. INTRIGUE Hotels & Resorts draws from Interstate’s decades of experience operating properties across the country and around the world, such as: Nomo SoHo in New York, NY; Hotel Erwin in Venice Beach, Calif.; The Charles Hotel in Boston, Mass.; and The Marker in Dublin, Ireland — just to name a few.

INDUSTRY-LEADING SERVICES:

Industry-leading management services, with innovative technology solutions, and an independently focused approach, INTRIGUE offers a dedicated team, a single all-inclusive toolkit and a ton of opportunity for your property.  INTRIGUE provides the following suite of services:

  • Hotel Management
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Revenue Management and e-Commerce
  • Brand Management and Quality Assurance
  • Rooms and Engineering
  • Food and Beverage
  • Finance and Accounting
  • Risk Management
  • Procurement
  • Development
  • Planning and Positioning
  • Technical Services
  • Human Resources
  • Training and Professional Development
Industry leading services

THE INTRIGUE TEAM

Brian Sparacino

Brian Sparacino

SVP Operations

Brian Sparacino

Brian's deep curiosity for culture and technology drives his passion for experiential travel. He says it keeps him in tune with the demands of today's generation of travelers. Brian currently leads INTRIGUE, a division of luxury, independent, lifestyle, soft-branded, and boutique hotels. Previously, Brian has been responsible for over $1 billion in revenue for one of our largest ownership groups, managing a portfolio of hotels, resorts and golf courses.

EXPERIENCE:

  • Urban/Gateway Markets: The London NYC, Paramount NYC, NoMo SoHo, The Charles Hotel, Hotel Erwin
  • Destination Resorts: South Seas Island Resort, Laguna Cliffs Resort & Spa Marriott, Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa
  • Sales and Operations Leadership Roles at Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Harrah's Entertainment - Caesars Entertainment Corporation, Trump Properties, and Marriott International
Paul Eckert

Paul Eckert

VP Resort, Lifestyle, Independent Operations

Paul Eckert

Paul is deeply involved in all areas of hotel and resort experiences. His creative thinking and proven track record of achievement in guest, associate, and owner satisfaction is the key to his success in optimizing financial and market performance. Paul began his career in food and beverage but quickly made his way to executive-level operations roles. From urban and modern luxury hotels to top-tier resort destinations, Paul's experience and insights have proven to elevate the guest experience while also producing innovative properties.

EXPERIENCE:

  • On-property executive operations leadership with a premier, modern, luxury brand
  • Manages first-ever Marriott/Starwood dual-branded hotels (Le Méridien Denver Downtown and AC Hotel Denver Downtown)
  • Corporate leadership in developing brand concepts, operations, and standards for Omni Hotels & Resorts, focusing on new hotel projects, spa strategy, and redevelopment of standards across all resorts, urban hotels, and convention centers
  • On-property executive operations leadership at several Four-Diamond destination resort complexes, including multi-dining outlets, spas, retail, pools, championship golf, and other amenities (Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia and Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort)
Fred DeSota

Fred DeSota

SVP Sales & Marketing

Fred DeSota

Fred's in-depth experience in branding, sales, marketing, and operations makes him an ideal leader for our sales and marketing teams. With his guidance and forward-thinking approach to sales and marketing, we have been able to not only generate but also exceed our financial goals. In his free time, Fred enjoys motivating, mentoring, and counseling the company's team of Director of Sales and Marketing with subjects related to sales, revenue, public relations, and marketing.

EXPERIENCE:

  • Brand to independent conversion and repositioning of independent lifestyle hotels (The Wink, Washington, D.C.)
  • On-property executive marketing leadership at Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel, Marriott's lifestyle brand (Executive Director of Market Strategy) and Doral Tesoro Hotel and Golf Club, with championship golf and luxury spa experience (Director of Marketing)
  • Executive leadership in sales and marketing and overseeing independent, lifestyle and luxury hotels, including NoMo SoHo, The Gallivant Times Square, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts Houston, Hyatt Regency Chicago, The Jung Hotel & Residences, The Wink
Jim Vespa

Jim Vespa

VP Finance

Jim Vespa

Jim is no stranger to crunching numbers, leading our accounting and administrative teams. He safeguards the company's income objectives by establishing departmental policies and procedures that ensure profitable operations while monitoring all budgets. Jim's depth of experience also includes hotel transitions and renovations.

EXPERIENCE:

  • Above-property financial oversight of independent, boutique, and lifestyle hotels in New York City and New Orleans
  • Marriott International, Golf Division Controller
Craig Franco

Mike Wylie

Head of E-Commerce

Mike Wylie

Named one of the 25 Most Extraordinary Sales and Marketing Minds in Hospitality and Travel by HSMAI, Mike brings enviable industry and agency experience. After leading e-commerce efforts for Hilton and Wyndham, he launched Standing Dog Interactive, a digital marketing agency. Recognized as one of Inc. 5000s fastest growing private companies in North America for three years in a row, he grew Standing Dog to $8 million in revenues, and landed more than 1,000 Marriott properties as accounts. A digital pioneer specializing in independent and major hotel brands, Mike developed the hospitality industry’s first reputation management application, Review Analyst.Based in Dallas, Mike is responsible for leading all aspects of digital marketing, including overseeing electronic marketing efforts, website initiatives and third-party online travel agents for multiple properties around the globe.
Jerrod Jackson

Craig Franco

Revenue & Distribution

Craig Franco

Referred to as an "architect of distribution," Craig is a mastermind of his craft. He oversees all digital marketing, technology, and e-commerce strategies and has expertise in developing comprehensive 360-degree hotel eco systems. He says his experience working with some of the industry's top-tier hospitality brands gives him the edge he needs to stand out in his role.

EXPERIENCE:

  • Warrick International Hotels, a collection of 50 Four- and Five-Star hotels, resorts, and spas, providing affordable luxury in prestigious international locations
  • Corporate Director of Revenue Management at Amsterdam Hospitality Group, a boutique luxury hospitality firm with locations in NYC (The Empire Hotel, The Marcel at Gramercy, The Bentley Hotel, The Moderne Hotel), Miami, Charlotte, and other markets.
Adrian Clifford

Adrian Clifford

E-Commerce

Adrian Clifford

Adrian was the first-ever property-level e-commerce manager for Renaissance in Las Vegas, a Marriott lifestyle brand. She is a pioneer of her craft and makes a point to stay on top of today's trends. Adrian is an active Member of Interstate's Social Media Leadership Committee and says her work there inspired the creation of Renaissance's "Social Media Enthusiast" group. Adrian says she performs her best when pushed outside of her comfort zone. But, she's more than an e-commerce guru; she is an avid hockey and football enthusiast, too.
Beth McMahon

Beth McMahon

VP Human Resources

Beth McMahon

Our team of forward-thinking leaders would not be possible without Beth's guidance. Beth is responsible for delivering the associate relations, training, and development infrastructure across the organization, leading the human resources processes, engagement initiatives, and talent development. She prides herself on taking a creative approach to the hiring process, taking into account hotel concept, market positioning, and experiential service delivery. Beth has led teams in successful change efforts, including opening new restaurants and hotels, acquiring existing hotels, and successfully aligning human resources best practices to enhance the associate experience for both branded and independent hospitality companies.
Kyle Creek

Kyle Creek

BRAINTRUST Creative Director

Kyle Creek

As a kid, Kyle wanted to be a cowboy. Fortunately, he decided copywriting and advertising was a better career move. And, for the last decade, he's held a variety of creative positions both in-house and within agency settings. His work has earned numerous advertising awards – including "Best in Show." Recently, his portfolio of lifestyle hospitality clientele has included The Gallivant Times Square, Luxe City Center Hotel, NoMo SoHo, The London NYC, The Roosevelt NYC, and a variety of other clients who were willing to overlook the fact that Kyle's just a grammar gunslinger and not an actual cowboy. He doesn't even own a horse.

INVESTORS & INDEPENDENT OWNERS

For owners and investors, INTRIGUE delivers clear advantages. Leveraging best-in-world technology and industry partnerships, INTRIGUE includes a technology-focused management platform that offers a proprietary suite of tools to yield increased revenue contributions and better cost savings to improve overall operating margins for stakeholders. In addition, for independent hotels, INTRIGUE introduces a cutting-edge central reservation system integrated with a consolidated revenue management platform. These new features are accompanied by a dedicated national sales team, portfolio-wide human resources specializing in lifestyle talent acquisition and training, and a new procurement program allowing for properties to benefit from the economies of scale that Interstate Hotels & Resorts delivers through its expansive buying power.

 

MANAGEMENT INQUIRIES

EXPERIENCE

INSPIRED CAREERS