Atlanta’s charming Buckhead neighborhood is set to house the newest venture from the leading luxury lifestyle hospitality brand, Thompson Hotels.
As Thompson Buckhead approaches its November opening, it announces new appointments.
Thompson Buckhead will be led by General Manager Lukus Grace and Director of Sales and Marketing Jennifer Dawood. The respected duo will bring to life the lifestyle brand’s 201-room property, which is expected to welcome its first guests in November.
Grace’s hospitality career has taken him across the globe. After getting his start in food and beverage in Hollywood, CA, he joined Capella Hotels and Resorts in Singapore in 2013 as Assistant Director of Food and Beverage, before moving to the brand’s corporate division in Washington, DC. He was later Director of Food and Beverage for The St. Regis Atlanta, during which time the property was recognized as the number one hotel in the city by U.S. News & World Report. Most recently, he was Hotel Manager of Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles, overseeing all room and food and beverage operations. He now makes his return to Atlanta, where he will look after all aspects of Thompson Buckhead’s opening and then daily operations, ensuring the hotel brand’s debut in the market is a success. Grace earned a bachelor’s degree from Fordham University in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing and specialization in international business.
“My career path has specifically trained me for this role,” said Grace. “The Thompson Hotels brand offers a refined, yet edgy take on modern luxury and my experience at the upper echelon of luxury hotel offerings has given me perspective on what’s been done, and what I can do differently in this category.
Grace continued, “This is a brand that brings dynamic experiences into the hotel’s everyday ethos, and I will certainly embrace that at Thompson Buckhead. The hotel will be a reflection of the city’s cultural and culinary prowess, catering to the local community and visitors who want to experience the very best Atlanta has to offer and I’m so excited to be a part of that.”
On the sales and marketing front, Dawood brings more than 20 years of industry knowledge and experience to the Thompson Buckhead team. She has held multiple sales and marketing positions with properties in Atlanta, including Omni Hotels and W Atlanta Downtown. Most recently, she was the Director of Marketing for W Hotels of Atlanta, which includes Downtown, Midtown and Buckhead properties. A results-driven creative, Dawood has repeatedly been successful in developing teams and delivering innovative strategies. Her expertise in lifestyle hospitality, local partnerships and events will parlay into her new role for the stylish and notably social, in-demand property. Dawood earned her bachelor’s degree in hospitality management from San Francisco State University.
