Gabriel “Gabi” Soanca has been named the General Manager of Trump International Hotel & Tower, New York. In this role, he oversees the day-to-day operations of the iconic flagship hotel, a Forbes Five Star property. Gabriel has been lauded internationally for optimizing operations and maximizing revenue generation.
With 20+ years of experience propelling success in the hospitality industry, Gabriel has consistently enhanced guest satisfaction, loyalty, and retention for luxury properties nationwide. At the award-winning Trump Hotel & Tower Chicago, as the Hotel General Manager he championed the management team through a global pandemic, resulting in unprecedented results. Gabriel was vital to the grand opening of the highly anticipated Trump International Hotel, Washington D.C in 2016. He has held various hotel operations and food and beverage leadership roles with InterContinental, Washington D.C. – The Wharf, Trump National Doral, InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa, to name a few.
Gabriel’s leadership style is one that is routed in passion and an unwavering dedication to success. Gabriel is well respected across the hospitality industry and among his colleagues and customers. His keen eye and attention to detail coupled with a history of successful leadership in multiple facets have proven to make Gabriel a phenomenal asset and tremendous hotelier.
On a more personal note, Gabriel is a former professional European athlete who still enjoys taking part in a good soccer game with a local community team. In his downtime, Gabriel loves nothing more than spending time with family and friends for a good old-fashioned cookout or stepping out to local top spots for a fine glass of wine, sharing his passion for culture and community while learning something new in every experience.
While new to the hospitality industry, Evelyn has a very accomplished Human Resources career. She began her journey in 1998 as an HR Assistant Manager for Target in College Point and then in 2002 took on an HR Manager role with Flying Food Group, an inflight catering company out of Newark. In late 2004 she entered the education field as an HR Manager and then in September 2008, Evelyn moved on to the healthcare industry, where she started as a HR Manager and was later promoted to Manager of Employee and Labor Relations. In the most recent years, Evelyn has held various labor roles within the MTA, most recently as General Superintendent Support Services.
Evelyn enjoys traveling and even more so enjoys eating her way thru new locations!! She also enjoys working-out and boxing regularly. Please join us in extending Evelyn a warm welcome to the team and in wishing her much success in her new role.
We are thrilled to welcome Evelyn Polanco as the new Director of Human Resources at InterContinental New York Times Square, effective Monday, 1/30.
2025 Red Carpet Hospitality Gala
Industry leaders, dignitaries, and prominent figures from the hotel, tourism, Broadway, and public safety sectors
The 2025 New York City Power 100
The migrant crisis has been a windfall for hotels, but Vijay Dandapani has sought to ensure stability for his industry that has struggled since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The hotel industry advocate recently renewed a $1.04 billion emergency city contract after the city has already spent $2.3 billion to house asylum-seekers. He warned that the City Council’s Safe Hotels Act would drive up prices but withdrew his objections after a series of negotiations. Now Dandapani is focused on combating city legislation that would ease restrictions on Airbnb.
Fox 5 NYC, WNYW: Rising Hotel Rates: Vijay Dandapani of Hotel Association of NYC
Watch Fox News Clip Here
Shuttered since the pandemic, Beanie Baby baron Ty Warner is reopening the Four Seasons hotel
Scholarship Awards Program
We are pleased to announce that the HANYC Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, will be offering three scholarship awards of $10,000 each this year.
Sustainable Hospitality
Our vision is to transform the New York City hotel industry into a recognized champion of sustainable hospitality in the United States and in the World. On this external site we share best practices, innovations and sustainable initiatives.
Human Trafficking Training
Human trafficking is incredibly widespread and our hotels have an important role to play in keeping our community and our hotels safe from this harm. HANYC is now partnering with Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking (BEST) to provide FREE human trafficking training for HANYC members and their staff.
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