KEY WEST, Fla. (May 31, 2013)???Hyatt Key West Resort and Spa?, the island?s premier luxury leisure resort, has added three new members to the already exemplary staff. All veterans of the Hyatt brand, Dan Higgins, Jillian Pahren and Miki Hirakawa bring experience and passion for hospitality to the Hyatt Key West Resort & Spa family.
Dan Higgins? impressive seven year resume has led to his current Chef de Cuisine position at Hyatt Key West Resort & Spa. Prior to joining the resort?s renowned culinary team, Higgins began his career at Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay where he quickly moved up from a cook at Armani?s Restaurant to Culinary Lead at Armani?s and Oystercatcher?s Restaurants. From there Higgins took over as Culinary Supervisor for Petey Brown?s, Oystercatcher?s and the hotel?s banquets division. Before leaving his tenure at Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, Higgins was promoted to Sous Chef/Banquet Chef for the banquets and transitioned to Chef de Cuisine at Petey Brown?s Restaurant. Now serving as full-time Chef de Cuisine at Hyatt Key West, he can further his professional growth and add to the seasonally-changing culinary experiences at SHOR American Seafood Grill and Blue Mojito Pool Bar & Grill.
After serving three years as catering coordinator at Hyatt Regency Bonaventure, Jillian Pahren joins the Hyatt Key West team as catering manager. She will deploy her talents to achieve the resort?s monthly catering and sales quotas.? Pahren?s responsibilities also include booking and planning all catering events, ranging from wedding ceremonies to receptions and reunions, liaising with the hotel staff to ensure smooth running of events and acting as an on-site contact for clients. ?Her prior experience includes a sales coordinator position at The Mansion on Main Street.
Hyatt Key West Resort & Spa is pleased to welcome Miki Hirakawa as the newly appointed Spa Manager. A Hyatt veteran, Hirakawa?s experience began as a spa receptionist at Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea where she learned the necessary skills to move on as an esthetician at Elements Spa & Salon in Honolulu, Hawaii. From there Hirakawa made the decision to join the Hyatt family where she stayed for three years as an esthetician at Hyatt Regency Waikiki.? Her passion for the spa and hospitality industry led her to complete the brand?s Corporate Management Training program at Hyatt Regency Scottsdale at Gainey Ranch ultimately leading her to her current role as Spa Manager of the resort?s award winning Jala Spa.