Kennebunk, ME Atlantic Hospitality promoted two seasoned staff, plus the addition of three new team members, to help lead the portfolio’s Acadia Collection.
Sonya Dearborn has been promoted to managing director of the Acadia Collection and The Asticou in Northeast Harbor, and Britt Damon will now oversee The Claremont in Southwest Harbor. Dearborn is joined by Tyler Carroll who will serve as The Asticou’s hotel manager, while Shauna Marcum will serve as The Claremont’s assistant general manager alongside Damon. Miles Hanson joins the company as general manager of Salt Cottages in Bar Harbor, filling Damon’s previous role.
“With our Acadia Collection growing this summer, we knew it was essential to make some changes to the team structure, including appointing a managing director for the entire group of properties up north,” said Justin Grimes, managing partner of Atlantic Hospitality. “Our veteran employees have already proven to be integral parts of our team, and we’re confident they will thrive in their new roles, along with our two new additions. With high season in Maine quickly approaching, we’re looking forward to another incredible year ahead with our powerhouse hospitality experts leading the charge.”
In her new role, Dearborn will oversee the strategic direction and growth of the brand’s cherished Acadia properties, ensuring they continue to evoke joy, preserve their historic significance and offer guests unforgettable experiences. She will also be responsible for the day-to-day operations at The Asticou, which is debuting in June following a $28 million renovation.
Dearborn spent the last two years as general manager for The Claremont Hotel, where she delivered exceptional guest service and helped the property earn accolades for its seamless blend of historic charm and modern hospitality. Dearborn’s hospitality journey began as the owner and manager of a thriving restaurant, where she embraced every facet of operations, from crafting warm customer interactions to mastering the art of financial management.
Under Dearborn’s leadership, Carroll will serve as hotel manager for The Asticou. A New England native with nearly 15 years of hospitality experience in various markets around the area, Carroll combines deep industry expertise with an elevated sense of hospitality and is seasoned in hotel openings and rebrandings. He honed his guest services skills over ten years and several properties with Marriott International before transitioning to Main Street Hospitality, where he served in several managerial roles, including general manager. Most recently, he served as the director of operations for Waterford Hotel Group.
Damon steps into her new role as general manager of The Claremont Hotel following nearly three years as the general manager at Salt Cottages, where she oversaw the property from the beginning stages. Her professional journey started in banking, where she spent eight years before transitioning to sales at The Ellsworth American. A serendipitous opportunity brought her into hospitality at Witham Family Hotels, where she served in several positions for over a decade and climbed the ranks to serve as the assistant general manager at the Atlantic Atlantic Oceanside Hotel & Event Center.
Together with Damon, Atlantic Hospitality newcomer Shauna Marcum will help lead The Claremont as assistant general manager, following a distinguished 30-year career in multi-family operations and asset management. Marcum began her career as a leasing associate and worked her way up the ladder, most recently serving as the vice president for a portfolio of assets across six states. Her work took her across the United States and Europe, consulting and managing newly built assets and helping to launch the private rental sector scheme in Europe for Greystar, the largest multi-family firm in the world.
Hanson, a Kennebunk native, joins Atlantic Hospitality as the general manager of Salt Cottages after spending over eight years in sales for a technology company. Hanson has a storied career in hospitality, which began nearly two decades ago as a front desk agent at The Kennebunkport Inn, where he quickly recognized that exceptional guest stays were built not only on the quality of amenities, such as the linens, prime location or poolside offerings, but on the personal connections made with each guest. He continued his hospitality career with Kennebunkport Resort Collection, where he spent eight years and ascended to assistant general manager before transitioning to sales.