Black Desert Resort, a new luxury destination in Southern Utah, is proud to announce the growth of its executive team with the appointments of Nicholas Gold as Managing Director, Brandon Hendricks as Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Ryker Brown as Director of Food and Beverage, Matthew Krueger as Executive Chef and Michelle Taylor as Executive Pastry Chef.
Black Desert Resort is poised to become a premier destination for luxury hospitality, golf, and Southern Utah adventure. The initial phase of the Resort Center is set to be complete this September, including nearly 800 rooms and suites, seven dining venues, a 15,000-square-foot spa, a heated outdoor pool and hot tub, beach oasis, and 45,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor meeting and event space.
Nicholas Gold, Managing Director
As a well-respected leader with more than three decades of hospitality experience, Nicholas Gold joins the Black Desert Resort team as managing director. In his role, Gold is responsible for overseeing operations at Black Desert Resort and the award-winning Red Mountain Resort, which are now managed by CoralTree Hospitality, one of the top independent hospitality management companies in the United States. Prior to joining Black Desert Resort, Gold was vice president at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay in Hawaii. Originally from London, Gold has traveled around the globe and has held key leadership positions for several renowned players in the luxury hospitality industry including The Club at Kukui’ula in Kauai; Thompson Hotels in Playa del Carmen; Amangiri Resort in Canyon Point, Utah; Tanque Verde Ranch in Tucson, Ariz.; and Enchantment Resort & Mii amo Spa in Sedona, Ariz. Under Gold’s management, multiple hotels and resorts have earned a number of prestigious awards and achievements, and he has been instrumental in the launch of a number of esteemed events and initiatives.
Brandon Hendricks, Vice President of Sales & Marketing
As a multifaceted and driven leader with more than 30 years of experience in luxury hospitality, Brandon Hendricks joins Black Desert Resort and Red Mountain Resort as vice president of sales & marketing. Recognized as Sales and Marketing Leader of the Year for Marriott Luxury Hotels and Resorts (West), Brandon has led a distinguished career marked by leadership roles at premier properties ranging from small luxury boutique properties to one of the largest casino resorts in the world. Most recently, Hendricks served as Vice President of Commercial Strategy for Kohler Hospitality. Prior to that, he held ranks as director of sales and marketing at Mauna Lani (Auberge Resorts Collection), The St. Regis Deer Valley and The St. Regis Houston. In his new role, Hendricks leads overall commercial strategy for Black Desert Resort and Red Mountain Resort including sales, marketing, revenue management, catering/events and reservations.
Ryker Brown, Director of Food & Beverage
Leading the culinary team at Black Desert Resort is Director of Food & Beverage Ryker Brown. With more than 25 years of culinary expertise, Brown oversees all food and beverage operations including menu creation for the seven dining venues on property, including Basalt, Latitude, 20th Hole, Oasis, Club 73, Flo Bar & Lounge and Lava Love. Brown attended the world-renowned Le Cordon Bleu, California School of Culinary Arts and has held multiple positions in almost every type of venue during the span of his career including luxury resorts such as Omni Hotels and Resorts and Waldorf Astoria Park City, conference hotels, private clubs, a la carte restaurants, catering companies and even an equestrian facility where he was corporate director of culinary. At Black Desert Resort, Brown is committed to crafting culinary experiences that transcend traditional dining, reflecting the resort’s unique blend of luxury, adventure and world-class hospitality. His vision centers on creating a sense of place through high-quality, locally inspired cuisine, impeccable service, and innovative dining concepts designed to captivate both resort guests and the local community.
Matthew Krueger, Resort Executive Chef
Originally from Arizona, Resort Executive Chef Matthew Krueger is a culinary mastermind who brings nearly 15 years of experience to his role at Black Desert Resort. Prior to joining the team, Krueger led the culinary sector at World Equestrian Center in Florida as executive chef and also held positions throughout his tenures at some of hospitality’s biggest names including Sea Island Resort in Georgia, Hotel Effie in Miramar Beach and The St. Regis Deer Valley in Park City. As resort executive chef, Krueger is tasked with crafting the overall menu concepts, along with planning, organizing, and sourcing ingredients through local purveyors for dish development. For Krueger, a highlight of being a chef is guiding and inspiring his culinary team, and his goal is to craft an authentic and unparalleled dining experience for guests and the local community.
Michelle Taylor, Executive Pastry Chef
Michelle Taylor brings nearly 20 years of pastry experience to her role as executive pastry chef at Black Desert Resort. Having studied at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, Taylor found a passion for pastries at an early age which led to her baking for some of the most prestigious properties and golf events such as the US Open and the PGA Tour. She previously managed the pastry and baking department for Pinehurst Resort, which includes two hotels, a members country club and nine golf courses. Taylor brings a passion for crafting both classic and innovative pastries to her role at Black Desert Resort, emphasizing high-quality ingredients and artistic presentation. All of Black Desert Resort’s desserts are made in-house, showcasing her commitment to quality and creativity. A few highlights include the bread pudding served at 20th Hole and the homemade croissants featured at Lava Love. These signature items, along with a variety of other handcrafted pastries, have quickly become guest favorites.
About CoralTree Hospitality
CoralTree Hospitality is one of the fastest growing hospitality management companies in the United States with nearly 50 hotels, resorts and residential rentals. Formed in 2018, Denver-based CoralTree delivers distinctive, memorable experiences that celebrate the surroundings, culture and community of each property. The company also embraces each team member with brand pillars focused on serving from the heart and empowering experiences. The company has developed a variety of initiatives to better serve its team members, communities, stakeholders and customers including Bloom, an environmental sustainability program, and CoralTree Cares, which is the company’s philanthropic platform. The collection includes independent, branded and soft-branded properties in key metropolitan areas and resort markets including Denver, Chicago, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Snowmass, Vail, Maui, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Lake Tahoe. CoralTree is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Los Angeles-based Lowe, a real estate investment, management and development firm. For more information, visit www.CoralTreeHospitality.com.
About Black Desert Resort
Set amidst the vermillion sandstone cliffs and striking black lava beds of Greater Zion, Black Desert Resort is poised to become a premier destination for luxury hospitality, golf, and Southern Utah adventure. Black Desert Resort is anchored by a Tom Weiskopf-designed championship golf course, which will host annual events on the PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour. The initial phase of the Resort Center is set to be complete this September, including nearly 800 rooms and suites, seven dining venues, a 15,000-square-foot spa, a heated outdoor pool and hot tub, beach oasis, and 45,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor meeting and event space. Future phases will include a water park, more rooms and suites, and many more dining, shopping, and entertainment options. Spanning over 600 acres of scenic landscape, Black Desert Resort offers easy access to 200+ acres of preserved land and six miles of hiking trails. To learn more, visit www.blackdesertresort.com.