Rosewood Hotels & Resorts named Virgil Napier as director of sales and marketing for the new Rosewood property at the Bahamas’ Baha Mar resort, scheduled to open in December 2014.

In this role, Napier will be responsible for developing and implementing innovative sales and marketing initiatives to drive the pre- and post-opening momentum of the first Rosewood hotel in the Bahamas. Set on the white sands of Nassau’s Cable Beach, Rosewood at Baha Mar will offer up to 200 beachview rooms and suites, five luxurious beachfront villas, signature dining venues, pools and Sense, A Rosewood Spa®.

Napier joins Rosewood with nearly 15 years of experience in the luxury hospitality industry. Most recently, he spent two years with the W Retreat & Spa – Vieques Island in Puerto Rico, where he held the role of pre- and post-opening director of sales and marketing. During his tenure with W, the resort earned premier rankings on Condé Nast Traveler’s Hot List, as well as Travel + Leisure’s Best of the Caribbean and Top 500 Hotels in the World lists. Prior to the W, Napier opened the $375 million Viceroy Anguilla as the property’s director of sales and marketing, where his hospitality prowess helped the Viceroy earn spots on the travel industry’s most coveted lists including Conde Nast Traveler’s Hot List and Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Hotels To Watch in 2010 list.

“With an outstanding track record in opening luxury resorts, Virgil was the obvious candidate to lead sales and marketing efforts for the highly anticipated opening of Rosewood at Baha Mar,” said Dianna Balabon, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts’ vice president of sales & marketing. “We have no doubt that his years of experience, energy and integrity will be key factors for creating a successful opening for Rosewood at Baha Mar.”

Napier began his impressive career in the luxury hospitality industry with The Ritz Carlton Hotel Company in 2000, a brand he remained with for seven years. From 2000-2005, he served as associate director of sales at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas, before being promoted to director of sales at The Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove in Miami. In this role, he successfully managed several teams and high-profile marketing campaigns.

Napier has received many professional accolades throughout his career, including the 2005 Golden Circle Chairman’s Award and the 2006 President’s Award at The Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove. At The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas, he was recognized with several awards, including the Good to Great Leisure Sales Director 2004/2005 Award and the Golden Circle President’s Award in 2003. Napier holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Miami and a Master of Business Administration from Arizona State University.