MGHSD Management Biographies

Ted Kanatas, General Manager
As General Manager of the 1,625-room Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, Ted Kanatas manages the largest hotel in Southern California and the largest hotel on the west coast waterfront –and has done so since March of 2004. Kanatas, a past recipient of Hyatt’s Donald N. Pritzker Award of Excellence for top General Manager of the Year among all Hyatt hotels in North America, came to San Diego from the 1,264-room Hyatt Regency Atlanta, where he had been General Manager since June 1995. Prior to Atlanta, Kanatas served as General Manager at the Hyatt Regency Columbus (Ohio), the Hyatt Regency Louisville (Kentucky) and the Hyatt Regency City of Commerce (Southern California).  A seasoned hotel industry executive, this is the ninth Hyatt for Kanatas. He has served in various operational capacities including Restaurant Manager, Assistant Food & Beverage Director, and Senior Food & Beverage Director before becoming a G.M.. He began his career as a Corporate Management Trainee at Hyatt Regency Atlanta in 1972. A native of Columbus, Ohio, Kanatas received a B.A. in Economics/Finance from the University of Dayton.

Kelly Commerford, CHME, Director of Marketing
As Director of Marketing at Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, Kelly Commerford, CHME, is tasked with reaching leisure, transient and group business. Commerford’s background makes him uniquely qualified for this diverse effort. His sales and marketing history includes being the Director of Sales & Marketing at the Hyatt Regency Bonaventure Conference Center & Spa in Weston, Florida, where he was responsible for spearheading Hyatt Bonaventure’s 2007 grand opening launch. During Commerford’s two years at the Bonaventure, the hotel earned 11 significant hotel and meeting-industry awards. Prior to joining Hyatt, Commerford held executive positions with Dolce International, Benchmark Hospitality and Carlson's Radisson brand. Commerford is a certified hotel marketing executive (CHME) and has earned numerous industry awards, including the 2005 International Association of Conference Centers Award of Excellence in Education and two bronze Adrian Awards from the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International.