Board of Directors Nominees Slate 2026

Nicholas Price
General Manager, The Westin Anaheim Resort

Since joining us in 2021, General Manager, Nicholas Price has inspired and led The Westin Anaheim Resort team of associates to deliver memorable and magical experiences to their guests. These efforts have been recognized with awards such as achieving over 4 ½ Diamonds by AAA for two years in a row, ranking #6 on TripAdvisor amongst 130 properties in Anaheim and maintaining a top 5 position by Westin® Hotels globally for guest satisfaction and financial goals. In addition, the hotel has been awarded Wedding Wire Couples’ Choice Award, Diners’ Choice Award with Open Table for their Rooftop Lounge, RISE. 

Nicholas Price has over 16 years of hospitality experience. Previous to The Westin Anaheim Resort, he was the General Manager at Avenue of the Arts Costa Mesa, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel in Costa Mesa, California, where he effectively led a team of over 192 employees to win several awards including, 2017 & 2018 Marriott Hotel of the Year, 2013-2021 Trip Advisor Hall of Fame/Certificate of Excellence, 2012-2021 AAA Four-Diamond hotel award, and The Knot “Best of Weddings” in 2018, 2019 and 2020. Price says he is “focused on instilling a culture of excellence where associates take pride in anticipating guest needs and providing genuine hospitality that exceeds guests’ expectations.” 

Kim Painter
General Manager, Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel

Kim Painter started her career in the Hospitality Industry more than 30 years ago. Her current position, as the General Manager of Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel, began in 2016.

Starting her career in Greensburg, Pennsylvania at the first Sheraton Inn to be designated a Four Points by Sheraton property, her tenure there included Sales and Marketing, Front Office Operations and General Manager. Kim was awarded General Manager of the Year at that property owned by Crown American Hotels. Other positions held include General Manager of the Holiday Inn Indiana, Regional Director of Revenue Management for Lodgian Hotels in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and the General Manager of the newly built Four Points by Sheraton Sacramento Airport in Sacramento, California.

As the former Director of Revenue Management, Kim was an integral part of th team that led Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel (formerly the Sheraton Anaheim Hotel) during its change to an Independent Hotel in 2015. She was promoted to General Manager of the property in 2016. During her career, Kim has gained on the-job training on every rung of the hotel ladder thus giving her a true appreciation of how every part of the team combines to create great guest experiences.

Kim is a Board Member of Visit Anaheim as well as the Anaheim/Orange Count Hotel and Lodging Association where she is also a part of the Membership Committee.

A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Kim is a graduate of Seton Hill University with a major in Business/Marketing and a minor in Sociology. Kim has worked in all aspects of Hotel Management during her career on both the East and West coasts. During her down time, she enjoys traveling, biking and hiking.

Bharat Patel
Owner/Operator of Anaheim's Castle Inn & Suites

Bharat Patel began his hospitality career when his father purchased their first motel in Anaheim, the Peter Pan Motor Lodge, in 1974. They soon expanded the original 39-unit motel to over 300 rooms. In 1989 the family built the Castle Inn and Suites in Anaheim. They have owned and operated numerous hotels in Southern California. Bharat has lived and worked in Orange County since 1974. He attended Katella High school in Anaheim. He holds a Bachelor’s and an MBA from California State University, Fullerton. Bharat currently is on the Board of Trustees of Whittier College, serving on the Governance and Advancement committees. He also serves on several boards at Chapman University. As well as serving on the board of Visit Anaheim, he also serves on the board of the Anaheim Transportation Network and the Board of California Lodging Industry Association (CLIA). He is active in the community serving the Executive Board of the Anaheim as well as a committee member of SOAR.

Justin Hart
General Manager, The Sheraton Park Hotel at the Anaheim Resort

As General Manager of the Sheraton Park Hotel at the Anaheim Resort he has been with Aimbridge Hospitality/Interstate Hotels & Resorts for over ten years and previously held management positions with Starwood Hotels and Resorts in Southern California, including the Sheraton Los Angeles Downtown Hotel, Sheraton Universal Los Angeles, and The Westin Long Beach. Prior to his 11+ years with Starwood he was with Forte Hotels gaining operational experience in Paris, France, New York (Plaza Athenee New York and The Westbury), Atlanta, GA, Tucson, AZ and Long Beach, CA. 

Dieter Hissin
Complex General Manager, Embassy Suites Anaheim South & Marriott Suites Anaheim

Dieter Hissin was born and raised in the Black Forest Area of southern Germany in a 7th generation Hoteliers Family and started out his career in the Kitchen of one of the toprated, Michelin-Starred Restaurants in Germany, followed by studies at the Hotel Management School in Heidelberg, and a stint at the 5-Star Kempinski Hotel Gravenbruch in Frankfurt before venturing to the United States and joining the Ritz Carlton Hotel Corporation. While working for the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel he assisted with New Hotel Openings, including the Ritz Carlton Hong Kong, and later joined the Balboa Bay Club & Resort in Newport Beach. During his 17-year tenure at that resort he climbed the ranks and finally lead the operation as General Manager. After joining the Island Hotel in Newport Beach as General Manager he moved to San Diego to lead the F&B department at the Hotel Del Coronado and then joined the Lafayette Hotel, San Diego, as General Manager before moving to his current position in Anaheim.

Dieter lives in Laguna Niguel with his 16-year old son Lucas. He enjoys watching Lucas play High School Baseball, likes to cook for family and friends, snowboarding, mountain biking, and time on a paddle board.