Atlanta, GA
Nobu Hotel Atlanta Names Drew Smith as New General Manager
Atlanta, GA – Nobu Hotel Atlanta, the epitome of luxury lifestyle accommodations nestled in the vibrant heart of Buckhead, has appointed Drew Smithas its new General Manager.
Drew Smith is a Georgia native with a proven track record in the Atlanta hospitality market. He is excited to bring his expertise to Nobu Hospitality and spearhead the operations of one of the company’s larger hotels. As the General Manager, Drew oversees the property’s daily operations, sales and marketing, finance management, and third-party partnerships and facilities. His primary objectives will be simultaneously appealing to the sophisticated leisure and modern business traveler while positioning Nobu Hotel Atlanta as the leading destination for corporate and upscale events that complement Atlanta’s local music, film, and social scene.
I am looking forward to working with the talented Nobu Hospitality team and continuing to position Nobu Hotel Atlanta as a premium destination on the East Coast. Nobu’s reputation, global brand presence, and unique approach to luxury boutique hotels appealed to me and aligned with my passion for working with a diverse guest demographic. Drew Smith
Drew came to Nobu Hotel Atlanta from the InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta, where he served as Director of Sales and Marketing. While with IHG, he also served as the Regional Director of Sales and Marketing, overseeing those services for both the InterContinental and Crowne Plaza Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia. Before that, he spent over 12 years at Hyatt in various sales roles in Atlanta, San Diego, Coral Gables, and Orlando.
As a proud Georgia Bulldog alumnus, Drew received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Georgia.
About Nobu Hotel Atlanta
Nobu Hotel Atlanta, situated in the heart of Buckhead, offers an unparalleled luxury experience in one of Atlanta’s most prestigious neighborhoods. The hotel features 152 elegantly appointed guest rooms and suites, a rooftop pool and event space, a rooftop bar, corporate conference rooms, spa services, and the world-renowned Nobu Atlanta Restaurant. The property is conveniently located in the upscale Phipps Plaza, providing guests with many high-end shopping, dining, and entertainment options.
About Nobu Hospitality
Named one of luxury’s 25 Most Innovative Brands by Robb Report, Nobu Hospitality is ranked among an elite selection of global lifestyle brands. The natural growth of Nobu Hospitality, built on service, image, and reputation, offers the complete spectrum of hotel, restaurant, and residence management for unique projects worldwide. Founded by Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro, and Meir Teper, with operations spanning five continents, the Nobu brand thrives in the world’s capitals as the ultimate destination lifestyle experience. The first Nobu Hotel opened in 2013 in Las Vegas, and since then, an additional 37 hotels have been added, both open and in development. Today, Nobu hotels are open in the following locations: Manila, Miami Beach, Malibu, Shoreditch (London), Ibiza, Palo Alto, Marbella, Los Cabos, Barcelona, Warsaw, Chicago, Portman Square (London), Santorini, Atlanta, Marrakech, Seville, Atlantic City, and San Sebastian. Nobu Hotels are in development for Rome, Madrid, Toronto, Abu Dhabi, New Orleans, Tel Aviv, Hamburg, Punta Cana, Orlando, Danang, Tulum, Bangkok, Al Khobar, Al Marjan Island, Lisbon, New York, São Paulo, Cairo and North Coast Egypt.
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Nobu Hotel Atlanta
ATLANTA – An Atlanta flight attendant and mother of eight is among 17,000 Spirit Airlines workers struggling to find a new “destination” after the carrier suddenly shut down.
Spirit Airlines Atlanta impact
What we know:
Spirit Airlines ended all operations on Saturday, grounding its entire fleet and ending employment for its 17,000-person workforce. Flight attendants and customers were stranded across the country, often forced to pay for their own travel home after the discount carrier ceased operations.
Kamille Carter, an Atlanta-based flight attendant of five years, said she received the termination email from the CEO at 3 a.m., despite earlier assurances from union representatives that the company was stable. The company immediately cut healthcare benefits and stopped payments for sick leave and vacation time for all staff members.
Unpaid wages and benefits
What we don’t know:
It is unclear if Carter and her fellow employees will ever receive their final paychecks or if there is any legal recourse for the lost benefits. The company has not specified if any transition assistance will be provided to workers, some of whom had been with the airline since it launched in 1994.
Employee reaction in Georgia
What they’re saying:
“This is a death because you have to mourn, you have to grieve, it’s a process,” Carter said of the sudden job loss. Despite the financial strain of supporting eight children, Carter is looking toward her passion for cooking as a potential new career. She noted that while being uncomfortable is difficult, it can “push you to your destiny.”
Finding help in Atlanta
What you can do:
Community members looking to support Carter and other local workers affected by the shutdown can find more information on the FOX 5 Atlanta website. The station is collecting resources for those navigating the sudden loss of income and healthcare.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from an interview conducted by FOX 5 reporter Eric Perry, who spoke directly with former flight attendant Kamille Carter in Atlanta. Previous FOX 5 Atlanta reporting was also used.
The search for missing 16-year-old Benjamin Braithwaite is over. Atlanta police announced just before midnight Thursday that he had been located, more than a week after he vanished from his Regency Trace home.
The department shared the update on social media but did not release additional details about where he was found or the circumstances surrounding his recovery.
Braithwaite had been missing since the night of April 27, when he was last seen around 9 p.m. at his home in Atlanta. His family said they had no contact with him during the entire time he was gone.
The disappearance of the KIPP Atlanta Collegiate High School sophomore and basketball team member had galvanized the Atlanta community. His family, teammates, Atlanta police officers and neighbors gathered at the school last week to raise awareness about his disappearance. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where his mother works, joined the search effort — asking the public to watch for him at MARTA stops and fast food restaurants.
A $10,000 reward had been offered for credible information leading to his safe return.
“Even small details matter. Your awareness could make the difference,” the airport wrote in an Instagram post earlier this week.
FLOWERY BRANCH – The Atlanta Falcons are gearing up for rookie minicamp this weekend after a flurry of player moves over the last several weeks. General manager Ian Cunningham is not finished making changes to his roster, and the front office has reunited with another former player.
According to a press release from the team, the Falcons have signed cornerback Darren Hall and released safety Tysheem Johnson in a corresponding move.
Hall was originally selected by the franchise in the fourth round (108th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft out of San Diego State. Over his four seasons with the Falcons (2021-22) and Arizona Cardinals (2024-25), he has appeared in 48 games (12 starts), registering 85 total tackles, three tackles for loss, six passes defended, one sack, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
In the time between his stints in Atlanta and Arizona, Hall was a member of the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad (2023).
As a college player for the Aztecs, he tied the FBS lead for pass breakups with 16 in 2019. He appeared in 34 games (22 starts) over his three seasons (2018-20) with San Diego State, recording 134 tackles (101 solo), 31 passes defensed, eight tackles for loss, six interceptions, three forced fumbles, 2.5 sacks, and one fumble recovery. He was a first-team All-Mountain West selection following the 2020 season.
As a pro, Hall’s career has not gone exactly as he would have hoped. 10 of Hall’s starts came with the Falcons, and he largely struggled in 2022. He surrendered 362 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 27 receptions against 37 targets. The Falcons waived him in August 2023 in favor of rookie Clark Phillips III, Jeff Okudah, Tre Flowers, and Mike Hughes.
Hall is still a versatile player with solid tackling ability, giving him a shot at being a depth cornerback on this roster or earning a spot on the practice squad. He will face stiff competition to earn that spot, with Phillips, Cobee Bryant, Darnay Holmes, Mike Ford Jr., C.J. Henderson, and Natrone Brooks all standing in his way.
For now, he is the second player from that 2021 draft class (Terry Fontenot’s first as a general manager) to receive some form of a second contract (Kyle Pitts was franchise tagged earlier this offseason) – it just did not happen the way anyone expected. Hall now becomes the third former Falcon to join the roster via free agency this offseason after stints with other franchises (Austin Hooper and Olamide Zaccheaus).
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