The DKN Team

Kiran Dahya

My responsibility starts and ends with making a difference. Whether it’s ensuring our DKN culture and values permeate our entire organization or that we continue to grow and create, my work is to always move us in the direction of our vision. I started in accounting and quickly decided that I did not like the career path I had chosen. I jumped ship, took the risk of managing family finances, and got into the hotel business by acquiring two hotels. Since 1984, we have bought, sold and developed 40+ hotels. I firmly believe that we’ve gotten to this place because of our culture and our people.

Ana Almada

With more than 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, I currently lead the team at DKN Hotels. I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel Management and Tourism and an MBA with an emphasis in Leadership and Management from the University of San Diego.

In 1998, as a hotel management student from Brazil, I began an internship at the Comfort Inn Sea World – a DKN Hotel at the time. Little did I know that this seemingly ordinary event would be the beginning of an extraordinary career that would see me hold a number of positions in the company and now lead the future of DKN as CEO. I am proud to have helped establish systems, programs, and processes that have made DKN Hotels a company where passion, innovation, and, most of all, people are our foundation, allowing us to make impactful change in the hospitality industry as we have grown and evolved.

Javier Urrutia

In 2014, I helped open the Springhill Suites in Anaheim with DKN. A year after that, I was offered a position at the Support Center in general accounting, where I learned the ropes from my colleagues. Another year later, I took over as Accounting Manager and eventually as Controller where I now oversee accounting for the company. My background is in business, with a focus in accounting, where I received my bachelors from CSUF. One of the reasons I choose to be a part of DKN is because of teamwork. There was a huge difference between when I helped open up a previous hotel to when I helped open a DKN hotel. It’s only with DKN that the owner of the company was on property helping out until late at night right alongside the rest of the team. At DKN, we are all equals, and we treat each other as family.

Shanna Davis

What do you get when you combine creativity, critical thinking, analytical skills, a notorious passion for writing, and a sharp focus on growing top-line revenue? You get me! I am the DKN Hotels marketing maestro, and I am the driving force behind innovative strategies and creative campaigns meant to make an impact and produce tangible results. As part of the revenue generation team, I work closely with sales and revenue management to ensure optimal financial performance for each hotel in our portfolio. Thirteen years into my foray into the world of hospitality marketing, I can honestly say that my enthusiasm for the industry is boundless. The joy I derive from DKN every day is the opportunity to build strong relationships with my fellow team members as we work our way toward our shared goals.

Darrell Buettner

The hospitality industry has always been my calling. After my first job at In N Out Burger while I was still in high school, I spent the first half of my career focused on Food & Beverage working in different capacities and at various restaurants, bars and night clubs. In 2006, I made the leap to lodging as a Guest Service Agent and worked my way up through operations to where I am today. I joined the DKN Hotels family in 2013 and currently support the General Managers of our properties on their own roads to success. I get so much joy out of helping guide and mentor fellow team members in the progression of their hospitality careers as well as meeting interesting guests on property and being able to share in the experiences they are creating. Since the first day I started with DKN, it was evident that there was commitment to living the company’s values that I have never experienced before. Driving performance through a people-first mindset has defined DKN through almost 40 years of existence and has us positioned for long term success in the years to come.

Bhalesh Gandhi

As the Controller here at DKN, I am responsible for managing our finances. I received my accounting degree in India and started my career by managing general accounts. Here at DKN, I am able to manage this fund like it is my own and that trust is invaluable.

Emerson Huff

At DKN Hotels, I took an unconventional path that has taught me invaluable lessons. Titles are insignificant; teamwork, customer service, and financial success are paramount. Collaborating with frontline teams and Support Center Leadership has been instrumental in my growth. This experience highlighted the profound value of the way we work and the significance of the three-legged stool approach. As the Director of Product Management, I bring these insights to drive success through collaboration, customer satisfaction, and financial excellence. It's an honor to be part of a company where success is a collective effort. Here, we are more than colleagues; we are the DKN Family.

Corina Morales

In my role in Accounts Payable, I get to make hotel general managers and vendors happy by getting accounts paid so they’re able to keep focusing on their day to day. When I first started at DKN, we were a new team, and over the last few years, we’ve created a synchronous, collaborative and trusting environment within our department.