Hilton Hotels confirmed a management shake-up in its Hawai'i operations yesterday, saying three top executives will be leaving the company this week.

The most familiar name in the community is Noel Trainor — general manager of Hilton Hawaiian Village, the largest hotel in Hawai'i. A statement from the hotel said Trainor "will resign to pursue other interests and opportunities."

The highest ranking of the three is Gary Seibert, area vice president for Hilton's Hawai'i region and managing director of Hilton Hawaiian Village, who announced that he will retire tomorrow. Seibert, a 35-year veteran of Hilton Hotels Corp., moved to Hawai'i three years ago to oversee Hilton's Hawai'i resorts, including Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa and Hilton Waikoloa Village.

Another executive to announce his retirement is Dieter Seeger, general manager of Hilton Waikoloa Village, whose tenure with Hilton spanned 30 years.

The hotel officially had little to say about what was behind the move. In a statement, the hotel said, "Hilton Hawaiian Village and Hilton Waikoloa Village are two flagship properties for Hilton Hotels Corp. and as such the company looks forward to filling the two general manager positions as expeditiously as possible, subsequent to departure of Noel Trainor and Dieter Seeger on Feb. 15."

In October, Hilton Hotels Corp. was sold to The Blackstone Group for a record $26 billion and Hilton's shares stopped trading on the New York Stock Exchange as a result.

Hilton is the nation's second-largest hotel chain. New York-based Blackstone already owned the La Quinta lodging chain.

Trainor started at the Hawaiian Village in 1984 as assistant director of food and beverage, was quickly promoted to director of food and beverage. He supervised the development and opening of seven new dining, beverage and entertainment outlets, part of the extensive $100-million "Return to Paradise" hotel renovation.

"My 24-year career at the Hilton Hawaiian Village has been absolutely fabulous," Trainor said in a written statement.

The hotel credited his vision with establishing a Hawaiian sense of place at the Waikiki resort. During his tenure and through various promotions, the hotel has gained visibility and industrywide recognition for its food and beverage, and resort operations.

In addition to running Hilton's largest property, Trainor has maintained leadership roles in a wide-ranging roster of nonprofit community and social causes. He initiated numerous outreach events including the annual holiday dinners at the Institute for Human Services on Thanksgiving and the Kau Kau Wagon Downtown on Christmas Day.

"I feel very fortunate that I have had the opportunity during my years at Hilton to support numerous non-profit organizations throughout Hawaii," said Trainor. "I look forward to continuing my involvement in the community here even after I leave Hilton."

Seibert said he plans to relocate to the East Coast.

"I have had many goals in my life and not all of them have been career related," Seibert said. "I want to pursue passions that I just have not had the time to do. While I am not looking forward to leaving the Islands, I do look forward to spending more time with family, finishing my hike of the Appalachian Trail, scuba diving more often with my sons and going on many more fishing trips."

Seeger joined Hilton Hawaii in 1967 as director of food and beverage for Maui Hilton, later moving to Kona Hilton, Hilton Hawaiian Village and Turtle Bay Hilton in a variety of executive positions. He took the helm at Hilton Waikoloa Village in 1993.

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.