# ARIA Taps Elissa Hayward as Executive Pastry Chef, Reuniting Her With Austin Goetzman

> ARIA named Elissa Hayward executive pastry chef, reuniting her with executive chef Austin Goetzman and adding a pastry voice to its kitchen.

- Published: 2026-10-20T22:04:13+00:00
- Section: Leadership
- Author: News Desk
- URL: https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-10-20/aria-elissa-hayward-executive-pastry-chef
- Source: [Yahoo](https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/articles/fine-dining-concept-aria-names-210313730.html)

## Key takeaways

- ARIA named Elissa Hayward executive pastry chef, reuniting her with executive chef Austin Goetzman, with whom she worked at Lazy Betty.
- Hayward joins bar lead Eric Simpkins and lead sommelier and assistant general manager Princeton Saunders on the ARIA team.
- Hayward is developing a dessert with smoked vanilla mousse, green apple, turmeric, brown butter crumble and caramel.

[ARIA](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/00072ti/aria) has named Elissa Hayward executive pastry chef, reuniting her with executive chef Austin Goetzman, with whom she previously worked at Lazy Betty. The appointment was reported by [Yahoo](https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/articles/fine-dining-concept-aria-names-210313730.html). Hayward joins bar lead Eric Simpkins and lead sommelier and assistant general manager Princeton Saunders.

## Hayward's Role Alongside Goetzman and Simpkins

Hayward joins a team where ideas move between the kitchen, pastry, bar and wine programs. She and Saunders have been tasting wines for a red wine sorbet, and conversations with Simpkins about smoked flavors have connected pastry with the bar. She and Goetzman regularly taste one another's work, continuing a creative relationship they first developed while working together previously.

Owner Andrés Loaiza said, "Elissa's approach immediately stood out to us. She understands the entire kitchen, not just one part of it, and that comes through in the way she thinks about dessert. She has a strong technical foundation, but she also brings curiosity and personality to what she creates. We're excited to give her the room to explore that at Aria."

Hayward said, "I think what is exciting is that everyone is really immersed in their own area, but we're still constantly talking and tasting together. Austin is focused on the savory menu, Eric and Princeton are bringing new ideas to the bar and wine programs, and I'm focused on pastry. We all have our own areas, but there is a lot of opportunity for those ideas to come together."

An early glimpse of her approach appears in a dessert Hayward is beginning to develop, featuring smoked vanilla mousse, green apple, turmeric, brown butter crumble and caramel. Hayward trained in both culinary arts and baking and pastry, then spent much of her early career on the savory side before choosing to focus fully on pastry several years ago. Her experience includes time at Bouchon Bistro in California and, most recently, The Deer and the Dove in Decatur.

## ARIA's Scale and Las Vegas Partnerships

ARIA Resort & Casino is a luxury property on the Las Vegas Strip, owned by CityCenter Land, LLC and operated by MGM Resorts International, according to [akta.pro company records](https://akta.pro/company-data). The property has over 4,700 rooms and suites across two 28-floor mirrored-glass curved towers. ARIA Sky Suites earned a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star rating for 2023 and 2024, and The Spa at ARIA is also Forbes Five-Star rated. BetMGM operates a sportsbook within ARIA, and Uber is the Official Rideshare Partner of MGM Resorts International, providing transportation for ARIA guests. Avis provides car rental services for ARIA guests, with MGM Rewards members eligible for up to 30% off base rates.

## Hayward's Pastry Plans at ARIA

Hayward said, "I'm excited to involve guests in the pastry side of the menu in the same way they experience the savory side. I want dessert to feel like part of the complete meal, with just as much thought behind it, while also giving guests something they may not have expected."

## Companies in this story

- [ARIA company profile](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/00072ti/aria) · website: https://aria.mgmresorts.com

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