About Me

First, I would like to introduce myself.

 

I stepped into the hospitality world assuming the role of Chief Engineer at the Garden City Hotel in New York, an iconic Long Island landmark since 1874, with 272 rooms, multiple restaurants, conference facilities and a spa. This experience laid the foundation for my successful career in property and hotel management.

 

Moving from Long Island to the heart of Manhattan, I transitioned into a founding member of HK Hotels in 2002. As Executive Vice President I oversaw the development, opening and operations of 6 properties over a 15 year span in New York and Prague. Here, I was responsible for all aspects of the pre-opening from design, to construction, to coordinating the opening with the property supporting and operations teams. The luxury properties varied between 50 rooms and 103; The 100 room Wales Hotel, 103 room Elysée Hotel, 50 room Casablanca Hotel, 60 room Library Hotel, 73 room Giraffe Hotel and 52 room Aria Hotel in Prague all became premiere boutique hotels in NYC and Prague.

 

After HK Hotels, I joined the Gansevoort Hotel Group. A young and dynamic company that had the vision to develop its first property in New York’s Meatpacking District. The hotel became the company’s flagship and led to a complete renaissance in the area. As part of the Executive team, I was instrumental in searching, developing and opening new properties. A further 3 properties were added to the Gansevoort portfolio; The Gansevoort South in South Beach, Florida (a half billion dollar project, multi-outlet urban resort with 320 rooms and 250 apartments).  Further expansion included the ultra deluxe Gansevoort Turks & Caicos (with 96 rooms and spa on Grace Bay Beach). The latest opening in 2010 was the 249 room Gansevoort Park in Midtown, New York City. All properties are now globally established, thriving financially and remain stable.

 

Experience

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Global Hospitality Senior Consultant                                                      2018 - present 

Executive Vice President                                                                         2014 - 2019
ROCKSTAR HOSPITALITY GROUP 

            Z Hotel NYC - acting GM

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Vice President of Construction and Development                                 2004 -2008 and  2008 - 2014

Gansevoort Hotel Group New York, NY   

                

Lead planning for new project development of all Gansevoort Hotel properties

 

Gansevoort Park Avenue - 2008 - 2014 - 249 rooms ground up contraction 

 

Gansevoort Turks and Caicos - 2008 - 2014 - 91 rooms ground up contraction 

 

Gansevoort Miami  2008 to 2009 -  Total reconstruction of 320 rooms and 250 apartments 

 

Gansevoort Meatpacking  2003 to 2005 and 2008 to 2014 - 187 rooms ground up contraction 

 

Coordinate and executed hospitality project design and technical aspects of all hotel properties from inception

Operation and management of all pre-opening Gansevoort Hotels in NYC, Miami and Turks and Caicos; direct       involvement in design and technology

Responsible for legal and regulatory compliance including documents and permits for Department of Buildings, Fire   and Health, Life Safety and Security Technology

Oversee and coordinate physical system maintenance with architects and designers obtain project entitlements and permits

Negotiate and resolve outstanding issues with local jurisdictions

Oversee RFP and contracting process for architects, engineers, contractors, and other project consultants

 

Executive Vice President/Founding Member                                    12/1989 - 12/2008                               HK Hotels New York, NY

          Train General Managers in customer service relations and facilitate innovative ways to improve

Led Engineering Departments in continually reassessment of technology trends to promote efficient operations and meet customer needs

Supervised all Chief Engineers

Oversaw complete physical system maintenance of all properties

Directed development, design, pre-opening and ongoing operation of 6 hotel properties

 

Aria Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic, 2004 to 2008 – 50 rooms rehabilitation

 

Hotel Giraffe, NYC, 1999 to 2008 - 73 rooms, ground up construction and development

 

Library Hotel, NYC, 1999 to 2008 - 60 rooms, complete renovation and repositioning of declining property from office building to botique hotel

 

Hotel Casablanca, NYC, 1995 to 2008 - 50 rooms, complete renovation and repositioning of property from falling rooming house to boutique hotel

 

Hotel Elysee, NYC, 1991 to 2008 - 103 rooms, complete renovation and repositioning of declining property to boutique hotel

 

Wales Hotel, NYC, 1989 to 1991 - 100 rooms, complete renovation and repositioning of the property from deteriorating rooming house to boutique hotel

 

Oversaw every aspect of project management from design and construction to legal and safety requirements by City and State

 

Chief Engineer                                                                                         09/1984 09/1989

Garden City Hotel, Garden City, NY

Managed building operating expenses

Oversaw and approved bids on capital projects, contract maintenance, and administrative expenditures

 

Mechanical Engineer                                                                                                                               01/1976 - 02/1979

Air Force, Czechoslovakia

Responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of fighter jets and airplanes

 

Education

Air Force Academy                                                                                                                                         1976            

State University of New York, Farmingdale, NY - HVAC Technology Program,                                        09/1985 - 08/1988

 

New York City FSD / Active Shooter certified, Hew York State Real Estate License,                                           Current   

US Citizen, European Union passport holder,                                                     

 

Hobbies 

Hospitality, Travel, Skiing, Running, Reading, Gardening, Beach...