PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Richard J. Cotter, Organizational Strategy Consultant, Executive Coach
A hospitality executive, he opened Wynn Las Vegas as EVP of Hotel and Food & Beverage Operations and launched the St. Regis brand worldwide. While leading operations of The St. Regis New York, he repositioned the Lespinasse restaurant to 4-Stars in the New York Times. He subsequently managed thirty-seven hotels as Regional VP of Mid-Atlantic States for Starwood Hotels and Resorts, including the opening of W Times Square and Westin Times Square.
As a turnaround expert, Richard renovated and repositioned Hotel Bel-Air, New York Palace, The Waldorf Astoria Hotel and Towers, The Beverly Hilton, and introduced New York Times 4-Star Le Cirque 2000 restaurant. Richard has served as an advisory board member for the Center for Hospitality Research at Cornell University, Howard University in Washington DC, and the Tisch Hospitality Program at New York University. He is a frequent speaker at industry conferences, particularly on the subject of luxury hotels.
Richard recently served as EVP Managing Director, Bricapital, a Miami-based equity firm focused on the hospitality sector that owned The Raleigh Hotel, Isle De France, Cap Juluca, Hyatt Cartagena, and Viceroy Zihuatanejo. He led the firm's acquisition and asset management functions. BriCapital launched a successful Colombia Fund, and he was a "Key Person" for the fund. Prior to merging with Bricapital, Richard (former principal of RJC & Associates) opened Hotel Arista and Chicago Tribune 3-Star Sugar Toad Restaurant, the HRH Tower at Hard Rock Las Vegas, repositioned The Benjamin, and repositioned The Surrey Hotel.
Experience
Executive Vice President & Managing Director, Bricapital equity firm focused on hospitality
Opening Executive Vice President Wynn Las Vegas
Launched St. Regis Hotels as Vice President Managing Director
Vice President Mid-Atlantic Region at Starwood Hotels
Vice President & Managing Director New York Palace Hotel & Hotel Bel-Air
General Manager Waldorf Astoria Hotel
Co-Founder of Tridge Partners
Accomplishments
Raised private equity fund of $28M
Purchased, restructured, renovated, & disposed of The Raleigh, South Beach
Launched AAA Four Diamonds Hotel Arista, and Chicago Tribune Three Star Sugartoad Restaurant
Structured and positioned The Surrey Hotel, New York to achieve Forbes Five Stars
Opened, launched, Wynn Las Vegas, Wynn Towers
Launched the St. Regis Brand over two years from the original to 9 hotels in three countries
Implemented Six Sigma across a platform of 38 Starwood hotels
Led $20M Renovation of The Hotel Bel-Air to maintain Forbes Five Stars
Led and structured $120M New York Palace renovation
Led McKinsey & Co restructuring of Waldorf Astoria New York
Completed $75M renovation of Waldorf Astoria Hotel & Towers, New York
Awards
15 AAA Five Diamond Awards: New York Palace, Le Cirque 2000 Restaurant, Hotel Bel-Air, St. Regis New York, Lespinasse Restaurant, St. Regis Houston, Wynn Las Vegas, Wynn Towers, Bartolotta Restaurant, Alex Stratta Restaurant, Wing Lei Restaurant, Wynn Country Club Restaurant, Daniel Boulud Restaurant Las Vegas, SW Steak House, The Surrey Hotel New York
9 Mobil Five Star Awards: New York Palace Towers, Le Cirque 2000, Hotel Bel-Air, St. Regis New York, Lespinasse Restaurant, Wynn Towers, Bartolotta Restaurant, Alex Stratta Restaurant, The Surrey Hotel
2 Four Stars New York Times: Le Cirque 2000 Restaurant, Lespinasse Restaurant
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