Welcome to BRE Hotels & Resorts

About Us

We deliver industry-leading returns for stakeholders by driving excellence at every property within our diverse portfolio. As a Blackstone fund owned hospitality platform, our owned assets focus on upscale, extended-stay and select-service properties including:

Leadership

Senior Leadership Team

Joe Berger President & CEO

Ken Barrett COO

Amol Kale CTO

Don Goodman EVP, Development & Capex (Full Service)

Scott Spurlock SVP, Asset Management (Full Service)

John Tolbert SVP, Asset Management (Full Service)

Cristina Little SVP, Revenue & Profit Optimization (Full Service)

Kathryn Arbogast General Counsel

Khoa Ngo SVP of Financial Planning & Analysis

Mahesha Jayawardana VP of Investments

Trista Huang VP of Technology and Analytics

Cindy Castillo AVP - Head of People

Select Service Asset Management

Nele Breitbart SVP of Asset Management

Lisa Leenheer VP, Revenue Optimization (Select Service)

Fouad Faraj VP, Asset Management (Southeast)

Kristen Townes VP, Asset Management

Core

Values

At BRE Hotels & Resorts, our team is lean and ambitious, driven to achieve industry leading results within a framework of shared values that guide our actions and inform our decisions.

Innovative

Leveraging technology and innovation today for a stronger tomorrow.

We foster a culture that maximizes technology to drive innovative programs and industry leading results.

Integrity

Committed to Honesty and Ethics

We are committed to honesty, transparency, and ethical conduct, we focus on doing the right thing.

Respect

Welcoming Diversity and Fostering a Collaborative Community

Our team embraces unique perspectives, and we value everyone’s contribution as part of our inclusive culture.

Entrepreneurial

Creating New Opportunities by Leveraging Resources

We are small enough to think and act like entrepreneurs but have the resources and experience to provide solid results for our investors.

Driven

Ambitious with a Relentless Drive to Win

We are driven to deliver exceptional returns in the market through best-in-class asset management, insights, data and operational expertise.

Fun

Work Hard, Have Fun, Celebrate Often

While we are responsible stewards of financial and human capital that work hard to create value, we also provide an environment that promotes fun, camaraderie and creativity offering a balanced lifestyle and healthy well-being.

History

Staying Ahead of the Times

2004

BRE Hotels & Resorts traces its roots to Blackstone Real Estate Group’s 2004 acquisition of Boca Resorts Inc. BRE’s predecessor WHM was formed to manage Boca’s five distinctive destination properties in prime Florida locations, including the famed Boca Raton Resort & Club. Wyndham International was acquired the following year, a transaction that led to the creation of LXR Luxury Resorts to comprise not only Wyndham’s luxury portfolio – 14 full-service hotels, resorts and spas throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean – but also the Boca Collection and Prime Hospitality’s proprietary full-service brand.

2013

BRE’s current platform was established in 2013 with the purchase of a select service portfolio from Apple REIT. Since then BRE Hotels & Resorts has expanded its asset base to include all chain scales with a focus on luxury and upper upscale resorts. A shrewd approach to hotel acquisitions continues to expand the platform’s reach into diverse markets with strong demand generators. This dynamic portfolio emphasizes profitability, with a proven strategy to significantly re-invest in acquired assets to improve guest experience and thus enhance share. The result is a powerful investment vehicle focused on long-term hold for a steady income stream.

Responsibility

Be the Difference

BRE Hotels & Resorts takes seriously our commitment to corporate responsibility, with efforts focused on environmental stewardship and community outreach. Some recent highlights include:

Supporting Local Communities

The Turtle Bay Resort Foundation awarded $100,000 in scholarships to 41 students in Q2 2022; the awards propel the Foundation's giving to more than $1MM in scholarships
Hyatt Regency Atlanta held an event as part of Hyatt's “Change Starts Here” initiative to support more than 25 African American-owned small businesses
BRE Full-Service Hotels implemented a Refugee Program to actively recruit and employ refugees at multiple full service properties

Sustainability Initiatives

A property-wide LED lighting upgrade at the Arizona Biltmore will be complete in Q3'22 and is expected to reduce electric usage by 30% over '19 annually
18 new water efficiency initiatives are underway at select service hotels. These projects are estimated to save over 8M gallons annually
Hotel Kabuki’s LED lighting upgrade is expected to decrease electricity usage by 422K kWh annually
Ritz‐Carlton Maui’s water efficiency project is expected to decrease property‐wide water usage by 11% annually

BRE Hotels & Resorts is proud of our partnership with CoreGiving. 1 in 4 children in America struggles with hunger, and CoreGiving gives our company the opportunity to raise awareness and make a meaningful impact in our local communities by providing funds that directly fight child hunger. Follow CoreGiving for more information.

Facebook: @CoreGiving Twitter: @CoreGiving
Instagram: @CoreGiving Linkedin: @CoreGiving

BRE Hotels & Resorts encourages our people and properties to be active members of their local communities. Following are just a few favorites:

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In an effort to share aloha with resort employees, The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua prepared and distributed care packages of fresh food to its more than 600 team members.

In an effort to share aloha with resort employees, The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua prepared and distributed care packages of fresh food to its more than 600 team members. They also donated more than 1500 canned goods and monetary donations to the Maui Food Bank and provided 12 cases of personal care items. Great job Ritz-Carlton Kapalua!

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Grand Wailea is investing in the local community and in the spirit of aloha

Grand Wailea is investing in the local community and in the spirit of aloha. Our beautiful resort pledges to continue to make Maui a better place for its ohana, guests and the people of Hawaii.

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Grand Wailea and Ritz-Carlton Kapalua partnered with the Maui Food Bank to distribute 2,000 food packages to local families.

Blackstone fund owned hotels, Grand Wailea and The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, partnered with the Maui Food Bank to distribute 2,000 food packages to local families during drive-through events hosted by employee volunteers at the resorts on Friday. In total, the Grand Wailea and The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua donated a combined $100,000 to feed families across the island.

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