Hard Rock International has appointed John Rees as its new SVP, hotel operations. In this role, he is responsible for leading and supporting all facets of hotel operations across the company’s portfolio, including both corporate-managed and franchised locations. Rees reports directly to Jon Lucas, COO, Hard Rock International.
“We’re thrilled to have John lead the Hard Rock Hotel team as we continue to elevate our position as one of the world’s most recognized global hospitality brands,” said Lucas. “His depth of experience guiding world-class luxury and lifestyle hotels, paired with his results driven leadership style, makes John an invaluable addition to our company.”
Rees has more than 30 years of experience in hospitality. His career path began as an executive chef at some of the world’s most prestigious hotels, which led him to take on food & beverage director positions before moving into his current focus in hospitality operations. He also previously held senior hotel operations leadership roles at Marriott International and Ritz-Carlton, where he managed operations in more than a dozen different countries on four continents. In his most recent role as VP, resort operations and guest experience at Marriott Vacations Worldwide, Rees was responsible for the operations of more than 130 properties worldwide.
“I’m thrilled to join Hard Rock at this pivotal point of the Hard Rock Hotels brand journey,” said Rees. “Our future pipeline of hotel projects is very robust, which will allow me to work with my teams to innovate and create more of the special brand touchpoints and guest experiences our fans expect. My goal is to make Hard Rock Hotels feel like the coolest place to stay with the best vibe and where every guest around the world is made to feel like a VIP.”
