Hard Rock International appointed John Rees as its new senior vice president of hotel operations. In this role, Rees will be responsible for leading and supporting all facets of hotel operations across the Hard Rock International portfolio, including both corporate-managed and franchised locations. Rees reports directly to Jon Lucas, COO of 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," Lucas said in a statement. "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. In his most recent role as vice president of resort operations and guest experience at Marriott Vacations Worldwide, he was responsible for driving operational excellence for more than 130 properties. His career path began as an executive chef at upscale hotels, which led him to take on food and beverage director positions before moving into his current focus in hospitality operations. He also 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.