Hanalei Garden

Leading the Way

Our Talented Team

Our leadership team brings unparalleled expertise, innovation, and passion to our mission to improve the planet one hotel at a time.

Barry S. Sternlicht

Barry S. Sternlicht

Barry S. Sternlicht

Barry S. Sternlicht

CHAIRMAN

Barry S. Sternlicht is Chairman and CEO of Starwood Capital Group and Chairman of Starwood Hotels. For the past twenty-four years, he has structured investment transactions with an asset value of more than $65 billion. From 1995 through early 2005, Sternlicht was Chairman and CEO of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., a company he founded in 1995. Starwood Hotels employed over 120,000 people and was one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 895 properties in 100 countries. Starwood was a fully integrated owner, operator and franchiser of hotels with nine brands, including: St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W Hotels, Sheraton, Westin, Le Meridien, and Four Points.

Sternlicht has been credited as a dynamic and innovative hotel leader, creating new products and programs with immediate global appeal. He created W Hotels, perhaps the world’s most successful "boutique" brand, and grew the St. Regis brand from a single property to a global luxury hotel chain. Some of his innovations include the creation of Westin’s "Heavenly Bed," "Heavenly Bath," and "Westin Workout," and Starwood Preferred Guest, the world’s first frequent traveler program with "no blackouts."
CHAIRMAN

Barry S. Sternlicht is Chairman and CEO of Starwood Capital Group and Chairman of Starwood Hotels. For the past twenty-four years, he has structured investment transactions with an asset value of more than $65 billion. From 1995 through early 2005, Sternlicht was Chairman and CEO of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., a company he founded in 1995. Starwood Hotels employed over 120,000...Read More

Raul Leal

Raul Leal

Raul Leal

Raul Leal

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Raul Leal is the Chief Executive Officer of Starwood Hotels, an affiliate of global private investment firm Starwood Capital Group and brand management company that operates 1 Hotels, Baccarat Hotels, and Treehouse Hotels. With 40 properties open and in development, he prioritizes people and the planet in all aspects of business.

A visionary leader with 40 years of experience, Leal has shaped iconic luxury and lifestyle brands, holding some of the industry’s most prestigious roles across multiple sectors as both a hotel owner and operator. He was President and Partner at Tecton Hospitality before launching Desires Hotels in 2002, foreseeing the boutique model’s rapid growth. In 2010, he was recruited to launch Virgin Hotels, where he spent over 10 years driving inclusion, pipeline development, and integrating sustainability into the company's operations.

Leal’s proven track record of identifying tactics that drive positive change informs every aspect of the Starwood Hotels organization. He is a mentor at all levels, committed to building from scratch and championing efforts to uplift communities with lasting impact. Since joining Starwood, Leal has overseen the successful openings of numerous properties globally.

Leal serves on the Board of Directors of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitor’s Bureau and on Cornell’s Boards for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Raul Leal is the Chief Executive Officer of Starwood Hotels, an affiliate of global private investment firm Starwood Capital Group and brand management company that operates 1 Hotels, Baccarat Hotels, and Treehouse Hotels. With 40 properties open and in development, he prioritizes people and the planet in all aspects of business.A visionary leader with 40 years of experience, Leal has shaped...Read More

Abhay Bakaya

Abhay Bakaya

Abhay Bakaya

Abhay Bakaya

Chief Development Officer

Abhay is responsible for growing the company’s portfolio of open and pipeline hotels to scale. He leads the expansion of 1 Hotels, Treehouse Hotels, and Baccarat Hotels globally across the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific. With over 15 years of experience in the industry, he has focused on real estate and business development for Fairmont-Raffles Hotels, the original Starwood Hotels & Resorts, and Marriott International prior to joining Starwood Hotels in 2017.
Chief Development Officer
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Clio Knowles

Clio Knowles

Clio Knowles

Clio Knowles

Chief People Officer

Clio is responsible for continued development and evolution of the Starwood Hotels culture and people operations. Her primary focus is creating a company culture that centers on the brand values and celebrates our people. Prior to Starwood Hotels, she served as Chief People Person at Virgin Hotels and Vice President of Global Human Resources for Kerzner International.
Chief People Officer
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Toni Stoeckl

Toni Stoeckl

Toni Stoeckl

Toni Stoeckl

Chief Marketing Officer

Toni is responsible for each brand’s larger marketing strategy with a focus on the consumer brand experience and creating a 360-degree marketing approach. He leads each brand’s strategic approach to deliver an insights-driven, forward-thinking, and hyper-engaging customer journey at every turn. Born into a family of German and Austrian hoteliers and restaurateurs, his journey started at Starwood Hotels & Resorts, where he helped shape W Hotels and much of the consumer journey of St. Regis and The Luxury Collection. At Marriott, he pioneered the creation of the company's first lifestyle brand portfolio, including EDITION, AC, and Moxy Hotels.
Chief Marketing Officer
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Denise Walker

Denise Walker

Denise Walker

Denise Walker

Chief Information Officer

Denise oversees the development and execution of the company’s IT operations and innovation, crafting strategic plans to drive growth, profitability, and the evolution of the brands’ guest experience. Under her leadership, Starwood Hotels was honored with the 2024 Hospitality Technology Visionary Award in the Sales & Marketing category, recognizing the company's forward-thinking approach to technology integration. Prior to joining Starwood Hotels, Denise served as Vice President of IT at Virgin Hotels and Senior Vice President of IT at Atlantis Bahamas, as well as Director of IT and Supply Chain at Royal Caribbean. 
Chief Information Officer
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Jonathan Heath

Jonathan Heath

Jonathan Heath

Jonathan Heath

Executive Vice President, F&B & Hotel Operations

Jonathan collaborates with operational leaders across the company and contributes to all facets of Starwood Hotels operations, enhancing both hotel and dining experiences. With over two decades of international hospitality experience, he's an expert in hotel openings, critical path management, concept and service flow design for hotels, F&B outlets, and spas. Most recently, he was Corporate Head of F&B at Six Senses, where he managed operations and pre-openings across 20 countries. Previously, as COO of F10 Creative, he integrated food, art, and design into unique guest experiences. His career also includes senior roles at W Hotels, ACE Hotel, Viceroy Hotel Group, and Soho House UK.
Executive Vice President, F&B & Hotel Operations
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Bill Lloyd

Bill Lloyd

Bill Lloyd

Bill Lloyd

Executive Vice President, Finance

Bill oversees the financial strategy and operations across our portfolio, drawing on nearly two decades of hospitality finance leadership. Since joining Starwood nine years ago, he has held roles of increasing responsibility, including Director of Finance at 1 Hotel South Beach and Vice President of Finance for the East Coast portfolio. He has been instrumental in managing complex ownership structures, including condo associations, and in fostering strong relationships with partners and owners. Prior to Starwood, Bill served as CFO of iPic Entertainment and held senior finance roles at The Boca Raton Resort and Club, among others.
Executive Vice President, Finance
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Gonzalo Bustamante

Gonzalo Bustamante

Gonzalo Bustamante

Gonzalo Bustamante

Senior Vice President, Design

Gonzalo is an award-winning design leader who has dedicated over three decades to collaborative leadership and storytelling through design and architecture. Born in Valparaiso, Chile, his love for art and handcraft began early, influenced by his grandfather’s woodshop and growing up in a brutalist house designed by his architect great-grandfather. Most recently serving as Executive Vice President of Design & Development at MGM Resorts International, Bustamante joined MGM in 2018. He has overseen design development and strategy for global properties, and was lead designer for award-winning projects including the Kodak Theatre (now Dolby Theatre), Emeril’s restaurant, and Sushi Samba in Chicago.
Senior Vice President, Design
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Nicholas Demasi

Nicholas Demasi

Nicholas Demasi

Nicholas Demasi

Senior Vice President, Food & Beverage

Nicholas oversees the strategy and operations of the company's diverse and innovative portfolio of dining and entertainment venues around the globe. He's passionate about creating and executing visionary concepts that elevate our properties and reflect the local culture and market. With extensive experience in food and beverage roles, he has a proven track record of delivering exceptional guest and stakeholder satisfaction, driving revenue and profitability, and leading high-performing teams. Prior to SH, he served as Vice President of Food & Beverage at SLS Las Vegas Hotel & Casino and General Manager of Openings at SBE Restaurant Group.

 
Senior Vice President, Food & Beverage
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Ron Sheldon

Ron Sheldon

Ron Sheldon

Ron Sheldon

Senior Vice President, Technical Services

Ron specializes in crafting technical innovations for world-class, nature-inspired properties. With three decades of experience, he's served as Vice President of Development at Discovery Land Company, Owner's Representative at DiamondRock Hospitality, Vice President of Development and Construction at WeWork, Senior Vice President of Design and Construction at Two Roads Hospitality, and Vice President of Development and Technical Services at Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants. 
Senior Vice President, Technical Services
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Samira Naraghi

Samira Naraghi

Samira Naraghi

Samira Naraghi

Vice President, Revenue Strategy

Samira leads revenue management strategy and team development for Starwood Hotels. She has played a key role in driving performance, optimizing results, and strengthening teams across the organization. A dynamic revenue leader with nearly two decades of experience in luxury and lifestyle hospitality, she is known for her strategic vision, collaborative leadership, and passion for developing people.
Vice President, Revenue Strategy
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Shadi Omeish

Shadi Omeish

Shadi Omeish

Shadi Omeish

Vice President, Operations

Shadi, an award-winning hospitality leader with over two decades of international experience, oversees and collaborates closely with general managers and VPs at Starwood Hotels’ properties across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. A seasoned expert in luxury hospitality, he has managed various Starwood Hotels properties, consistently upholding the highest standards of operations and services. Since joining the company in 2016, he has served as General Manager at 1 Hotel South Beach and 1 Hotel West Hollywood, Area Managing Director West Coast, and most recently Regional Vice President West Coast.



 
Vice President, Operations
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Join the Journey

Honored to named a 2025 Most Loved Workplace® Certified Company, we’re always seeking exceptional, passionate people to flourish with us at Starwood Hotels. Explore our openings to learn more about our company culture, our continued growth, and your potential to be a part of 

 

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