"Michael's stringent standards for providing guests with world-class, luxury hospitality are ideally matched with our goal of creating an entirely new luxury resort experience for visitors to wine country," said Rogal. "We're excited to announce Michael's coming on board, and we look forward to working with him to build our Carneros Inn team of best-of-class hospitality professionals and to establish a new level of hospitality service in the wine country."

"The Carneros Inn represents an exciting hospitality concept, a place that is thoroughly refined yet totally unpretentious, with five-star levels of amenities and services," said Hoffmann. "My role is to deliver service excellence consistently and gracefully, so that every guest enjoys a memorable stay."

Hoffmann brings to The Carneros Inn a 20-year record of achievement in the luxury hospitality industry, including senior management positions at renowned properties such as Four Seasons in Dallas, Ritz-Carlton in Laguna Niguel and Boston, and The Peninsula in New York and Hong Kong.

Hoffmann began his career in 1983 with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.  In 1986, he joined The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, serving in a variety of executive positions for several properties. After leading the take-over team for the acquisition of The Ritz-Carlton in New York, Hoffmann became resident manager of The Peninsula in New York. While with The Peninsula Group from 1991 through 1999, Hoffmann also served as resident manager for The Peninsula in Hong Kong and as general manager of the company's first resort property, the Quail Lodge Resort & Golf Club. Most recently, Hoffmann served as director of hotel operations at the re-launch of the famous Ocean Club on Paradise Island in Nassau, Bahamas. 

A native of Switzerland, Hoffmann holds degrees in hotel administration and business from the Lausanne Hotel School.

Hoffmann will be responsible for all aspects of the day-to-day operations of The Carneros Inn, including the delivery of amenities and services for the property's private homeowners. During the pre-opening phase of the multifaceted facility, Hoffmann will develop the service standards for The Carneros Inn and assist the Carneros Partners development team in creatively marketing and positioning the project's innovative approach to luxury hospitality.

The Carneros Inn will feature 96 private guest cottages, each furnished with casual elegance and nestled within the privacy of a lush garden courtyard. Guests at The Carneros Inn will enjoy dining at the Boon Fly Café; poolside lounging with panoramic vineyard views; gracious and serene spa facilities; swimming and hot pools; and a variety of flexible indoor/outdoor meeting areas. In addition to the hotel accommodations, 24 stylish resort homes will be located on the grounds, allowing homeowners access to all the services and conveniences of the luxury hotel, including concierge, event planning, and maid and room service. A civic space featuring post office, bocce courts and outdoor community fireplace will also be established on the resort property.

The Carneros Inn is being developed by Carneros Partners, long-term investor-owners who will also manage the resort and all its facilities.  Carneros Partners is a small, privately funded group with wide experience in environmentally and socially responsible land planning, hotel and residential development, and hotel and restaurant operations.  The design team assembled for The Carneros Inn includes William Rawn Associates Architects (Boston), The Olin Partnership (Philadelphia), and Shopworks (Napa, Calif.).