January 28, 2015 – San Jose, CA – The Hyatt Place San Jose is pleased to announce Michael Lerman as the General Manager of the newly renovated downtown San Jose hotel owned and operated by Ultima Hospitality. Michael comes to the Hyatt Place San Jose from The Westin San Francisco Airport where he was the Director of Operations. In that role, he directed the function of the 397 room hotel and worked with department managers to implement inventive and efficient systems throughout the property. Michael was instrumental in achieving improved guest and employee satisfaction scores and increasing profitability.
Michael is a creative, hospitality professional. He has worked in many departments in the industry and progressed throughout his career to lead top rated teams. Driven to serve all business constituents with a balanced approach, Michael is committed to creating excellent service experiences for guests and a positive, productive environment for employees that fosters growth and profitability. “Michael’s hands on experience throughout his career is a true asset to Ultima Hospitality and our team” stated Mark Zettl, Chief Operating Officer. “He possesses insight, vision and a clear understanding of how departments work together to provide an exceptional guest experience. We are proud to have him leading the success at Hyatt Place San Jose.”
Michael began his career in the hotel industry in 2008 after graduating from Cornell University where he majored in Hospitality Management. He worked as the Restaurant Manager for the Biltmore Hotel & Suites in Santa Clara, California. He then moved to The Fairmont San Jose, as the Lobby Lounge Manager. In 2010 he was promoted to Director of Restaurants and in 2012 became the Food and Beverage Manager. In January 2013 Fairmont Hotels and Resorts promoted him again and Michael relocated to Hawaii to become the Director of Food and Beverage at The Fairmont Kea Lani Maui. During his time at the resort, he successfully managed multiple food and beverage outlets and achieved the #1 Rated Resort Banquet Team and #1 Rated Room Service Team within Fairmont Hotels and Resorts. He also led the team to earn #1 Rated Restaurant on the island of Maui.
After several years with Fairmont, in December 2013, Michael joined Ultima Hospitality as Director of Operations for The Westin San Francisco Airport. His success continued and in December 2014 Ultima Hospitality appointed Michael General Manager of the Hyatt Place San Jose.
A dynamic and dedicated leader, Michael is thrilled to be part of the team at Hyatt Place San Jose. “I am very proud of our staff and their commitment to our guests. Our location presents us with wonderful opportunities to be innovative and continue to be very service focused – two things I am extremely passionate about. This is an exciting time in the area as we witness a resurgence of arts and culture in our downtown neighborhood. I look forward to supporting my team and engaging with this savvy, ever evolving community. “
