NORWALK, Conn., February 16, 2011—HEI Hotels & Resorts (HEI), the nation’s fastest growing private owner/operator of hotel real estate, today announced the appointment of property-level executives at four Southern California hotels managed by the company:

• Michael Platt was named general manager of the 398-room Hilton Long Beach & Executive Meeting Center
• James Garcia was promoted to general manager of the 293-room Embassy Suites Irvine – Orange County Airport.
• Pradeep Bobba was promoted to general manager of the 360-room Le Méridien San Francisco.
• Brian Murphy was named general manager of the 224-room Fullerton Marriott at California State University.

“These gentlemen have extensive experience and knowledge of the hospitality industry and are strong additions to our core team of expert operators,” said Ted Darnall, chief operating officer.  “All have solid track records of successful leadership at various hotels in diverse markets.  We look forward to their continuing leadership growth and development with HEI at these individual properties.”

Michael Platt
Prior to joining HEI, Michael Platt was general manager of El San Juan Hotel & Casino in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  He was senior vice president of food & beverage operations at the Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula before that.  Also, Platt was director of operations and food & beverage for the St. Regis Hotel & Spa in Southern California.  He graduated from Witwatersrand University Johannesburg in South Africa, and holds a master’s degree in business administration from the Hotel School Lausanne in Switzerland.  He will report to Michael Miner, senior vice president of operations for Region 1.


James Garcia
Previously, James Garcia was assistant general manager of the Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Airport in Florida.  Prior to that, he was director of club operations and food & beverage director with Property Owners Association at the Williams Island Club in Aventura, Fla. and food & beverage director for the Bonaventure Resort & Spa in Fort Lauderdale.  In addition, Garcia was director of food & beverage of the Hilton Miami Airport.  He holds a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management from Florida International University.  He will report to Brian Mayer, senior vice president of operations for Region 2.


Pradeep Bobba
Pradeep Bobba has relocated to the Bay area from Arlington, Va., where he was general manager of the 217-room Sheraton Crystal City, an HEI-managed property, since 2008.  A 15-year hotel industry veteran, Bobba has served in a variety of positions of increasing responsibility during his career, including as executive director of hotel operations at the 3,933-room Bellagio in Las Vegas and director of rooms of the 654-room The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Ariz.  He will report to Michael Miner, senior vice president of operations for Region 1.


Brian Murphy
Before joining HEI, Brian Murphy was general manager of the Embassy Suites in Valencia, Calif., for Innkeepers Hospitality/Island Hospitality.  He was general manager of the Hyatt Summerfield Suites in El Segundo, Calif., immediately prior to that.  Also, Murphy was general manager of the Residence Inn Manhattan in Manhattan Beach, Calif., for Sunstone Hotels.  He holds a bachelor’s degree from California State Polytechnic University and will report to Brian Mayer, senior vice president of operations for Region 2.


About HEI Hotels & Resorts
HEI Hotels & Resorts, headquartered in Norwalk, Conn., is a leading hospitality investment firm that acquires, develops, owns and operates full-service, upper upscale and luxury hotels and resorts throughout the United States under such well-known brand names as Marriott, Sheraton, Westin, Le Meridien, Embassy Suites, and Hilton.  For more information about HEI, visit the company’s website, www.heihotels.com.