SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Feb. 20, 2019—Officials of Hostmark Hospitality Group, an award-winning hotel management company specializing in unique lifestyle hotels and resorts as well as branded properties, today announced it has named Ronald L. Vlasic as chief operating officer. In his new role, Vlasic will oversee and grow the company’s third-party management portfolio of branded and independent hotels across the U.S., helping the company expand into new markets and segments.
“With more than 25 years of hospitality experience, Ron has an unmatched track record utilizing his unique skillset and relationships to grow regional hotel companies into national powerhouses,” said Jerome F. Cataldo, president & CEO, Hostmark Hospitality Group. “He was instrumental in Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants’ growth from 16 properties concentrated in the Bay Area to 63 hotels nationwide by 2018. Ron’s expertise in high-end, boutique properties will prove particularly useful as we expand that segment of our own third-party managed hotel portfolio.”
Vlasic most recently worked with Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, where he started as a general manager of the company’s then two largest assets. His tenure culminated as vice-president of Operations, where he oversaw the direct management of 22 properties and was responsible for creating and maintaining brand standards as the company grew into the Midwestern and East Coast markets to become a national powerhouse.
Vlasic has received numerous industry accolades, including Honorary Alumnus of the Year for Michigan State University’s School of Hospitality and Honorary Doctorate of Food Service Award from the North American Food Equipment Manufacturers Association. A Certified Hotel Administrator, he also is member of the Resort Committee, the oldest continual hotel committee in the United States. He is an active member of numerous hotel industry organizations, including the American Hotel & Lodging Association (2013 chair, 2018 executive committee member, Educational Foundation), Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association (2018 executive committee member) and the Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel-endorsed Choose Chicago (2018 Board of Directors and vice chair of the Choose Chicago Hotel Committee).
“His political ascension from local to state to national interests has benefitted both his individual employers and the hospitality industry overall, allowing him to forge numerous relationships with industry players and politicians alike,” said Robert J. Cataldo, vice chairman, Hostmark Hospitality Group. “He remains active at all levels, regularly attending annual lobbying efforts on behalf of the industry and actively raising funds for incoming industry students.”
“I’m being given the opportunity to do what I enjoy most, namely, helping grow a respected hotel company as it looks to expand even further nationwide,” Vlasic noted. “I will leverage Hostmark’s five-decade-plus history as a leading hotel operator focused predominantly in the Midwest with my own regional and nationwide connections as we grow into additional markets and new segments across the country. I will apply what I’ve learned in previous roles and take the company’s vision to apply nationwide. With a robust pipeline and strong industry fundamentals still very much in play, we plan to triple our portfolio over the next several years.”
