RICHARD J. COTTER IS A PRINCIPAL OF TRIDGE PARTNERS AND R&R Hospitality and gaming 

A hospitality executive, he opened Wynn Las Vegas as EVP of Hotel and Food & Beverage Operations and launched the St. Regis brand worldwide.

 

While leading operations of The St. Regis New York, he re-positioned the Lespinasse restaurant to 4-Stars in the New York Times. He subsequently managed thirty-seven hotels as Regional VP of Mid-Atlantic States for Starwood Hotels and Resorts, including the opening of W Times Square and Westin Times Square.

 

As a turnaround expert, Richard renovated and re-positioned Hotel Bel-Air, New York Palace, The Waldorf Astoria Hotel and Towers, The Beverly Hilton, and introduced New York Times 4-Star Le Cirque 2000 restaurant.

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Richard recently served as EVP Managing Director, Bricapital, a Miami-based equity firm focused on the hospitality sector that owned The Raleigh Hotel, Isle De France, Cap Juluca, Hyatt Cartagena, and Viceroy Zihuatanejo. He led the firm's acquisition and asset management functions, launched the Colombia Fund, and was "Key Person" for the Colombia and Mexico funds. Prior to merging with Bricapital, Richard (former principal of RJC & Associates) opened Hotel Arista and Chicago Tribune 3-Star Sugartoad Restaurant, the HRH Tower at Hard Rock Las Vegas, and was responsible for re-positioning The Benjamin and The Surrey Hotel in New York City

 

Richard is a graduate of Cornell University's Hotel College and has served as an advisory board member for the Center for Hospitality Research at Cornell University, Howard University in Washington DC, and the Tisch Hospitality Program at New York University. He is a frequent speaker at industry conferences, particularly on the subject of luxury hotels.

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