Velasquez brings more than 15 years of luxury hotel experience to his new role. Most recently, Velasquez was the director of sales and marketing at the Royal Palms Resort and Spa, where he rebranded the 18 year old boutique resort, restaurant and spa to reach a multi-generational, prosperous audience. Prior to that, Greg served as director of marketing and sales for L’Auberge de Sedona, where he re-positioned the hotel following a USD 25 million renovation, and helped recapture top of mind awareness for Sedona bound luxury travellers.
Velasquez also worked as director of sales and marketing at The St. Regis, Houston, where he recaptured #1 RevPAR (revenue per available room) position after two years of declining rankings and led to the hotel being awarded the Starwood North America Division Hotel of the Year for 2009.
Prior to The St. Regis, Velasquez served as director of sales and marketing at The US Grant, a Starwood Luxury Collection Hotel, where he was responsible for the rebranding of the historic luxury hotel following a USD 50 million renovation.
Velasquez also served as director of sales for The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he led a team of 13 sales managers, and the resort was awarded Starwood North America Hotel of the Year in 2007. Velasquez also spent several years in hospitality in his native Los Angeles, at The Century Plaza Hotel & Spa and The Westin Pasadena as director of sales, and he began his career at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, where he became director of revenue management.