The announcement comes ahead of Graduate Hotels’ first New York City opening this June
NEW YORK, N.Y. (May 20, 2021) – Graduate Hotels® is pleased to announce the appointment of the executive team at Graduate Roosevelt Island, the brand’s debut property in New York City and island’s first ever hotel. Positioned at the entrance of the Cornell Tech campus, the 224-key, 18-story hotel is managed by Highgate and offers a scholastic retreat in the middle of the East River with bright, modern spaces and breathtaking views of Manhattan, Queens and beyond. William Cutillo joins Graduate Roosevelt Island as General Manager bringing over 15 years of hotel operations experience to the property. Cristina Dalal brings over a decade of hotel sales experience to the property as Director of Sales. Both New York natives, the team will be tasked with introducing Graduate Hotels to the New York region, as well as delivering a new way of seeing New York City through the lens of Roosevelt Island.
Cutillo and Dalal assumed their positions in late 2020 and early 2021, respectively. Over the course of their first few months with the hotel, they have been focused on assembling an impressive team of like-minded individuals to deliver an unforgettable hotel experience, as well as laying the groundwork for memorable, distinctly New York, partnerships and guest experiences.
A graduate of Baruch College, Cutillo brings a strong understanding of the hotel business to Graduate Roosevelt Island ranging from the front of house roles, to the financial and operational side of the business, all crucial in successfully operating and managing a hotel. His experience has been cultivated at various hotels, primarily within the Starwood family, including the W, Westin and Sheraton brands in New York. Cutillo joins Graduate Roosevelt Island following a General Manager role at Paramount Hotel. Cutillo holds a Black Belt certification in Six-Sigma, which he brings to Graduate Roosevelt Island to ensure the practice of process improvement keeps the hotel running at peak efficiency and satisfaction. Over the course of Cutillo’s career, he has been awarded various recognitions and titles including Starwood’s “Hotel of the Year” and “Best in Class Manager” as a member of the opening team at W Hoboken Hotel. Cutillo’s love and deep understanding of New York City will be front and center at the Graduate Roosevelt Island where he is tasked with delivering a new perspective on visiting and enjoying the city. At Graduate Roosevelt Island the history of the island and its role in New York will be an important pillar in Cutillo’s staff training, ensuring that guests and local New Yorkers visiting the island have an understanding of the island’s unique role in New York’s heritage and enjoy their experience in the space to its fullest.
A graduate of New York University, Dalal joins the team following various positions at both boutique and larger hotel settings. Dalal has a strong understanding of the wide range of expectations and experiences guests desire. Prior to joining the Graduate Roosevelt Island, Dalal has worked with hotels including the Delamar Hotel in Greenwich CT, Sound View Greenport, and in New York City the TWA Hotel and more recently the SIXTY SoHo. At Graduate Roosevelt Island, Dalal will handle events at the hotel’s various spaces including a 2,220 square foot ballroom with floor to ceiling windows and natural light. With the opportunity to attract visitors looking to host events at the Graduate Roosevelt Island, as well as working with local New Yorkers looking for a fresh and unique location to host their events, Dalal looks forward to showcasing the hotel’s magnificent views and spaces, as well as the history of its location.
Graduate Roosevelt Island opens as part of the Graduate Hotels®️ collection at the Cornell Tech Campus on Roosevelt Island, serving as the island’s first hotel and marking the brand’s debut in New York City. The 224-key, 18-story hotel offers a scholastic retreat in the middle of the East River with bright, modern spaces and breathtaking views of Manhattan, Queens and beyond. The hotel will include an all-day restaurant, an extraordinary indoor-outdoor rooftop bar with unobstructed views of the city and over 3,000 square feet of onsite flexible meeting space all concepted and operated by Los Angeles-based hospitality team and New York City natives, Med Abrous and Marc Rose. Easily accessible by ferry, the F Train and the Tramway, Graduate Roosevelt Island invites locals and visitors alike to see New York City from a fresh perspective. Graduate Roosevelt Island is located at 22 North Loop Road and marks the 29th Graduate Hotels®️ location. For more information, visit: https://www.graduatehotels.
