SAN JUAN, PR (October 18, 2022) – San Juan’s premier lifestyle resort, La Concha Resort, and adults-only boutique hotel, Condado Ocean Club, today announced the appointment of new general managers at their respective properties. Miguel ‘Mike’ Rivera has been appointed general manager of La Concha Resort and Carlo F. Chávez appointed general manager of Condado Ocean Club.
“I am pleased to officially announce the appointment of two great professionals from the hotel industry to the general management team of The Condado Collection,” said Fahad Ghaffar, co-owner of The Condado Collection, the trio of hotels that also includes La Concha Resort, Condado Ocean Club, and Condado Vanderbilt. “With extensive backgrounds in the hospitality space, we know that both professionals will be making important and necessary contributions to continue developing the properties to their full potential,” said Ghaffar, while adding that the hotels that make up The Condado Collection are a source of employment for approximately 2,100 people.
Previous to his role as general manager of La Concha Resort, Mike Rivera was the vice president of operations for The Condado Collection, as well as prior hotel manager, for which he is returning to the hotel with new vigor. Rivera has also served as vice president of operations for Restaurantes Encanto and Empresas Cordero Badillo, where he oversaw important functions such as supervising restaurant operations and renovations; inventory and labor cost control; service standards, and program implementation. He has also held positions including director of operations for TRICON Restaurants International, and hotel manager, resident manager and executive assistant manager of food and beverage for well-known hotels and resorts such as Puerto Rico’s Wyndham Hotel and the Condado Plaza Hotel.
“I have been a part of the La Concha Resort team since 2014 and I feel honored by the trust they give me to take the reins of this iconic hotel,” said Mike Rivera, general manager of La Concha Resort. “Our property is recognized for its perfect balance between sophistication and entertainment, and at this stage we are ready to elevate the experiences for our guests and visitors with energy and innovation.”
Rivera has a BA in Government and Public Administration from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. He also holds several academic certifications and courses such as the ServSafe Food Protection Manager certification; Rooms and Divisions Courses at Cornell University; Certified Mediator of the Institute of Mediation and Conflict Resolution of NY and Bachelor of Labor Law of Puerto Rico from the Advanced School of Human Resources Administration.
Meanwhile, Carlo F. Chávez arrives as general manager of Condado Ocean Club with vast experience working in renowned hotels in the city of Las Vegas. Recognized for his charismatic leadership and for increasing employee retention, productivity, and satisfaction, Chávez mostly recently comes from The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas, where he held the role of director of hotel operations. Additional roles throughout his time at The Cosmopolitan included manager, group operations manager, Front Office director, and VIP services director.
“It is with emotion and commitment that I join The Condado Collection team as the new general manager of the Condado Ocean Club, a hotel that in just two years since its opening has managed to position itself as a favorite among locals and visitors alike,” said Carlo Chávez, general manager of Condado Ocean Club. “I also feel a great responsibility to get to know and promote all the wealth that Puerto Rico has as a world-class tourist destination.”
Chávez studied Law at the Universidad Tecnológica de México and the Universidad Panamericana, both located in Mexico City, and his first work experiences were as associate director of Economic Affairs and Culture of the state of New Mexico. His career as a hotelier began in 2000 in the sales area of the Excalibur hotel in Las Vegas, from where he moved to the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in 2001. At the MGM Grand, Chávez’s held the role of front desk agenda where he worked his way up to become the manager of Front Services until 2010.
A tenured leader, he is the recipient of multiple recognitions such as the Patriotic Employee, awarded by the Office of the Secretary of Defense in 2021; 2014 CORE Award Winner for Manager of the Quarter; and was nominated for the 2013 Industry Star – Manager of the Year, an award presented by the Nevada Hotel & Lodging Association.
