CHICAGO (July 25, 2016) – Geoff Gray has been named general manager of The Royal Palms Resort and Spa in Phoenix, Ariz. The hotel joins other local Hyatt properties in the state, including Hyatt Regency Phoenix and Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch. Andaz Scottsdale Resort and Spa is scheduled to debut later this year.
Gray began his hospitality career as director of rooms at The Statler Hotel at Cornell University. Most recently he served as general manager of Hyatt Centric Park City, and in 2013, Gray was the executive director of rooms for the opening of Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort.
"One of the most impressive attributes that Geoff brings to The Royal Palms Resort and Spa as general manager is his natural passion and deep hospitality experience," said Marc Ellin, senior vice president of operations, luxury and lifestyle brands – Americas, Hyatt. "With a record of outstanding business acumen, coupled with his experience in operating luxury resorts, Geoff will be a welcome addition in continuing the spirit and overall excellence for which The Royal Palms Resort and Spa is known."
The Royal Palms Resort and Spa offers 119 oversized guestrooms, suites, casitas and villas, as well as more than 21,000 square feet of estate-like indoor and outdoor meeting space. Its world-class amenities include the award-winning Alvadora Spa and the highly acclaimed T.Cook's restaurant, which features seasonal menus in an elegant and intimate setting. The Alvadora Spa is designed with tranquil stone interiors and the outdoor treatment areas are set within lush private courtyards. The resort's luxurious Desert Palm Pool includes cabanas, an outdoor lounge and spa, and the Mix Up Bar and Desert Pool Side Café offer creative cocktails and al fresco poolside dining. A two-story fitness center overlooks the estate that includes an orange grove and Tuscan-style gardens with stone fireplaces throughout.
"The acquisition of The Royal Palms Resort and Spa is a testament to Hyatt's commitment to the local community. I am honored to be working alongside such a professional and energetic team," said Geoff Gray, general manager, The Royal Palms Resort and Spa. "The resort is rich in its history with endless stories to be told, and as part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, we will have the freedom to continue the legacy of this property, with the trusted backing of Hyatt."
The Royal Palms Resort and Spa borders Scottsdale and Paradise Valley in Arizona. It was opened in 1929 as the home of wealthy New York financier, Delos Willard Cooke. Known as "El Vernadero" or the family's winter haven, the property drew immediate attention and became a beloved local landmark known for its Mediterranean, Spanish colonial architecture and luxurious landscaped grounds, using the famous Camelback Mountain as a design focal point.
The Unbound Collection by Hyatt launched in February 2016 and has since grown to six properties including the newest addition of the Royal Palms Resort and Spa. Other properties in the collection include The Confidante in Miami Beach, Florida; The Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas; the Hôtel du Louvre in Paris, France; the Carmelo Resort & Spa in Carmelo, Uruguay; and the Coco Palms Resort in Kauai, Hawaii, which is expected to undergo a revitalization and re-open in spring 2018.
For more information about The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, click here.
The term "Hyatt" is used in this release for convenience to refer to Hyatt Hotels Corporation and/or one or more of its affiliates
