By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hotel Lawyers | Author of www.HotelLawBlog.com
Recently, I had a delightful year-end lunch at the SoHo House with a remarkable man I have known and worked with about 25 years. I am very proud to call him my friend and include him amongst our “celebrity clients.”
When I first met this hotelier, he had recently left Four Seasons Newport Beach, and taken over the helm of the newly opened Beverly Hills Peninsula Hotel. With a hands-on intensity, he quickly turned around the financial performance at the hotel, earned the elusive 5 stars and 5 diamonds, and made the hotel the most profitable in The Peninsula Group with the highest guest return ratio in the market.
Ali Kasikci — a perfectionist’s never-ending efforts
Yes, I am talking the legendary Ali V. Kasikci, named Independent Hotelier of the World in 2004 by HOTELS magazine and holder of countless industry awards for excellence.
From the Peninsula Group, Ali enhanced his already keen skills for hotel development, new hotel openings, and then building the team and instilling discipline to deliver unparalleled levels of service and profitability. Thus, Ali was a key member of the team that developed and launched the Montage Beverly Hills. Under his management, the new Montage (like the Peninsula before) also earned 5 stars and 5 diamonds in record time.
With his mission accomplished, Ali took on a role as the Regional Managing Director for eight luxury properties in North America, Mexico, the Caribbean and Brazil under the Belmond flag. Of course, while overseeing this portfolio, Ali again led the team that successfully re-developed, re-positioned and launched the Belmond El Encanto in Santa Barbara. Under his direction, Belmond El Encanto reopened in 2013 and quickly achieved well over 100% fair market share amongst its competitive set, and earned top rankings, including the Forbes Five-Star award in less than one year from opening.
Strategic advice and asset management
After such a long and successful career, many might to cut back and enjoy life, but that is not for Ali Kasikci. Instead he is excited to step up his efforts, going full-time into providing owners and operators with the kind of strategic-advisory and asset management expertise he perfected over his remarkable career.
Ali is offering these services though his wholly-owned Bentley Management Inc., which recently announced his availability as an independent consultant and some high-profile, new clients with exciting projects. Bentley Management’s new clients include Crystal Cruises, SoHo House & Co, renowned celebrity hotelier Jeff Klein and the Sunset Tower Hotel, Belmond and Rick Caruso’s new development, Rosewood Miramar Beach in Montecito.
About Bentley Management Inc. With clients ranging from luxury hotels, boutique resorts, world-class cruise products, prestigious private clubs and pedigree properties, Bentley Management provides hospitality operating companies and owners of hospitality assets strategic advocacy designed to fuel their competitive advantage, guide product enhancement, facilitate service improvement, and choreograph targeted marketing messaging resulting in unparalleled reputation and top-line revenue advances. Founded by hospitality industry specialist Ali V. Kasikci, Bentley Management applies real-world experience and broad industry expertise to deliver both qualitative and quantitative improvements in people, product, service and profit.
For more information, please visit http://bentleymgt.com/ or contact Ali Kasikci at ali@bentleymgt.com or +1-310-889-0073.
This is Jim Butler, author of www.HotelLawBlog.com and hotel lawyer, signing off. Why don’t you give us a call (or send an email) and let us know what you’re working on? We would like to see if our experience might help you create value or avoid unnecessary pitfalls. Who’s your hotel lawyer?
