Nashville, Tenn., – February 2023 – Graduate Hotels® announced today the appointment of Andrea Melotti as Executive Vice President of Operations for the brand. Melotti will drive strategic support and operational success across Graduate Hotels’ more than 30 hotels across the U.S. and U.K.
“We are thrilled to welcome Andrea to the Graduate Hotels team as we continue to expand and evolve our offerings and consistently strengthen the day-to-day on-property experience for both guests and visitors,” said Kevin Osterhaus, President, Graduate Hotels. “His wealth of knowledge and outstanding track record of success at scale will prove to be invaluable to our teams and growing portfolio. We look forward to taking our service and operations to a new level with his guidance and leadership.”
Melotti most recently served as Vice President of Hotel and Casino Operations at Hard Rock International, where he spent 18 years playing an integral role in the brand’s exponential growth, expansion and worldwide success. During his tenure, Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos expanded from six to 42 properties and secured coveted awards and accolades, including four back-to-back JD Power Awards for best hotel brand in North America between 2019 and 2022. Melotti and his team are credited for building a culture of success within the brand through trailblazing programs that drove internal and guest-facing operations and experience.
Prior to joining Hard Rock, Melotti spent several years growing through the management ranks of some of Europe’s most luxurious establishments, including the InterContinental London Park Lane and the InterContinental Carlton Cannes, an IHG Hotel. He moved to Miami Beach in 2000, serving as Managing Director overseeing The Sagamore Hotel South Beach and The Raleigh Miami Beach. Both properties played a substantial role in the solidification of South Beach as an international travel destination.
“I cannot think of a better moment to join such a unique brand and passionate team,” said Andrea Melotti, Executive Vice President of Operations, Graduate Hotels. “While already well established as a distinctly memorable brand, Graduate Hotels’ growth potential continues to be massive. I’m passionate about what the future holds and look forward to working with this talented team to achieve big things.”
Graduate Hotels currently owns and operates 33 U.S. and U.K. properties with the most recent launch in January 2023 in Palo Alto, Calif. Forthcoming launches include Princeton, New Jersey; Dallas, Texas, and additional projects in development. Melotti is currently based in Hollywood, Fla., and will be relocating with his family to the Graduate Hotels HQ in Nashville, Tenn.
