Rio Grande, Puerto Rico – July 2017 – The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort is pleased to announce the appointment of Jan Vanhaelewyn as Hotel Manager at for the beloved property. With over 14 years of experience in the hospitality arena he brings a wealth of expertise to his new role at The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico’s first ultra-luxury resort and the island’s first AAA Five Diamond property.
Commenting on his new position Mr. Vanhaelewyn stated, “The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort has set the benchmark for hospitality in Puerto Rico. With its bespoke luxury and unparalleled service, I am extremely honored to join the distinguished team and carry on the hotel’s position as the leader of luxury travel on the island.”
Mr. Vanhaelewyn joins The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort from the W Bogota where he exceeded revenue goals and clientele expectations while further solidifying an unforgettable guest experience. With Mr. Vanhaelewyn as its Director of Operations, W Bogota saw measurable success and was quickly established as the leading luxury and lifestyle hotel in the marketplace, resulting in the property being awarded Best New Hotel of the Year for South America 2015 by SAHIC, Best New Hotel in South America 2015 by World Travel Awards, Best in Class for Interior Design Association 2015 by IIDA and Best bar in Colombia 2015 by Premios Cocktail Colombia. Prior to his role at W Bogota, Mr. Vanhaelewyn served as the Director of Food and Beverage at the Westin Guadalajara, where he was part of the hotel opening team and instrumental in launching and managing the hotel’s gastronomic vision.
Born in Belgium, Mr. Vanhaelewyn speaks four languages including Dutch, Spanish, English and French. Mr. Vanhaelewyn was introduced to the hospitality industry through his creativity, curiosity and love for the culinary arts. As a Graduate of “Ter Duinen,” College Hotel and Culinary Arts, Mr. Vanhaelewyn discovered his passion for the hotel business. He continued his education at Erasmus University College in Brussels, where he received his Bachelor in Hotel Management.
The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort is set on 483 pristine acres in the first and only Gold-certified Audubon Signature Sanctuary in Puerto Rico and boasts 139 luxuriously appointed guest room and suites. The resort offers St. Regis’ legendary Butler Service and features a 10,000-square foot Remède Spa and an ocean-front golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. in addition to Jean- Georges’ inspired Fern and the newly debuted Beach Club by Jose Enrique. Combining Puerto Rico’s timeless natural beauty and rich colonial history, The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort’s arrival on the shores of Puerto Rico has forever changed the landscape of luxury travel in the region.
