Dick Burkett

Luxury Boutique, GM/Dir Corp. Human Resources and Training Professional

Solvang, Santa BarbaraMember since August 20, 2025

New business start-up strategiesHR / policy & procedure administrationLuxury and boutique brand experienceRisk management auditing & trainingOrganizational planningManpower capital recruitmentBudgets, forecasts & financialsCorp leadership training & developmentQuality assurance evaluations / staff retrainingLabor relations – non-union / unionExecutive coaching and mentoringProperty transition & re-brandingEmployee engagement team builder specialistMulti-property management experienceAmadeus HotSoS operations software

About

Exceptionally skilled hands-on management professional for luxury boutique operations, management training and development, employee relations, and quality driven for the success of the business, guest experience, and product profitability. Open to all travel and relocation needs, both short-long term assignments.

Experience

Consultant - Task Force Independent Contract Consulting - Newport Beach, CA

(2019-01)

Multi-contract consulting work for luxury hospitality and boutique resort projects.

Luxury Hotel Advisors Newport Beach, CA - Consultant for Wykeham Rise, Wash, CT 68-acre planned/permitted luxury boutique resort project, Washington, CT (5-month pre-planning)
Demetria Estate Winery, Los Olivos - Master planning consultant for 2 winery estates for both Demetria Estate and Hillard-Bruce for boutique wine country lodging, culinary arts center, and guest experiences. Sourced $15m in funding for project enhancements.
Hilton Hotel Embassy /Santa Ana, CA - 300 rooms GM task force 2024 - 4 months
Hilton Tucson, Tucson AZ – 276 rooms, HR / Task Force consulting for – 4 months

General Manager / Owners Asset Representative - Karas Hotel and Resorts/Bel-Air Hotels, Cap Juluca Resort - Anguilla, BWI

(2010-01 - 2018-12)

Directed all resort operations for profitability, human resources, employee/guest relations, risk management training and development initiatives for this exclusive premier resort, featuring 21 deluxe villas, 118 guest rooms, laundry/housekeeping operations, 3 premier restaurants, retail, spa, fitness, rooms and tennis facility, extensive warehousing, receiving from Miami, Paris, and Caribbean Islands for food and supplies and hard goods. Cap Juluca resort has consistently maintained its stellar exclusivity and excellence and remains the star of the Caribbean with all travel guides and ratings for Leading Hotels of the World, and Conde Nast.

Advisory to daily marketing sales and public relation meetings including community relations.
Retrained all 350 staff for guest risk training awareness and guest quality service points.
Retrained all service teams to accomplish a 92-point service score for Leading Hotels of the World ratings. Used Amadeus HotSoS operations software for all departments.
Increased revenues by 1.5M from 2017 - 2019
Significantly improved guest service scores within the first two years.
Increased ADR from $820.00 to $910.00 prior to property sale to Belmond Hotels

Vice President of Human Resources / Training / Development - Winston Hotels / Alliance Hospitality (Reit) - Raleigh, NC

(2003-01 - 2009-12)

Developed and Directed all Corporate Human capital initiatives, recruiting, management career progression, culture and training foundation, spearheaded all risk and safety initiatives for all management start-up processes for this new $250M annual revenue generating hotel management platform responsible for oversight of 55 hotels, 11 brands, located throughout 18 states as part of this hotel REIT for Winston Hotels. Directed all HR/risk, safety, initiatives for property inspections, audits, workers comp. vehicle inspections, training, hotel property safety and security training and direction. Led a team of 6 corporate and regional direct reports leading all human resources practices, inclusive of new openings, talent acquisitions, transitions, including labor relations for four union hotels in Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Chicago.

Additionally, responsible for all corporate meetings, and company executive meetings, and retreats for team building.

Consultant - Independent Hospitality Consulting - Chicago, IL - Santa Barbara, CA

(1997-01 - 2002-12)

Task force for new downtown Chicago Hilton Embassy Hotel opening for 368 guest rooms
Resort Quality Review for San Ysidro Ranch Santa Barbara
Ponte Vedra Club, Ponte Vidra Florida for Consulting on staffing needs
Consulting for Sea Island Resort and Boca Raton Hotel and Club
Golden Strand Hotel and Villas, Miami Beach Boutique Hotel/Condo owner representative – Managing Director / Hotel General Manager/Sec/Treasure. Directed all FF&E rebranding, renovation and refurbishing and design for this boutique 5-acre Miami Beach oceanside resort, featuring 220 guestrooms, 18 - 3-bedroom private beach villas 2 – 4k sq ft - penthouses, specialty restaurant, spa, health, and fitness club.

Vice President of Human Resources / Training and Development - Four Seasons Hotel Chicago - Chicago, IL

(1994-01 - 1996-12)

Led all human resource initiatives for this deluxe 350 room AAA 5 diamond/Forbes 5-Star and Preferred hotel property responsible for 525 team members, both union and non-union, including 5 direct reports.

Director of Human Resources/Risk Management /Training & Development - Nikko Hotels International (Japan Airlines) - Chicago, IL

(1986-01 - 1994-12)

Directed all human resources initiatives for this deluxe 425 room non-union hotel, a Forbes 4-star / AAA 5-Diamond, luxury Japanese hotel for company's first North America property location. Directed all start-up and implementation of all human resource initiatives, for hotel staff of 575, with a direct staff of 7. Task force support for opening San Francisco, Mexico City, & Atlanta new properties. Additionally, supported New York Essex House Nikko on all training and development.

Director of Human Resources/Risk Management/Regional Trainer - Renaissance (Nestle/Wine World USA) - Atlanta, GA / Alexandria, VA

(1983-01 - 1986-12)

Directed all human resources and corporate training initiatives for The Waverly, the flagship property, 522 rooms, Mobile 4-star AAA 5-diamond product, with 750 non-union team members and a human resources staff. The Waverly served as a corporate training center. Properties included The Waverly Hotel, Atlanta, GA (535 Rooms) and Renaissance National Center, Alexandria, VA (425 rooms).