Lotte Hotels Corporation has appointed Jim Petrus CEO of Lotte Hotels and Resorts Americas
Petrus is a 30-plus year industry leader who has held senior roles at Blackstone/BRE Hotels and Resorts, Starwood Hotels and Resorts and Hyatt Hotels. His appointment builds upon the luxury South Korean brand’s commitment to creating unique and compelling experiences for guests in the Americas, according to the company.
Lotte Hotels & Resorts entered the North American market in 2015 with the acquisition of Manhattan’s Lotte New York Palace hotel and further expanded its footprint in 2020 with the opening of Lotte Hotel Seattle. Lotte plans to open more than 20 hotels over the next 5 years, targeting key gateway cities, tech centers and resort destinations in the Americas. Lotte currently has 34 properties totaling 11,200 rooms with an additional 3 properties in the pipeline. Lotte Hotel brands include Signiel, its 6-star brand; L7, its lifestyle brand; and Lotte Hotels, its signature brand.
“Throughout Petrus’ illustrious career, he was instrumental in building the best culture and business strategy for all the brands he has touched. We are tremendously optimistic for all that Jim has to offer to Lotte Hotels & Resorts and we are thrilled to have him usher in the next generation of success for the brand in the Americas,” said David Kim, Lotte Hotel Corporation president/CEO. “He understands our business, our company and our people, and I’m confident he is the right leader to drive our culture and business forward.”
Prior to joining Lotte Hotels & Resorts, Petrus was with Blackstone/BRE Hotels and Resorts, where he was SVP of asset management – Hawaii Hotels and Resorts. He also held roles with Starwood Hotels and Resorts within the St. Regis brand including global brand leader and SVP of operations. Prior, he held several senior level positions with Hyatt Hotels.
“I am honored to be given the opportunity to take the helm of Lotte Hotels & Resorts in the Americas,” he said. “I see so much potential for our Lotte Hotel brands, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to bring awareness of these brands to both the luxury and lifestyle travel markets in this corner of the world. With the support of our exceptional team in [South] Korea, I am confident that we will advance the expansion strategy that we now have in place, while also building on an exceptional hospitality culture and providing new growth opportunities for our team members, guests and investors.”