Hard Rock Hotels

Development Team Contacts

TODD HRICKO

SVP, Head of Global Hotel Business Development
+1 407-496-9844 | Email

Todd Hricko spearheads the business development of Hard Rock Hotels around the globe. As head of Hotel Business Development, Todd plays an essential role in identifying strategic markets and sites to develop, and determines calculated assets for conversion to Hard Rock Hotels. Throughout his career, Todd has executed transactions with industry-leading hotel owners and operators such as Marriott, Hilton, Wyndham, Hyatt, Host Resorts, MetLife, KSL, Tishman and Interstate.

Todd continues to develop long-term relationships with hotel owners and new development partners and plays a key role in the negotiation of management contracts and franchise applications.

Previously, Todd Hricko served as Vice President of Acquisitions with Wyndham Vacation Ownership where he developed a proven history in hotels, vacation ownership, resorts, acquisitions and joint ventures. His experience includes management, franchise contract negotiation, land development, feasibility, underwriting and due diligence. He has a track record of business and property development leadership in positions with some of the largest owners and lenders of commercial real estate in the United States, and has developed extensive experience in the acquisition, disposition, financing and development of hotels and vacation ownership resorts.

Hricko has built and maintained strong relationships with leaders of most major hotel and timeshare operators, investors and brokerage firms. He has executed transactions with industry-leading hotel owners and operators such as Marriott, Hilton, Wyndham, Hyatt, Host Resorts, MetLife, KSL, Tishman and Interstate. He developed broad transactional experience through the acquisition of $5.3B+ in hotels and timeshare resorts; the financing of $250M of hotel properties; and the disposition of $15M+ in land.

As Vice President Development at the Wyndham Hotel Group, Todd was responsible for development activities, site selection, management contract negotiations and new franchise application approvals. He and his team identified potential hotel assets and development partners in central and mountain regions of the US and Canada. He led the negotiations of the franchise agreement and conversion of the 410-room Wyndham San Antonio Riverwalk, and participated in negotiating a hotel management agreement for the 334-room Wyndham Grand Downtown Chicago. During this period, Todd reviewed and analyzed applications for credit support, key money, mezzanine financing and other financial incentives. He also led the feasibility process with all internal stakeholders.

Todd graduated Summa Cum Laude from Florida International University with a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management. He received Associate of Science degree in Culinary Arts, where he also graduated Summa Cum Laude. He recently completed the Executive Leadership and the Linkage Leadership Program at Wharton School of Business. He continues to be a featured speaker at a variety of regional and national investment conferences. Todd happily resides in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

MICHAEL DEAN

Head of Hotel Business Development, North America & Canada
+1-480-438-7194 | Email

Michael Dean spearheads the business development of Hard Rock Hotels in the United States and Canada. As head of Hotel Business Development, North America & Canada, Mike plays an essential role in identifying strategic markets, sites to develop, and conversion. With extensive experience in the finance and hotel industries, Mike also assists with project development financing.

Mike has over 30 years in the hospitality business, coming to Hard Rock from stints as Chief Development Officer for Carlson Rezidor and Managing Director for GE Capital Real Estate Franchise Finance. As domain expert for hotels he orchestrated industry leader meetings with then Chairman Jeff Immelt and designed the construction lending program, bringing that division to $700m in sales in less than a year. He has been on all sides of real estate transactions as banker, barrower, developer, owner, operator and franchisor. His greatest enjoyment comes from seeing his clients succeed and they are steadfastly loyal coming to Hard Rock as a first choice franchise. He created two hotel management and ownership companies and understand the unique needs of the owner/operator, particularly from a franchise perspective.

Reverb by Hard Rock will be his third brand launch and he promises it will be a disruptor in the market. Initially set for North America & Canada the brand is expected to be in international locations in one year from launch.

Mike is originally from NY and still maintains a summer home in Saratoga Springs. He received his BS from the School of Hotel Management at Florida International University with a minor in Finance. He is fond of telling everyone he was Homecoming King at FIU – “When I had hair”. Mike loves his return to Ft. Lauderdale.

Mike’s musical tastes cover a broad range of genres, led by rock and soul. Some favorite artists include ZZ Top, Dean Martin, George Thorogood and anything doowop.

JAVIER SANCHEZ

Head of Hotel Business Development, LATAM & the Caribbean
+1-786-606-7393 | Email

Joining Hard Rock in August 2014 as Head of Business Development, LATAM & the Caribbean, Javier Sanchez is part of the critical team responsible for growing the brand’s Latin American business development efforts. In this position, Javier’s primary roles include the structuring and implementation of development strategies, seeking and securing new hotel projects and identifying opportunities for hotel and resort acquisitions.

Javier’s passion for the intersection of real estate and hospitality is evident in his past experience, including a multi-year tenure with Realogy Holdings Corp. – the world’s largest leading franchisor of real estate brokerages – where he successfully implemented growth strategies within LATAM & the Caribbean as VP of Development. Prior to joining Realogy, Javier was Development Director for Wyndham Hotel Group where he successfully sourced, negotiated, generated and/or executed franchise deals in new markets, including but not limited to: Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico and Suriname. During this time at WHG, Javier was essential in the growth of TRYP by Wyndham – the hotel group’s select-service urban hotel brand with over 110 hotels around the globe becoming the top developer globally for the brand.

Javier graduated from Universidad de La Salle in San Jose, Costa Rica, where he studied business and marketing. Javier continued to gain real estate experience, receiving his Real Estate Brokerage Course and Certification from the Costa Rica Chamber of Real Estate Brokers in 2007. Based in Costa Rica, Javier speaks two languages - Spanish and English and has a good understanding of Portuguese.

PETR SUCHANEK

Head of Hotel Business Development, EMEA
+420-733-695-873 | Email

Petr Suchanek, based in Prague, has served as Hard Rock’s Head of Hotel Business Development in the EMEA region since 2015. Petr focuses on the brand's growth and identifies new hotel business opportunities in Europe, Middle East, and Africa regions.

Petr works primarily with private investors, investment funds, developers, entrepreneurs, and white label operators to identify suitable hotel opportunities for the Hard Rock Hotel and Reverb brands. His main focus is on conversions and new buildings in gateway cities and seafront locations. Petr plays an essential role in the qualification, deal structuring, and execution of new hotel opportunities.

Prior to joining Hard Rock, Petr was the Vice President of International Development at Realogy Holding Corp., a global leader in residential real estate franchising and brokerage. He led international franchise development in Europe, Middle East and Africa, later also in Asia and Latin America. He succeeded in expanding the brands of Coldwell Banker, Coldwell Banker Commercial, and Century 21 in countries such as Germany, Great Britain, Spain, India, Thailand, and Brazil.

Petr, a native Czech and fluent in English, holds a Master of Science in Economics and Management from the Technical University in Ostrava, the Czech Republic. He is a former professional ice hockey player and played for nine years in both Europe and North America.

EDWARD CHAN

Head of Hotel Business Development, Asia/Pacific
+852-9669-0996 | Email

Mr. Chan has over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Prior to joining Hard Rock International, Mr. Chan was the Executive Director of IHA Hospitality in Hong Kong representing the Deutsche Hospitality and Senior Vice President of Interstate China Hotels & Resorts based in Shanghai with responsibility of business development of the company in China.

Mr. Chan held various positions including operations, corporate marketing, sales and project development role at hotel group’s corporate headquarter in Hong Kong and China.

Mr. Chan has been working for hotel groups like IHG, Kempinski, Le Meridien, Marco Polo, Accor, Wyndham Hotels Group, Langham Hotels International. Mr. Chan is an associated member of the Hong Kong Management Association and graduated from Cesar Ritz Colleges, Switzerland.