US: Luxury boutique hotel The Georgian has named Bre Smith as its general manager, promoted from director of operations.
Smith joined the team in April 2023 when The Georgian reopened following a restoration. Prior to this, she served as director of food and beverage at Soho House Chicago.
Other roles and experience includes the director of restaurants at the Beverly Hilton, the director of guest relations at the Ambassador Chicago and the Hollywood Roosevelt, as well as the corporate director of guest services at Triumph Hotels in New York.
She began her career with The Ritz-Carlton Marina del Rey and went on to work at properties in Palm Beach, Vegas, Boston, San Francisco, Abu Dhabi, Maui, Los Angeles and Puerto Rico.
Now at The Georgian, Smith will oversee 84 bedrooms including 28 one-bedroom suites, a restaurant, lobby bar, and a basement restaurant and bar. Other facilities include a fitness centre, gallery space and a library.
The hotel was redeveloped under BLVD Hospitality in partnership with ESI Ventures. Design firm Fettle and local architect HLW led the project.
Jon Blanchard, founder and CEO at BLVD, said: “Bre embodies everything that makes The Georgian so magical. She is deeply passionate about hospitality, authentically cares about each member of our team, goes above and beyond for our guests every chance she gets, and looks at the entire hospitality experience through the lens of artistic creativity. Her passion, dedication, and meticulous attention to detail set the standard for our entire team, and we are so lucky to have her at the helm guiding Santa Monica’s First Lady into the next golden era.”