International Hospitality Enterprises (IHE) has named Nicholas Gold general manager of the highly-anticipated Condado Vanderbilt Hotel in the Condado District of San Juan.
The December 1 opening of the hotel’s second phase will reveal luxury accommodations, a spa sanctuary with Puerto Rico’s first Hammam, two pools and a second restaurant.
The luxury accommodation were originally slated to open earlier in 2013, but plans stalled when International Hospitality Enterprises’ bank in Puerto Rico closed, José M. Suárez, president of International Hospitality Enterprises, told Luxury Travel Advisor at the time.
In October of 2012, the Condado Vanderbilt opened up its signature restaurant, 1919, with hopes of having the rooms ready shortly after. But those plans were stalled until now.
Built in 1919 by Frederick William Vanderbilt, the Condado Vanderbilt’s lavishness attracted royalty, heads of state, Hollywood stars and industry icons to the hotel’s dramatic perch on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean for almost half a century. It has been shuttered for nearly 20 years.
In his new role, Gold is tasked with managing the property’s opening and overseeing all hotel operations, including staff management, recruitment and development, training, scheduling and preparation of annual budgets, communication with guests and outside vendors, and building community relations.
"It fills me with great pleasure to return to Puerto Rico to join the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel team and ensure the property returns to its status as the social epicenter of San Juan," Gold said in a written release.
A 30-year veteran in the hospitality industry, Gold started his career in his native London as a restaurant manager more than two decades ago before moving on to hotels in Europe, Florida and even Puerto Rico where he worked for Williams Hospitality at Hotel El Conquistador and Condado Plaza Hotel & Casino.
Since then, Gold has managed some of the most prestigious hospitality properties in the U.S. including Enchanment Resort & Mii amo Spa in Sedona, Arizona, Tanque Verde Ranch in Tuscon, and, most recently Amangiri Resort in Canyon Point, Southern Utah.
Visit www.condadovanderbilt.com.