Andy Slater Biography
With four decades of proven hospitality experience, D. Andrew (“Andy”) Slater has demonstrated competence, leadership and integrity at every level of the hotel business.
Upon recently leaving Hilton Worldwide after a successful 28-year career, including 18 years as an Area Vice President of Operations, Andy has recently been employed as a consultant by several owners. He is currently providing guidance and consulting services in areas of asset evaluation, hotel purchase decisions, market evaluation, operator performance evaluations, financial performance critique, and capital improvement and executive placement recommendations.
As Area Vice President since 1997, Andy’s role varied over the years to include maximum annual revenues of over $900 million, with the highest operating margins in the Americas. Andy was responsible for over 25 hotels, ranging in size from 200 rooms to 1600 rooms. He has worked with dozens of complex ownership groups ranging from major financial institutions in the areas of private equity, insurance entities and Real Estate Investment Trusts, to a number of individual investors and families. His experience also includes city bond-financed projects with 1,000+ rooms, and successfully transitioning dozens of hotels for multiple brands.
In addition to his significant operational responsibilities, Andy’ performed unique roles as Vice President for New Projects, supervision of Hilton’s operations in Mexico, various committee assignments such as Appeals Committee for Compensation and Benefits for Hilton Worldwide, and Compliance Committee for the Promotion of Business Ethics for Hilton Worldwide. Andy also served as Co-Chairman of Hilton’s North American Crisis Response Team for many years including the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, orchestrating shelter and accommodations for thousands of victims.
Andy continues to serve on the board of the Texas Travel Industry Association, the Texas Lodging Association, and the Board of Advisors for the University of Houston, Conrad Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management.
Before his arrival in Austin, Andy Slater spent several years in General Management roles in a variety of Hilton and Stouffer (now Renaissance) hotels across the country, including Kansas City, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, St Louis and Scottsdale, where he was, and continues to be, very involved in community and industry related activities.
Experience
SLATER HOSPITALITY SERVICES
- CONSULTANT
2016 - Present
Has worked extensively with several ownership groups in the following areas:
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Performance improvement and operational effectiveness.
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Asset buy and sell decisions and transaction coordination
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Onboarding of new hotels into the various organizations
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Worked with 15 different 3rd party management companies
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Worked with the franchise departments of Hilton / Marriott / Hyatt
HILTON HOTELS CORPORATION
- AREA VICE PRESIDENT, OPERATIONS
South Central USA & Southwest USA - 1997-2016
Area Vice President, Operations
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Supervised 25 hotels ranging in size from 200 to 1600 rooms, including owner relations, major renovations and repositionings, and assisted development of new projects throughout the region
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Oversaw multiple brands including Waldorf Astoria, Hilton, Doubletree and Embassy Suites
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Achieved revenues of over $900 million annually with highest operating margins in the Americas
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Significant accomplishments:
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Opened the 800-room Hilton Austin Convention Center Hotel as GM/AVP
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Opened the 1200-room Hilton Americas Houston Convention Center as GM/ AVP
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Opened the 1200-room Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel as AVP
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Converted the Fairmont New Orleans to the Roosevelt, Waldorf Astoria as AVP
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Supervised Hilton’s Mexican hotel operations from 2005-2008
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Repositioned the Hilton Anatole with major renovations and leadership changes.
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Served on the Compliance Committee, acting as ambassadors for global business ethics
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Served as the Co-Chairman of the North American Crisis Response Team
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Served on the Appeals Committee, handling disputes in areas of compensation and benefits for all personnel in the Americas
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Area Vice President, Promus Hotels
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Managed full service hotels ranging from Kansas City, Kansas to Corpus Christi, Texas
Regional Manager, Doubletree Hotels
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Managed all full service Doubletree hotels in the state of Texas
DOUBLETREE HOTELS
- GENERAL MANAGER
Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Kansas City, Scottsdale - 1989 - 1997
General Manager
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Managed all aspects of operations at four hotels, including day-to-day staff supervision
Dayton, Boston, St Louis, Cedar Rapids - 1974 - 1976
STOUFFER HOTELS
- MANAGEMENT TRAINEE TO GM
Management Trainee to General Manager
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Worked in all operating departments as Management Trainee in Dayton, Ohio
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Served as Assistant General Manager at Bedford Glen, Pine Isle Resort & St. Louis Airport Hotel
Served three years as General Manager at the Stouffer Five Seasons Hotel in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Recent Professional Organizations
Executive Committee, Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau
Board of Directors, Texas Travel Association
Dean’s Board of Advisors, Conrad Hilton Hotel School, University of Houston
Education
Steubenville, Ohio - 1975-1976
Steubenville College
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Associates Degree, Food Service Management