On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline welcomes Richard Brekelmans, a seasoned hospitality executive with more than three decades of experience at Marriott International and Starwood Hotels and Resorts, and now the founder of RICHMANS Hospitality Advisory.

Katie and Richard dive into his unique perspective on the hospitality industry, having worked on every side of it—from being the General Manager for Europe’s hottest hotel opening (W Barcelona) to various corporate leadership roles. Today, he advises hotel owners, operators, and investors on strategy, operations, and brand development. They explore how early exposure to hospitality and entrepreneurship shaped his career, and why growing up in Holland, immersed in multiple languages, gave him a lifelong edge.

Richard shares what it really takes to open a luxury hotel under intense pressure, from hiring the right team—sometimes with no prior industry experience—to empowering them to act like business owners themselves. He explains why balancing stakeholders, brand expectations, and guest experience is both the challenge and the beauty of being a GM, and why “good enough” often beats perfect when it comes to launching a hotel.

Katie and Richard also unpack the importance of hiring people who fit your brand’s values and culture, professionalizing hotel marketing, and taking calculated risks that pay off. Listeners will walk away with actionable insights on leadership, recruitment, and creating a culture that makes a hotel—and its team—truly extraordinary.

This conversation is equal parts hospitality strategy, leadership insight, and career inspiration—and a reminder that the right team and mindset can make all the difference in bringing big visions to life.

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