who we are

We are a family-owned hotel investment and management company based in Palm Springs, California. Drawing on 50 years of hotel operating experience and 30 years of investment management and marketing, our dynamic, hands-on team delivers an operating model that has proven to be resilient over the long term, underscored by remarkable guest loyalty, limited turnover, robust operating performance, and the revitalization of distressed & underperforming properties to highly profitable market-leading assets.

We are personally invested in each of the hotels we operate. As co-investors, our interests are aligned with our partners. Performance is bottom line focused over the long term and our invested capital is ROI-driven.

Through smart programming and branding, our properties are distinguished from the competition.Our properties are thoughtfully positioned within their respective markets and are constantly evolving amidst ever-changing market dynamics to ensure resiliency and success across various market cycles. Through extensive feasibility analysis, we understand our guest demographic, their wants and needs, and our point of difference.

Through curated food & beverage we create emotional connections that drive guest loyalty. Food & beverage is not only a brand enhancer but a core marketing vehicle. Our menus are designed to deliver quality food & beverage that is tailored to the wants and needs of our guests with streamlined services to control costs and yield strong margins.

We deliver dynamic operating plans and foster a culture of service excellence and community. Our leadership team is immersed in the daily operation of our hotels, providing ongoing support in developing the operating plans, staffing, finance, revenue management, and sales & marketing. Through an established system of SOPs and ongoing training initiatives, we maintain continuity for our distinct operating style as well as encourage process improvement and innovation, while creating a fun, family-like atmosphere for our associates and guests to enjoy.

We implement a robust system of financial accountability to improve margins. Our operating platform is designed to provide transparency and oversight. We establish realistic operating plans with measurable KPIs and utilize sophisticated reporting, centralized accounting, and auditing systems to track performance.

Through strategic capital planning our properties remain fresh and ROI-driven. We stay attuned to our markets, guests, and industry trends to smartly invest in our properties with a long-term focus on growing market share and investor returns. We have the in-house expertise to manage complex capital projects from planning through completion all the while providing rigorous oversight to ensure best practices and cost controls.

A seasoned hotelier and entrepreneur, Raymond Johnston is the visionary and founding partner of Las Brisas Hotel Group. His distinguished 50-year career began at the property-level with advancing leadership positions throughout the US, Mexico, and the Caribbean, which led to executive positions including President of Yellowstone National Park, President of Campbell Soup’s Restaurant Division, and Chairman of Best Western International Worldwide. Raymond’s success is evidenced through his storied career highlighted by significant development, turnarounds, and the restructuring of financially distressed hotels and companies.

 During an extended period abroad, Raymond spent ten years pioneering the major international resort destinations throughout Mexico and Aruba, while opening the first luxury hotels in Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, and Aruba N.A. Over the course of his career, Raymond has operated select and full-service hotels with 80 to 800 keys in city center and resort destinations, casinos, and free standing restaurants. The operating model of Las Brisas Hotel Group is the culmination of best practices and a unique operating style that Raymond honed through his diverse operating background. Raymond is a graduate from Michigan State University with a BA in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management, as well as a BS in Business Administration from Oregon State University.

Michelle is involved in all aspects of the organization and plays a significant role in the expansion of Las Brisas Hotel Group. Michelle offers a 13-year proven track record within three leading global hospitality corporations (Marriott International, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, and Hilton Worldwide), and has guided the real estate strategy for a diverse portfolio ranging from select service to luxury hotels, including $1.5 billion in real estate transactions. Michelle is a strategist and marketer with an entrepreneurial mindset to innovate and optimize performance.

During her 10 years with Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Michelle had oversight over a $1 billion global portfolio, working with property-level and corporate cross functional teams to direct real estate transactions, drive operating performance, address real estate matters, and guide capital planning and development initiatives, including the planning and design for new-build and redevelopment projects. With Marriott International, Michelle led dispositions, guided the real estate strategy, and managed partner relationships for joint venture hotels in Latin America. Michelle has a BS from Boston University and a MS from New York University in Hospitality Industries Studies with a concentration in Hotel Investment.

Michael is actively involved with all development and investment activities for Las Brisas Hotel Group and leads our innovation strategy. Michael is helping change the way people work, live and travel as Chief Executive Officer and Co-Owner of DIT, a premier collaborative workspace and event space business in Europe.  Michael is also a Senior Advisor and first round investor in June Homes, a home sharing company which recently closed its Series A at a $93 mln valuation led by Softbank Ventures.

Prior to his entrepreneurial endeavors, Michael was CEO for Regional Hotel Chain, a leading investment and development company in Russia that he expanded from 3 to 9 hotels and ultimately sold at a 22x EBITDA valuation. As Head of Private Equity and Director of Global Strategy for KPMG and Deloitte, Michael consulted leading global private equity firms on M&A, CDD, PMI, change management, and operational improvements. Michael was also an Investor Director at SigmaBleyzer, a top 5 PE firm in the CIS with over $500 million in committed capital and served on the board of the Four Seasons Lion Palace.  Michael has an MBA from Thunderbird, School of Global Management and received a B.S. from the University of Southern California. After USC, Michael volunteered for Peace Corps which began his 15 year career abroad.

Mark is an Executive Producer with over 20 years of production and creative development experience working with prominent brands in technology, lodging, and retail. Having worked with the likes of Apple, Amazon, Airbnb, American Express, Adidas, The North Face, and Bacardi, Mark brings to Las Brisas innovative methods for concept development, promotion, and branding.

Mark honed his production expertise during his 10 years with TBWA\Chiat\Day in Los Angeles, and has since been working as a creative producer and documentary filmmaker in New York City and San Francisco, achieving acclaim for numerous cutting-edge advertising campaigns and an award-winning film. Mark’s core expertise spans across all facets of production including financing, talent negotiation, physical production, post production, distribution, and developing brand identities for Fortune 500 companies. Mark earned his BA from University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts.