Hard Rock International has named Marco Roca as executive vice president and chief development officer of hotel development for Hard Rock International worldwide.
“Continuing [Hard Rock’s] growth course demands a dynamic and knowledgeable individual who can help drive the momentum behind our hotel game plan. Roca’s diverse experience aligns with this strategy and will be instrumental in growing our hotel portfolio,” says Hamish Dodds, CEO of Hard Rock International.
Roca will lead new management and acquisition opportunities, as well as establishing and developing the brand’s expanding hotel portfolio. Roca brings more than 25 years of global real estate, hotel development, and operations experience to Hard Rock, including significant roles with Starwood, Wyndham, and Hilton Hotels.
As senior vice president of development at Starwood, Roca was in charge of franchise and management contract sales for all seven Starwood brands in the Eastern United States, Canada, and the Caribbean. At Wyndham, Roca led the franchise and management contract sales for the Wyndham Worldwide hotel brands, where he also played a key role in decisions affecting franchise sales including prototype design, fee structure, marketing, and franchise administration.
Roca began his career with Hilton Hotels working on site at properties like the Fontainbleau Hilton, Miami and Myrtle Beach Hilton. He earned his master’s degree in management and organizational development from the United States International University in Mexico City and a bachelor’s degree in industrial psychology from the University of the Americas in Mexico City.
