Richard Kelleher

Richard Kelleher is one of the hospitality industry’s most dynamic and accomplished executives. For over 30 years he has built and led strong, diverse teams in the development and management of leading hotel organizations. In 1983, following an early career in consulting, Mr. Kelleher co-founded Beacon Hotel Corporation, a Boston-based hotel development and management firm that grew to 40 hotels in four years. He further directed the company’s growth through acquisition of Guest Quarters Suites Hotels, Pickett Suite Hotels, and DoubleTree Hotels Corporation. The newly formed company was renamed DoubleTree Hotels Corporation, and Mr. Kelleher was named president and Chief Executive Officer. Subsequently, DoubleTree merged with the Promus Hotel Corporation and continued to grow and manage the following brands: Embassy Suites, Red Lion Hotels, Hampton Inn and Suites, Club hotels by DoubleTree, Homewood Suites, Harrison Conference Centers, and RFS Hotels. Mr. Kelleher was named president and Chief operating Officer of the newly formed Promus Hotel Corporation. Under his leadership, Promus expanded to 1,250 hotels, including the acquisition of over $5 billion in hotel companies and real estate. At Promus, Mr. Kelleher and his senior team raised over $7 billion in debt and over $700 million through equity offerings. In 1999, Mr. Kelleher returned to Boston to form Pyramid Advisors Limited Partnership. In 2007, he served as Chairman of the Legacy Hotel REIT, the largest Canadian hotel REIT, where he led the sale of the company for $2.5 billion, at a 20% premium for the shareholders.