Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa has announced the appointment of Peter Rice as General Manager. Rice brings almost 30 years of resort management experience to the AAA Four-Diamond property and has been an esteemed leader at various Hyatt properties across the United States.
“I’m thrilled to join the team of this jewel of the southern California coast,” said Rice. “With stellar amenities including Watertable, the new signature restaurant that is shattering records in its first year of operation; the largest collection of meeting and events space along the Orange County coastline; and a host of sun-soaked activities that embody the SoCal beach lifestyle of this community, this resort offers an unparalleled experience.”
Most recently, Rice held the position of General Manager of Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa, where he led the 493-room resort in exceeding previous guest satisfaction rates. Under his leadership, the property was named one of the Top 25 Resorts in the Southwest on Condé Nast Traveler’s 2013 Readers Choice Awards.
Rice began his hospitality career with Hyatt Hotels & Resorts 30 years ago as an Assistant Room Service Manager at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando, Florida. While there, he held several positions of responsibility in the food and beverage department over a period of six years. Rice was later appointed Director of Operations at Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa, where he worked for two years before moving into General Manager positions at the Hyatt Regency Irvine and the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara in California.
With a fierce commitment to community service, Rice has been a visible business leader in each community in which he has lived. In Irvine, he was a founding member of the Tourism Improvement District for the City of Irvine, an arm of the Irvine Chamber of Commerce, and also served on the Board of the Orange County Tourism Council. He held positions on the Board of Directors and Executive Board of the Scottsdale Convention and Visitors Bureaus as well as the National Advisory Board of Northern Arizona University School of Hotel and Restaurant Management.
Rice graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Hospitality Administration & Management. He lives with his wife and daughter in Orange County.
