OUR TEAM

RICHARD
LOU
Chief Executive Officer

LIZ
MILLER
Chief of Staff and Director of Strategic Initiatives

GREG
PRESNOL
Vice President of Operations

AMANDA
FRANK
Vice President of Sales

DANIEL
LOU
Vice President of Construction & Development

ALEXANDRA
STARR
Senior Director of Finance

RICHARD
LEE
Director of Growth

ROSANA
MARTINEZ
Director of Human Resources and Risk Management

LAURIANE
BAMBOU
Revenue Program Director

PAM
HILD
Senior Regional Director of Sales

GARRETT
STRAWN
Regional Director of Sales

JASON
ALLAN
Regional Director of Operations

CHRIS
TORRES
Regional Director of Operations

JUSTIN
RODGERS
Regional Director of Operations

CIELO
MILLAN
Operations Excellence Lead

BENJAMIN
DE LA ROSA
Director of Accounting

CARLOS
MORENO
Corporate Controller

TIFFANY
VANDER MEULEN
Corporate Group Sales Manager

BIANCA
GRIJALVA
Human Resource Generalist

TAYLOR
BREEDLOVE
Human Resource Generalist

KARREN
ALCANTARA
Operations Coordinator

RICHARD LOU

Chief Executive Officer

Richard is the founder and CEO of Palette Hotels, directing the company’s development, operations, and investments through it’s senior leadership team. Prior to the acquisition of Palette Hotels, Richard led the LCRE Group, his family business that oversaw the development, investment, and asset management of seven hotels with 1,100 keys in four states. He has built four ground-up developments in New York City and has also led the residential property management and construction/procurement arms of LCRE Group.

As a trusted consultant for the hospitality and real estate industry, he has worked extensively with private equity groups, start ups, and high net worth individuals to create business plans and go-to-market strategies. Prior experience includes Kasa Living, Deloitte Consulting, Tishman Hotel & Realty, and Starwood Hotels. He is a graduate of the Hotel School at Cornell University and has an MBA from Harvard Business School. In his free time, Richard enjoys spending time with his daughter and traveling to new destinations with his family.

JUSTIN SCARPA

Chief Operating Officer

With over 25 years of hospitality experience, Justin is a founding member of Palette Hotels as the Chief Operating Officer, focusing on driving operational excellence. Justin prides himself in delivering an exceptional hospitality experience for team members and guests. Testament to his success is a long-established legacy of team members that have remained loyal to the firm through many years of employment. Responsible for the overall company performance and corporate strategy, Justin remains diligent in achieving strong results for all stakeholders, evidenced by the numerous recognitions and awards received by industry thought leaders.
Previously, Justin served as the Vice President of LCRE Group, maintaining a similar corporate profile. Prior to that, Justin had a 16-year tenure with Marriott International in a variety of senior management roles.

Justin is native to New York, and currently resides in New Jersey. In his free time, Justin and his wife love to travel the world with their three energetic children!

LIZ MILLER

Chief of Staff and Director of Strategic Initiatives

As the Chief of Staff and Director of Strategic Initiatives, Liz helps shape the company’s trajectory with a keen focus on enabling scalable growth. Collaborating closely with the CEO, she orchestrates the strategic roadmap and unites key stakeholders to achieve both short and long-term goals. Liz’s primary focus is enhancing overall company efficiency and effectiveness by equipping the team with essential tools, processes, and knowledge. Liz’s unique journey began with over a decade in education within the International Baccalaureate Programme. Upon entering the hospitality industry, she played a pivotal role in propelling swift expansion at a San Francisco-based startup. Her contributions encompassed strategic planning, project management, and change leadership through collaboration with the sales, operations, and finance teams. Outside work, Liz loves to travel the world and enjoys quality family time on the beach near her home in West Michigan. She is a proud graduate of the University of Michigan. Go blue!

GREG PRESNOL

Vice President of Operations

With over 30 years of hospitality experience. As Vice President, he leads the company Operations for the Palette portfolio. Passionate for Hospitality, Greg is a Results Driven Leader that has Indispensable Leadership Qualities that allow for success, while Building Relationships with Owners that allow for him to Cultivate the full potential of the portfolio.

Responsible for overall Operational Company Performance, Greg’s ability to achieve results through his High Level of Financial Acumen and Direct Leadership with the company Field Team, he is able to deliver Financial Success to our stakeholders. This is achieved through his commitment to a Balanced, hands on approach with our Associates, Our Guests and our Stakeholders.

Greg previously served as Vice President of Operations for Aimbridge Hospitality for the past 9 years, where he oversaw a large portfolio of assets in excess of 300M in annual revenues. Prior to this, he had held several Multi Property General Manager roles with Marriott and Hilton brands.

Originally from New England, Greg currently resides in Atlanta with his wife. Their daughter, a recent graduate of DePaul University is currently pursuing her Masters in Global Sports Communication at NYU. They enjoy spending time together, traveling Globally and Cruising.

“Train people well enough so they can leave, treat them well enough so they don’t want to.”

– Richard Branson

ASHISH KHULLAR

Vice President of Revenue Strategy

Ashish is the Vice President of Revenue Strategy for Palette Hotels. He has more than 15 years of experience in setting commercial strategies as it relates to pricing, channels, and partners management to drive market share, volume, and revenue growth for landmark assets in some of the top travel destinations. His prior revenue management experience includes Highgate Hotels and Marriott International. He has an MBA from University of Massachusetts – Amherst. Ashish has lived and worked in 10 countries. Based out of Miami, he loves acrylic painting and cycling in his free time.

PUNIT SHETH

Head of Business Development

Punit focuses on developing and growing assets under management whilst creating meaningful partnerships with various stakeholders. He also oversees debt and equity capital sourcing, acquisition structuring, finance and cash management, and strategic assignments. He also plays an integral role in guiding investments and business development strategies. Prior to Palette Hotels, Punit spent seven years opening upscale brands like Westin and Sheraton with Starwood Hotels in South Asia. Amongst his achievements are many accolades like GM of the Year 2014 and Best Ramp up Hotel 2013, to name a few. He has also worked with Pyramid Hotel Group in Boston as Director of Finance managing multiple funds and its assets. Punit has an MBA Finance from Bryant University, RI and is a Six Sigma green belt. In his free time he likes to play tennis with his son.

DANIEL LOU

Vice President of Construction & Development

Daniel oversees the company’s capital projects and developments. He leads a team of project managers that helps evaluate and execute capital plans, PIPs, renovations, and new developments. He also provides invaluable insight to ongoing repair and maintenance programs, helping to execute on each asset’s short and long term investment goals. Daniel has over 16 years of property management experience. Prior experiences includes Beacon Hospitality Partners, Moody’s Analytics, and Trinity Hotel Investors. He is a graduate of New York University.

ALEXANDRA STARR

Senior Director of Finance

Alexandra has been in the hospitality industry for over 20 years and has held multi-property leadership positions in Sales, Revenue Management, Operations, and Accounting. She has led various disciplines with a focus on profitability, technological mastery, and financial controls. Her most recent roles focused on strategic Managerial Finance and Accounting for multi-branded portfolios of hotels. Her expertise lies in growing teams, building sustainable vital processes, and executing accurate top and bottom-line forecasts, budgets, cash flows, and financial statements for owners and hotel leaders.
Alexandra lives in Pittsburgh and enjoys spending quality time with her teenage daughters (i.e., binge watching shows) and travelling with her husband around the country playing poker tournaments.

CHRIS TORRES

Regional Director of Operations

Chris Torres began his hotel career at a Doubletree in Wisconsin in 2007 rising from a sales intern to current role of regional director of operations. Chris has worked in both full and select service hotels in Wisconsin, Illinois & Oklahoma with various Hilton and Marriott Brands. As an experienced leader he brings a unique perspective to drive revenue and profitability for our stakeholders. With a people first vision Chris prioritizes employee development and ensures employees are empowered, equipped and supported to succeed.

Prior joining Palette Hotels Chris worked with White Lodging for a year and Aimbridge Hospitality for 16 years. Chris has received several awards from various brands and management companies ranging from sales team of the year & president awards for RevPAR performance.

JUSTIN RODGERS

Regional Director of Operations

With two decades of industry experience, Justin brings a wealth of expertise to our team. Most recently, he served as Regional Vice President of Operations at Aimbridge Hospitality, where he successfully managed a diverse portfolio of assets across Marriott, IHG, Hilton, Hyatt, and Choice brands. Throughout his career, Justin has earned numerous accolades from top hospitality brands, reflecting his dedication and excellence in the field. Based in Chicago, he balances his professional achievements with an exciting passion as a licensed airplane pilot and enjoys quality time with his family.

PAM HILD

Senior Regional Director of Sales

Pamela’s brings over 20 years’ experience in the hospitality industry. With roles ranging from Area Director of Sales, Director of Marketing, Director of Revenue Management and most recently, Regional Director of Sales for HHM Hotels and Regional Director of Sales for Aimbridge hospitality. From 2020 forward, Pamela held the position of Regional Vice President of Commercial Strategy.

Pamela leads with gratitude and humility working to inspire others through her actions. With a degree in Business Administration, Pamela’s professional journey has been marked by her expertise in, strategic planning, coaching and development, as well as sales, marketing, and revenue management.

Outside of work, Pamela enjoys spending time with friends and traveling, especially to destinations with beautiful beaches like Bora Bora and Fiji. She brings this same passion and enthusiasm for exploration into her work, continuously seeking opportunities to learn and share her knowledge.

GARRETT STRAWN

Regional Director of Sales

As a graduate of Ohio State’s School of Hospitality, Garrett is a results-driven sales professional with 10 years of experience in revenue growth across both the hotel and university sectors. He has extensive expertise in select and full-service properties, where he excels at leveraging advanced business intelligence technology to refine sales strategies and drive profitability.

Garrett is passionate about training and development, dedicating himself to empowering others and fostering growth within teams to reach their full potential.

Outside of work, Garrett enjoys spending time with his rescue dogs and seeking out unique hotel experiences during his travels.

JASON ALLAN

Regional Director of Operations

Jason was born in South Berwick, Maine, and began his career in the food industry as a fine dining cook in York Beach, Maine, and North Boston. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business management from Becker College, where he also played college baseball. Jason’s hotel career started in 2010 with Linchris Hotel Corporation, advancing through roles such as Director of Sales, FOM, AGM, and General Manager. As General Manager of the Hilton Garden Inn Allentown, PA, he led the hotel from Red Zone status to rank in the top 15% for GSS scores.

In 2016, he joined Whitestone Hospitality as Regional Director of Operations, overseeing a portfolio of Hyatt, Hilton, and Marriott hotels. Jason continued his career growth in 2022, joining Gibson Hotels in Knoxville, TN, as Regional Director of Operations and Development. There, he managed a portfolio of nine hotels, encompassing IHG, Marriott, and Hilton brands across both Full Service and Select Service categories. His contributions included supporting hotel openings, developing the company’s SOPs, and creating SOPs for the Sports Illustrated Brand.

ROSANA MARTINEZ

Director of Human Resources and Risk Management

As Director of Human Resources and Risk Management, Rosana is instrumental in executing Palettes people first strategy. She leads a team that is highly focused on the company culture and people operations including recruiting, learning and development, and total rewards. Rosana began her hospitality career in South Beach, Miami, where she worked at several marquee properties including the W South Beach, Mondrian, and Shelborne.

In her prior role, she was a Portfolio General Manager for Kasa, a tech-enabled hospitality company, where she oversaw the operations and asset management of a portfolio of properties across 10 states. Before that, she managed several co-living properties as the Director of Community at Starcity.

Rosana has a degree in Communications from California State University, Long Beach and is currently studying at USC Gould School of Law for a Master of Studies in Law.

In her free time she enjoys exploring her native Los Angeles and spending time with her family and friends.

LUCY HERREN

Corporate Regional Director of Salesnt

Lucy Herren joined Palette Hotels in 2021 as Corporate Regional Director of Sales, and is based in El Paso, Texas. She prides herself on providing excellent customer relations, dedication, contract negotiations, and precise attention to detail. She can collectively leverage her knowledge, utilize a consultative approach, and achieve the key success factors to make a positive impact within the industry. Lucy does not hesitate to go above and beyond to ensure complete customer satisfaction. Lucy’s career background includes over 20 successful years of hotel and sales experience. She has worked with clients from across the globe in both domestic and international sales, and she has a keen interest and strong background in the Latin America market. She embraces the creation of innovative strategies and a team-oriented leadership philosophy in diverse and challenging markets. Lucy is dedicated to excellence and integrity and understands the importance of building and maintaining productive relationships. Additionally, Lucy is committed to philanthropic efforts, which is demonstrated through her volunteer work as a Regional Council Member for Make-A-Wish El Paso and as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children (CASA).

CIELO MILLAN

Operations Excellence Lead

Cielo Millan is a hospitality professional who joined the Palette Hotels corporate team as Regional Director of Operations. In this role, Cielo oversees the performance and operations of multiple hotels within a specific region, ensuring compliance with company standards, driving revenue and profitability, managing budgets, supporting hotel management teams, implementing corporate strategies, and maintaining guest satisfaction.

With a focus on providing leadership, monitoring key performance metrics, and addressing operational challenges, Cielo strives to optimize efficiency and success across their portfolio.

Cielo studied Business Management and International Business in Cali, Colombia, and brings over a decade of experience in the hospitality industry. Throughout their career, Cielo has worked with brands such as Marriott, Hilton, IHG, Choice, and Wyndham, managing Full-Service, Extended Stay, and Select-Service hotels.

BENJAMIN DE LA ROSA

Director of Accounting

With 8 years of experience in the hospitality industry & having worked in various roles for brands like IHG, Wyndham, Starwood, Marriott & Hilton, Benjamin has extensive knowledge of accounting procedures. At Palette Hotels Developments, Benjamin is responsible for the day to day and month end profit and loss statement activities of several hotels within the portfolio, as well as assisting the team during property transitions. He works closely with the properties to assure all their accounting needs are handled in a timely manner. His expertise lies in Budgets/Forecasting, Property Transitions, Cash Management, SOP compliance, Internal Audits and Tax Audits. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics with an Actuarial Science Concentration from the University of Texas El Paso. Prior to joining Palette Hotels Developments, he was at HMC for five years as a Staff Accountant and Property Controller. In his free time, he likes to go shopping and play tennis.

CARLOS MORENO

Corporate Controller

Carlos Moreno is a highly skilled professional with over a decade of experience in the Hospitality industry. His dual expertise in Accounting and Hospitality has led to numerous successful projects and initiatives, solidifying his reputation in the field.

Beyond his professional achievements, Carlos enjoys a well-rounded personal life. He is an avid basketball player, an enthusiastic video game aficionado, and cherishes the time spent with his family. These interests not only provide a perfect balance to his demanding career but also contribute to his dynamic and engaging personality.

KARREN ALCANTARA

Operations Coordinator

Karren Alcantara is the Operations Coordinator for Palette Hotels. Karren’s extensive experience at Marriott International, spanning almost two decades across different roles, and involvement in the opening of Courtyard by Marriott Upper East Side and Courtyard by Marriott Manhattan/SoHo, makes her an invaluable asset to Palette Hotels.
Karren’s genuine hospitality shines through in every interaction with owners, leaders, guests, and team members. Her unwavering commitment to exceptional service creates a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for all guests. Her contagious laughter never fails to put a smile on people’s faces.

Karren believes every new day brings boundless opportunities to learn, grow, and make meaningful connections.

BIANCA GRIJALVA

Corporate Human Resource Generalist

Bianca Grijalva joined the company in 2019, initially supporting the development side of the hospitality industry as a Procurement Manager. In 2021, she transitioned into Human Resources as a Corporate Recruiter, where she successfully managed the full hiring lifecycle from identifying staffing needs to sourcing and onboarding top talent. Currently serving as a Corporate Human Resources Generalist, Bianca supports all Palette properties with a wide range of HR needs, including employee relations, compliance, and benefits administration. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus in Human Resource Management from the University of Phoenix. With over nine years of experience in the telecommunications industry, Bianca is highly regarded for her exceptional HR support capabilities and her ability to foster positive relationships with General Managers and employees alike, ensuring an outstanding HR experience across the organization.

RICHARD LEE

Director of Growth

Richard has over 15 years experience as a hotelier specializing in feasibility and development for hotels and branded residences and on the investor/ownership side, investment and acquisitions, driving brand and investor relations. He started his hospitality career with Starwood Hotels and Resorts and most recently was with Aju Hotels and Resorts.

Having traversed the sides of both ownership and brand, he has been equipped with invaluable insights into the intricacies of asset management and the priorities that weigh heavily on the minds of hotel owners. He understands first hand the challenges and opportunities that come with entrusting one’s assets to management companies and is deeply committed to leveraging this perspective to drive impactful outcomes for our clients.

Richard is a native son of Southern California and is based in Los Angeles, but proudly calls himself a citizen of the world, having lived and worked in Singapore, London, Seoul, New York and San Francisco. He received his Master’s from the Nolan School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University and Bachelor’s from the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley.

LAURIANE BAMBOU

Revenue Program Director

Lauriane Bambou is the Revenue Program Director at Palette Hotels, bringing over a decade of expertise in revenue management across diverse hospitality segments, including short-term rentals, independent hotels, and branded properties. She has driven substantial revenue growth through strategic pricing, automation, and new technology. Lauriane emphasizes a data-driven approach and collaborative leadership to optimize revenue performance and maximize profitability.

TAYLOR BREEDLOVE

Corporate Human Resources Generalist

Taylor Breedlove is a hospitality professional with a Bachelor’s in Communication from the University of Cincinnati. She began her career in 2016 in the restaurant industry and moved to Dallas in 2020 to pursue new opportunities. In 2022, Taylor transitioned to the hotel sector with Aimbridge Hospitality. She earned her PHR certification in 2024 and then joined Palette Hotels in July 2024. Taylor is dedicated to enhancing guest experiences and contributing to the continued success of the hospitality industry.

TIFFANY VANDER MEULEN

Corporate Group Sales Manager

Tiffany has over 17 years experience in the hospitality industry. She began her hospitality career as a front desk agent at a full-service Marriott hotel. She continued to grow her career in operations and transitioned into sales, rising from Sales and Catering Manager to her current role of Corporate Group Sales Manager with Palette Hotels. Tiffany has worked in both full and select service hotels and brings a wealth of sales knowledge to her experience with Marriott, Hilton, IHG and Hyatt brands. Prior to joining Palette Hotels, Tiffany worked with Highgate Hotels Corporate. Outside of work, Tiffany is a Mountain Dew enthusiast, and she also enjoys spending time with her friends, family and two dogs

AMANDA FRANK

Vice President of Sales

Amanda Frank is a high-impact hospitality executive with over 20 years of experience in scaling operations and driving revenue growth. As Corporate Director of Sales at Series C startup Kasa Living, she built the sales organization from scratch, scaling revenue from $0 to $3M+ in two years. Previously, as Regional Director of Sales at Evolution Hospitality, she successfully launched 28 hotels and was awarded the President’s Award for exceptional performance. Throughout her career, Amanda has overseen 40+ hotel openings, consistently exceeding RevPAR targets while developing high-performing teams and implementing scalable systems. She specializes in building sales excellence, fostering customer relationships, and driving strategic growth in dynamic hospitality environments

OUR TEAM

RICHARD
LOU
Chief Executive Officer

LIZ
MILLER
Chief of Staff and Director of Strategic Initiatives

GREG
PRESNOL
Vice President of Operations

AMANDA
FRANK
Vice President of Sales

DANIEL
LOU
Vice President of Construction & Development

ALEXANDRA
STARR
Senior Director of Finance

RICHARD
LEE
Director of Growth

ROSANA
MARTINEZ
Director of Human Resources and Risk Management

LAURIANE
BAMBOU
Revenue Program Director

PAM
HILD
Senior Regional Director of Sales

GARRETT
STRAWN
Regional Director of Sales

JASON
ALLAN
Regional Director of Operations

CHRIS
TORRES
Regional Director of Operations

JUSTIN
RODGERS
Regional Director of Operations

CIELO
MILLAN
Operations Excellence Lead

BENJAMIN
DE LA ROSA
Director of Accounting

CARLOS
MORENO
Corporate Controller

TIFFANY
VANDER MEULEN
Corporate Group Sales Manager

BIANCA
GRIJALVA
Human Resource Generalist

TAYLOR
BREEDLOVE
Human Resource Generalist

KARREN
ALCANTARA
Operations Coordinator

PALETTE
HOTELS

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OUR TEAM

RICHARD LOU Chief Executive Officer

LIZ MILLER Chief of Staff and Director of Strategic Initiatives

GREG PRESNOL Vice President of Operations

AMANDA FRANK Vice President of Sales

DANIEL LOU Vice President of Construction & Development

ALEXANDRA STARRSenior Director of Finance

RICHARD LEE Director of Growth

ROSANA MARTINEZDirector of Human Resources and Risk Management

LAURIANE BAMBOURevenue Program Director

PAM HILD Senior Regional Director of Sales

GARRETT STRAWN Regional Director of Sales

JASON ALLAN Regional Director of Operations

CHRISTORRES Regional Director of Operations

JUSTIN RODGERS Regional Director of Operations

CIELOMILLAN Operations Excellence Lead

BENJAMIN DE LA ROSA Director of Accounting

CARLOS MORENO Corporate Controller

TIFFANY VANDER MEULEN Corporate Group Sales Manager

BIANCA GRIJALVA Human Resource Generalist

TAYLOR BREEDLOVE Human Resource Generalist

KARREN ALCANTARA Operations Coordinator

RICHARD LOU

JUSTIN SCARPA

LIZ MILLER

GREG PRESNOL

ASHISH KHULLAR

PUNIT SHETH

DANIEL LOU

ALEXANDRA STARR

CHRIS TORRES

JUSTIN RODGERS

PAM HILD

GARRETT STRAWN

JASON ALLAN

ROSANA MARTINEZ

LUCY HERREN

CIELO MILLAN

BENJAMIN DE LA ROSA

CARLOS MORENO

KARREN ALCANTARA

BIANCA GRIJALVA

RICHARD LEE

LAURIANE BAMBOU

TAYLOR BREEDLOVE

TIFFANY VANDER MEULEN

AMANDA FRANK

RICHARD
LOU
Chief Executive Officer

LIZ
MILLER
Chief of Staff and Director of Strategic Initiatives

GREG
PRESNOL
Vice President of Operations

AMANDA
FRANK
Vice President of Sales

DANIEL
LOU
Vice President of Construction & Development

ALEXANDRA
STARR
Senior Director of Finance

RICHARD
LEE
Director of Growth

ROSANA
MARTINEZ
Director of Human Resources and Risk Management

LAURIANE
BAMBOU
Revenue Program Director

PAM
HILD
Senior Regional Director of Sales

GARRETT
STRAWN
Regional Director of Sales

JASON
ALLAN
Regional Director of Operations

CHRIS
TORRES
Regional Director of Operations

JUSTIN
RODGERS
Regional Director of Operations

CIELO
MILLAN
Operations Excellence Lead

BENJAMIN
DE LA ROSA
Director of Accounting

CARLOS
MORENO
Corporate Controller

TIFFANY
VANDER MEULEN
Corporate Group Sales Manager

BIANCA
GRIJALVA
Human Resource Generalist

TAYLOR
BREEDLOVE
Human Resource Generalist

KARREN
ALCANTARA
Operations Coordinator