WASHINGTON – Grand Hyatt Washington has named Steven J. Smith, General Manager. Smith comes to Grand Hyatt Washington from nearby Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, where he served as General Manager for six years.
Smith brings 29 years of experience with Hyatt to his new role at Grand Hyatt Washington, having started his career in 1985 at Hyatt Regency Crystal City. Among his moves across the country, Smith held various management positions in the Rooms Division at Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, Hyatt Cherry Hill, Hyatt Regency Baltimore, Hyatt Regency Reston, and Hyatt Regency Miami. Smith served as the opening Senior Executive Assistant Manager of Rooms at the former Hyatt Regency Lake Las Vegas resort before joining Hyatt Regency Bellevue as General Manager in 2002. From 2005 to 2008, Smith served as the General Manager at Hyatt Regency Long Beach before returning to the East Coast for his most recent position as General Manager for Hyatt Regency Washington.
Smith was nominated for Hyatt Corporation’s General Manager of the Year in 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2013, as well as Host Hotels & Resorts General Manager of the Year – Large Hotels in 2009. His involvement in the Washington, DC hospitality industry has included serving on the Board of Directors of the Hotel Association of Washington, DC, as well as on the Board of Directors of Destination DC.
“Steve has exemplified strong leadership and commitment to the core values of the Hyatt and Hyatt Regency brands in his previous roles,” says Jerry Lewin, Sr. VP Operations, Hyatt. “I look forward to seeing that continue in his new adventure with the Grand Hyatt brand and know he will be successful at Grand Hyatt Washington.”
