Albert L. Mertz Named Manager of W South Beach

• 
  SAVE
• 
  SHARE
• 
  TEXT SIZE
• 
  PRINT
• 
  COMMENT
• 
  PDF

. April 15, 2009

APRIL 15, 2009 - W Hotels Worldwide, the hotel category buster and industry innovator, today announced the appointment of Albert L. Mertz as Hotel Manager of W South Beach. Located in the burgeoning arts and entertainment district of Miami Beach, W South Beach is slated to open this summer on Collins Avenue. This crown jewel of Miami Beach will feature one-of-a-kind amenities, iconic design and contemporary art as well as breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean from each of the hotel's 408 guest rooms and suites.

Mertz has over 16 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Most recently, Mertz was the Regional Director and General Manager of the Raleigh Hotel in Miami Beach, part of the Andre Balazs luxury collection. At the same time, Mertz oversaw the operations, financial planning, sales and marketing, and owner and investor relations for The Standard Hotel in Miami Beach.

From 2006 to 2008, Mertz served as Hotel Manager of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Miami, leading all daily operations and overseeing liaisons with the hotel ownership. Mertz was previously Partner and Chief Operations Officer for the Barish Group in New York, where he orchestrated the operational opening structures for an upscale food and beverage concept and was responsible for forming part of the opening corporate team. Before his time at the Barish Group, Mertz was Hotel Manager for Loews Miami Beach Hotel.

Mertz has a long history with Ritz-Carlton Hotels, having worked various on-site and corporate positions within the company for nearly nine years, including the roles of Hotel Manager and Director of Operations at the Rancho Mirage Hotel in California. During his tenure with Ritz-Carlton, his meticulous attention to cost-control, quality and customer service were recognized by the company, which appointed him to the corporate pre-opening team for new Ritz-Carlton Hotels. While serving on this team, Mertz worked on Ritz-Carlton openings around the world, including San Juan (Puerto Rico), Osaka (Japan), Bali (Indonesia), Seoul (Korea), Barcelona (Spain), and Cancun (Mexico). He was also appointed Certified Quality Coach for the company during which time Ritz-Carlton Hotels was awarded the 1992 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award by the President of the United States of America.

Throughout his career, Mertz has received many accolades, including the 1994 Mexican National Quality Award, presented to the executive team of the Ritz-Carlton in Cancun, Mexico, by the President of Mexico. In 1993, he was sponsored by the Cancun Chapter to become Officier Consellier du Baillage, Chaine des Rotisseurs, and he has been a member ever since. In 2000, he became a member of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group's legendary Quality Experiences Task Force. Mertz earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management in 1991 from the University of Houston's Conrad Hilton School of Hotel and Restaurant Management. In 2003, he also obtained a Graduate Certificate from the MBA program at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. Mertz currently resides in Coral Gables, Florida and is fluent in both Spanish and English.