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MEET THE BOND TEAM
ROBERT WATSON
CEO + PRESIDENT
CEO + PRESIDENT
Robert is considered one of the nation’s leading lifestyle hospitality innovators. Robert brings a uniquely diverse hotel background and a skill set that encompasses operations, development and branding.
Robert is CEO and President for BOND Partners, a hotel development, asset management and advisory company he founded in 2005. During this period he also served as President and Partner with Solage Hotels and Resorts, at the time, part of Auberge Resorts.
Robert is also recognized as a key player in the creation and operation of both the Hotel Monaco Brand with Kimpton Hotel and Restaurant Group and W Hotels, with Starwood Hotels and Resorts. Robert served as Regional Director of Brand Operations for W Hotels Western U.S. properties. Robert joined the W Brand at its inception, and was instrumental in the brand’s successful evolution while holding numerous General Manager positions leading up to his regional appointment. Before W, Robert worked with Kimpton Hotel and Restaurant Group for five years, during which time he opened the first Hotel Monaco and was part of the brand’s impressive development and expansion. Robert began his hotel and restaurant career with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. Robert has also been involved with over thirty hotel and restaurant openings in the United States and abroad.
Robert completed his undergraduate studies at California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, California; received a Masters Degree in International Hotel Management from Schiller International University in London, England and was awarded an Executive Diploma in Hotel Finance and Development from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
PAUL GUCCINI
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Paul brings more than 30 years of hospitality experience and more than 20 years of senior financial leadership in the industry to the Company. Mr. Guccini joined Bond Partners in 2007.
Paul served as Comptroller and Chief Financial Advisor for 21c Museum Hotels, a Bond Partners Property, from 2007-2011, as well as CFO of Solage Hotels and Resorts from 2010 – 2014. From January 2005 to July 2007, Paul served as Vice President and Regional Director of Finance for Interstate Hotels & Resorts, the nation’s largest independent hotel management company. During his tenure, Paul oversaw direct hotel accounting staffs in all financial management activities for 45 hotels, including a 23 hotel portfolio owned by Goldman Sachs.
Before Interstate, Paul was Area Director of Finance for Starwood Hotels & Resorts, specifically W New York, W Court and W Tuscany Hotels in Manhattan, NY from August 2001 to January 2005. There he managed a staff of 16 and transformed the financial function of one of the company’s top five EBITDA producers worldwide, stabilizing the financial presence within operations while assisting in brand finance initiatives. Prior to that Paul served as Controller and later as Area Controller for Wyndham International in Los Angeles, New York and Boston from February 1991 to August 2001.
Paul began his career in hospitality financial management with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts in 1991 after ten years in various hotel and restaurant operating roles. Mr. Guccini received a Bachelor of Science degree from the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Houston, Houston, Texas.
RUSSELL McNEILL
CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER
CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER
Russell McNeill is responsible for equity funding, investor relations, and certain administrative matters for Bond Partners. Working directly with Bond Partners’ group of long-time investors as well as involving his own network of institutional and private equity sources, Russell employs a strategic and entrepreneurial approach to equity funding and investor relations. Russell acts in a manner consistent with Bond’s values of integrity and full transparency. Prior to joining Bond Partners, Russell was a senior executive with DJM Capital Partners, Inc in San Jose, CA and a partner with Winthrop Securities, Inc in San Francisco, CA. After leaving Winthrop he co-founded Huntington Partners, Inc. to develop multi-family residential projects in Northern California. He is a California licensed real estate Broker and a member of multiple Bay Area business and social organizations.
V CALAMUR
VP TRANSITIONS | NEW OPENINGS
VP TRANSITIONS | NEW OPENINGS
V’s knowledge of premier hotel operations stems from an extensive career working for uniquely fashionable and service oriented hotel brands. V is currently managing the Foundre Phoenix opening scheduled for August 2016. Most recently V served as a transition leader and later General Manager of The Modern Hotel, Honolulu.
Prior to The Modern engagement, V was instrumental in the development and creation of the first hotel ever by Pininfarina, world renown designers of Ferrari and Maserati. Other projects of note prior to joining BOND include the launch of the JAMES Hotel in Scottsdale, Arizona, opening the 194-room property in January 2004. Before JAMES, V opened the Montage Resort & Spa, a luxury five-star hotel, nestled on the bluffs of Laguna Beach. During his tenure, the Montage was listed as the 2003 “Best of the Best Resorts” by Robb Report Magazine and also awarded the 2003 “Best New Hotel/Resort Discovery” by Gallivanter’s Guide newsletter.
Prior to Montage, V was instrumental in growing the W Hotel brand from two to eighteen hotels, including the opening of W San Francisco, W Chicago, W New York Times Square and W San Diego.
MICHAEL ESTEN
DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
Michael brings over 15 years of Financial Accounting expertise to the unique needs of the Hospitality industry. As Director of Financial Services, Michael oversees the budgeting, forecasting and daily financial administration of both operating hotels and development projects in the Bond Portfolio including The Foundre (Phoenix, AZ).
Before joining Bond Partners, Michael served as Assistant Director of Finance for Starwood Hotels & Resorts. He was integral to the successful opening of The US Grant, a Luxury Collection hotel in San Diego, immediately following its much-publicized $56 Million renovation. He oversaw the budgeting, forecasting and accounting needs of the property, including its acclaimed restaurant and banquet & catering operations. He was then promoted to the Westin Gaslamp Quarter, a 450-room hotel in the heart of San Diego’s busy tourist district where he managed the financial reporting and tax management of the property and its assets.
Prior to his tenure at Starwood, Michael was Taskforce Director of Finance for Interstate Hotels & Resorts where he directed critical management and brand transitions as well as internal financial audits for multiple individual properties including Sheraton, Marriott, Wyndham, and Doubletree branded hotels. Michael first began his career in operations with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts in Boston. He holds degrees in Hotel, Restaurant and Hospitality Management from Johnson & Wales University and is Six Sigma Greenbelt certified.