Rich Higdon

Hyatt Centric Mountain View, slated to open mid-July, announces an executive leadership team with more than eight decades of combined hospitality experience. OTO Development, part of The Johnson Group, is developing and will manage the new hotel.

Rich Higdon has been appointed as general manager of the 167-room lifestyle hotel in the heart of Silicon Valley. Before taking the helm of Hyatt Centric Mountain View, Higdon worked as opening general manager for Hyatt Place Emeryville/San Francisco Bay Area. He previously held a variety of leadership roles at Hilton, including a 15-year stint as general manager of Hilton Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley, as well as independent hotels. His first hospitality job was working as a bellhop at the nearby Cupertino Inn. This early emphasis on guest service has held him in good stead, leading to career accolades including the Conrad Hilton Award and a Property of the Year Award from Interstate Hotels & Resorts.