Richard Cooke named Hotel Bel-Air general manager
A leadership appointment at one of Los Angeles’ established luxury estates, whose guest offer spans rooms, dining, wellness and cultural programming.
Sarah Shaw
3 min read
Dorchester Collection has appointed Richard Cooke as general manager of Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles, effective 1 January 2027. The company announced the move on 15 October.
Cooke joins from Rocco Forte Hotels, where his UK and Northern Europe responsibilities include Brown’s Hotel in London and the group’s properties in Britain, Belgium and Germany.
Richard Cooke brings international operating experience
His career spans more than 30 years in luxury hospitality, including over 15 years in senior Shangri-La positions across Asia and Canada. Earlier US roles covered food and beverage management with Four Seasons, Regent, Ritz-Carlton and Rosewood.
Cooke completed the general manager programme at Singapore Management University and executive education at the Cornell-Nanyang Institute of Hospitality. Dorchester Collection chief executive Philippe Leboeuf highlighted his international perspective and approach to hospitality when announcing the appointment.
An established Los Angeles operation
Hotel Bel-Air has 103 rooms and suites across a 12-acre garden estate. Its operating offer combines accommodation with a restaurant, bar and lounge, pâtisserie, afternoon tea, spa and swimming pool. The Restaurant at Hotel Bel-Air serves Californian cooking with Mediterranean influences, while The Living Room provides an indoor-outdoor setting for afternoon tea.
The property opened on 24 August 1946 and joined Dorchester Collection in 2008. A subsequent two-year renovation involved Alexandra Champalimaud and Rockwell Group, updating the rooms and public areas while retaining the hotel’s historic character.
Cooke will be joining an established operational leadership team. The hotel’s official profile identifies Tiffany Lai as hotel manager, a position she took up in 2024 with responsibility for its operational departments, following more than 13 years with the property.
Hotel Bel-Air also retains Three Michelin Keys in the guide’s 2026 US selection. Its sister property, The Beverly Hills Hotel, holds the same distinction. The rating places both hotels in the guide’s highest hotel category.
A wider guest experience
Beyond rooms and dining, the hotel has developed a public-facing cultural programme. Its 2026 sculpture series, Monumental: Conversations with Space, was devised around the relationship between architecture and landscape. The programme included work by Anthony James and Brazilian sculptor Daniel Jorge, with exhibitions offered free of charge to the public.
What this means for operators
For hotel operators, the appointment illustrates the breadth of leadership required at an established luxury estate. Our assessment is that the task encompasses coordinating an experienced team and a varied guest offer while maintaining the identity on which the property’s reputation rests.
Read more hotel appointments from WINC Wire.
