About Us

Ricardo Mendes is the founder of VBM Hospitality Solutions, a hospitality consulting company that specializes in providing clients with a customized collaborative approach to fresh, creative and sound industry solutions required to create, adapt and/or improve business concepts. Ricardo is a respected hospitality executive with over two decades of industry experience and knowledge. He has always been passionate about the hospitality industry and has a genuine dedication to exceptional service.

Throughout his career, Ricardo has held leadership roles within some of the top hospitality brands in the world such as Ritz-Carlton Hotel Group, Morgans Hotel Group, and Hyatt Hotels to name a few. All of which were located in popular travel destinations. 

He began his successful career as food and beverage manager with Mandarin Oriental Hotels and quickly climbed the ladder. Ricardo then moved to Las Vegas and served as Assistant General Manager for Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group. Later he moved back to Florida and continued in the food and beverage industry working for the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Group, Hakkasan Restaurant at the Fontainebleau Resort, and Canyon Ranch Resort & Spa. These experiences included high volume, fine dining and upscale casual concepts.

Ricardo moved up the ranks and served as Hotel Manager at Mondrian South Beach. Thereafter, he served as opening General Manager of the first Hyatt Centric hotel in South Florida: Hyatt Centric South Beach Miami, a luxury lifestyle hotel. Ricardo also served as the opening General Manger of Hyatt Centric Brickell Miami. In his most recent role, he was the opening Managing Director for Turnberry Ocean Club.

Ricardo has acquired a diverse hospitality background with complete oversight of food and beverage, sales and marketing, revenue management, and overall hotel operations, making him an expert in the field. Ricardo’s experience includes, but is not limited to:

·  Overseeing developments of new properties and concepts (conceptualize, develop and operate)

·  Task force assistance

·  Serve as a trusted advisor to hotel owners, operators, and management companies

·  Working with different focused brands

·  Leading hundreds of staff members

·  Budget and revenue

·  Dealing with challenges and industry transitions

·  Staying competitive

·  Driving revenues

·  Develop pricing strategies

·  Labor solutions

·  Hospitality recovery

·  Cultural diversity

·  Focused services

·  Social media management

·  Customer satisfaction

·  Marketing plans

·  Revenue management

·  Strategical planning

·  Strong team building

·  Group events

·  Sales

·  Banquets

·  Catering

·  Optimize performance and productivity

·  Staff assessment

·  Recruiting

·  Staff and managers training and development

·  Hospitality training

·  Creating training manuals

·  Standards Operating Procedures (creation and/or implementation)

·  Drafting employee handbooks

·  Vacation rentals (full scope)

Ricardo has developed and implemented proven operational methods with successful results and prides himself on developing individuals. He is tri-lingual, speaking Portuguese, Spanish, and English. Ricardo earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and has taken multiple hospitality trainings. He has also received several awards and recognitions for his outstanding performance.

Ricardo lives in Key Largo, Florida. He dedicates his spare time to giving back to the community through various organizations. He also enjoys outdoor water activities, traveling, and spending family time with his wife and family dogs, Jax and Toby.