Fairmont El San Juan Hotel is delighted to announce the appointments of Chloe Gray-Le Coz as Director of Sales & Marketing, Lara Mayer as Director of Luxury Leisure Sales, Rachel Hofer as Director of Revenue Management, and Ricardo Cera as Executive Chef for the property. Fairmont El San Juan Hotel is eager to welcome Gray-Le Coz, Mayer, Hofer, and Cera to the dynamic team and its ongoing mission to both preserve the history of the hotel and bring the property into the future. Together the group brings years of experience in their respective fields to the iconic Puerto Rican property.
Chloe Gray-Le Coz, Director of Sales & Marketing
Gray-Le Coz is a graduate of the University of Missouri, St. Louis, where she received her bachelor’s degree and Master of Business Administration. Upon graduation, Gray-Le Coz began her career in marketing at Ansira as a Marketing Manager. In 2011, Gray-Le Coz took her talents to the hospitality industry as Brand Manager at Starwood Hotel and Resorts working with their luxury and design brands. After two years in the role, Gray-Le Coz was promoted to Area Director of Marketing, overseeing the Northeast region of Starwood luxury/lifestyle brand W Hotels. Following her success as Area Director of Marketing, W Hotels promoted Gray-Le Coz to Senior Global Brand Manager in 2017. In 2021, Gray-Le Coz left W Hotels for Loews Hotels & Co., where she worked as Director of Brand Marketing until joining the Fairmont El San Juan Hotel team.
“I am thrilled to be the newest addition to the amazing team at the island’s beloved Fairmont El San Juan Hotel,” says Gray-Le Coz. “The iconic hotel has earned a large and loyal following through its rich history and ties to the island and city of San Juan, and I am eager to take on the challenge of expanding the property’s reach and success to new heights.”
In her new role, Gray-Le Coz hopes to expand the historic hotel’s established network and client base into new demographics. Gray-Le Coz will use her years of experience within marketing and hospitality to identify and reach new audiences for Fairmont El San Juan Hotel, as well as overseeing all the Sales & Marketing team.
Lara Mayer, Director of Luxury Leisure Sales
Mayer brings a wealth of hospitality, sales, and leadership experience to her new role at Fairmont El San Juan Hotel. A student of the world, before beginning her successful career in the hospitality industry, Mayer her family traveled together from country to country, including brief residences in Saudi Arabia and Cyprus. Following her graduation from University of North Carolina, Charlotte in 1994, Mayer’s worldly background allowed for a seamless transition from student into a professional career. After graduating, Mayer began working for her family’s travel agency, International Journeys in Washington D.C., transitioning into a role in hotel sales shortly after. Mayer’s sales career began at JDB Fine Hotels & Resorts, where she served as a Reservations Agent Manager. After holding various sales positions at different properties within the JDB portfolio, Mayer went off on her own to create The LM Group LLC, a full-service marketing agency. The LM Group LLC worked with the sales teams at a variety of resorts, including Timbers Resorts, Colorado, The St. Regis Deer Valley, and Elbow Beach Bermuda, bringing innovative ideas and offerings to guests of the luxury properties. Following her five years at the helm of The LM Group, Mayer joined The Dominick, Soho as the property’s Director of Travel Industry Sales in 2019, where she remained until 2022.
“Fairmont El San Juan Hotel is such an iconic and beloved hotel on the island, and I am excited to help enhance the property’s luxury offerings for our esteemed guests and visitors,” said Mayer. “I am looking forward to the amazing opportunity to work alongside such a talented sales team to bring new and returning guests to the property and showcase its bespoke features in the best light.”
In her new role, Mayer will oversee the Luxury Leisure Sales team at Fairmont El San Juan Hotel. Mayer will look to introduce her dynamic, results-driven approach to her new team to help bring in new clientele to the iconic property.
Rachel Hofer, Director of Revenue Management
With over a decade of experience as a revenue planning strategist, Rachel Hofer joins the team at Fairmont El San Juan Hotel to guide the property’s profit optimization. Beginning her career in the front offices of Starwood Hotels & Resorts in Atlanta, Georgia, Hofer remained with the brand for many years in roles as Group Reservations Coordinator and later Revenue Analyst. Hofer then moved to Miami for a role with Marriott International as a Group Sales Manager for 5 Miami properties, followed by her transition into Revenue Management for two of those same properties. Hofer later held roles with Forbes 5-Star Faena Hotel in Miami Beach, first as Director of Revenue Management, then as Director of Front Office.
“I am so excited to be a part of the team at Fairmont El San Juan Hotel,” says Hofer. “The first time I set foot on the property, I immediately felt the deep history and culture of the hotel, and could sense how meaningful it was to the Puerto Rican community in addition to all of the team members. I am very proud to be working for such an influential hotel and only hope to contribute to its significant reputation.”
As Director of Revenue Management at Fairmont El San Juan Hotel, Hofer will lead strategic planning and collaborate with teams across the property to actively seek opportunities to drive incremental profit for all revenue streams. Hofer will bring her extended expertise and dedicated ethic to the team to bring lasting and effective profit strategies across the property.
Ricardo Cera, Executive Chef
Cera brings over two decades of experience to the culinary team at Fairmont El San Juan Hotel, beginning his career in his native Portugal, working on the food & beverage teams at various properties including Four Seasons Hotel Lisbon and Prestana Palace Hotel Lisbon, among others. After a successful 10 years in the culinary industry, Cera became the Head Chef Teacher at School of Turismo de Portugal, instructing future chefs in crucial lessons of the industry. In 2015, Cera was appointed to Executive Chef for the first time in his career at the Rosewood Little Dix Bay in the British Virgin Islands. Following, Cera joined the Fairmont brand team at Fairmont Hamilton Princess & Beach Club as Executive Chef in 2017, where he remained until his appointment as Executive Chef for Fairmont El San Juan Hotel.
“I am very much looking forward to continuing my career with the Fairmont brand, beginning my new role at the historic Fairmont El San Juan Hotel,” said Ricardo Cera. “The property offers a wide selection of many amazing culinary venues and offerings, and I am looking forward to enhancing the property’s offerings even further and continuing to share delicious drinking and dining experiences with the amazing guests and visitors to the hotel.”
Cera will oversee the day-to-day kitchen operations of Fairmont El San Juan Hotel’s culinary team, ensuring the hotel’s standards are met or exceeded at each of the property’s dining outlets. He will bring his signature contemporary approach to the hotel’s culinary team and hopes to be inspired by the local traditions and natural resources.