With a two-decade history in the hotel and restaurant business, Richard is known for his financial savvy and entrepreneurial approach to creating quality hospitality experiences across lodging, food & beverage and guest entertainment. As CEO of Eight88Hospitality, Richard brings a thorough knowledge of the hospitality industry, commitment to quality service and unwavering attention to detail.
Mr. Ham began his career in the hospitality industry at Hilton Hotels Corporation, where he managed up to 1,200 team members at several brand flagships, including Hilton Portland, Hilton Anaheim and Hilton Costa Mesa. During his time with Hilton, he developed and incorporated operational strategies that increased gross revenues, oversaw three multi-million-dollar renovations, developed and managed marketing programs and introduced initiatives that increased team member loyalty as well as guest satisfaction and ultimately enhanced hotel profitability.
Richard oversees the expansion of Eight88Hospitality from core lodging investments into other areas of hospitality related projects and partnerships. Ham is also a noted civic leader. He was an active board member of several associations, including Costa Mesa Visitors Bureau, Anaheim/Orange County Visitors Bureau, Anaheim Transportation Network, South Coast Metro Alliance and Orange County Tourism Council. He has also been a member of GEN NEXT since 2008.
Mr. Ham graduated from Long Beach State with a degree in Public Administration and has also has received certificates from Cornell University's PDP program.
Mr. Shinomiya has more than 30 years of experience in commercial real estate investment including property leasing, management, and dispositions. For the past 11 years, Mr. Shinomiya was an integral financial partner with Eight88Hospitality's predecessor company, Casa Resorts Inc., and and will continue this relationship as a principal of Eight88.
When he is not strategizing on investment opportunities for Eight88Hospitality, he serves as President of Tatsumi International Co., Ltd., which traces it roots to Tatsumi Shokai Co. founded in 1920 as a global transportation and logistics concern. Tatsumi Intl. was established in 1996 to pursue a diversified global investment strategy and now owns over 25 properties in Japan and the US. Mr. Shinomiya oversees an array of real estate and operating entities in the Western part of Japan and the Pacific Rim and has successfully managed a portfolio of interests spanning real estate, hospitality, and entertainment venues. Previously, he served as president at Kounan Enterprise Co., Ltd. and Toushin Maintenance Co., Ltd., both in Osaka Japan. He is licensed to facilitate real estate transactions and is also a Certified Building Administrator.
Saunders has more than a decade of experience in the hospitality industry. As the COO, he brings a sharp focus on the operation fundamentals, ensuring that each project's management and operations are thoroughly vetted, processes optimized and enhancements implemented in an efficient, collaborative and timely manner. His strong sales background and relationships with group travel managers from across the world also provide a unique and often underserved competency in many firms as he has first hand understanding and the ability to shape sales departments' strategy and bring business to our assets from day 1.
Earlier in his career, Saunders founded his own event planning company; gaining press coverage in various states for his Company's niche focus on creating unique marriage proposal occasions. Saunders joined the Casa Resorts Inc., Eight88Hospitality's predecessor, in 2009 as a Sales Manager for two of the Company's hotels. Within two years he was advanced to Senior Sales Manager, and within four years he was the Director of Sales overseeing all properties. Traveling the globe with Richard Ham, Saunders was able to secure strategic partnerships with the top travel companies out of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Korea; while also year after year outperforming revenue budgets and expectations.
In 2015 Mr. Saunders moved into an operations and business development role where he worked hand in hand with our external hotel management companies to asset manage all properties within the portfolio along with spearheading new expansion opportunites.
Mr. Saunders graduated from the University of San Diego in 2006 with a degree in Business Administration.
Since 2001, Ed Rhee has served as in house legal counsel for Casa Resorts Inc. the predecessor to Eight88Hospitality and continues in this role as a Principal. He has over 20 years of legal experience and is a member of the California bar Federal bar. Mr. Rhee specializes in business transaction law.
At Eight88Hospitality, he oversees all legal matters related to the company's business operations. This includes entity formations, partnership agreements, investor agreements, real property purchase and sale agreements, contracts, litigation, employment law and regulatory compliance.
Previously, Mr. Rhee was a tax associate at a major national law firm. Mr. Rhee received his B.A., J.D and LLM in Tax from the University of California, Los Angeles and University of San Diego.
