Hotel leader and pioneer Ali Kasikci will assume the role of Hospitality Asset Manager, Office of the Chairman for Rosewood Miramar Beach Montecito.

Rick Caruso announced the appointment on Wednesday.

“We are excited to welcome Ali Kasikci, a true legend in the global hospitality industry,” Caruso said. “With his experience leading some of the world’s finest properties, we are confident the Miramar will feature unparalleled hospitality, service and attention to detail for which Caruso is renowned, while creating everlasting memories and experiences for our guests.”

Kasikci was named the Independent Hotelier of the World 2004 and is an active faculty member at The Hotel School, Cornell University SC Johnson College of Business in the fields of hospitality leadership and strategy. He worked as regional managing director for Belmond Hotels in North America, Mexico, the Caribbean and Brazil, overseeing management and strategic direction of eight luxury properties.

He also worked as vice president of strategic planning and development for Montage Hotels & Resorts, and managed The Peninsula Beverly Hills from 1991 to 2007. Kasikci graduated from the Hotel and Catering College in Tegernsee, Germany, and has an MBA from Claremont Graduate University’s Peter F. Drucker Graduate Management School.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to work with Caruso on the complete reimagining and ground-up construction of an iconic property, and to strategize on all of the elements that will make Rosewood Miramar Beach Montecito a magical and unforgettable destination for our guests,” Kasikci said.

Once independently owned by the Outhwaite family, the Miramar plans to rise again in 2018, operated by Hong Kong-based luxury resort operator Rosewood Hotels & Resorts. The hotel at 1555 S. Jameson Lane was originally built in the 1880s, thriving as a destination for celebrities and the wealthy from around the world.

It was and will be the only hotel where some of the rooms were built on the sand in front of the ocean. The hotel closed down in 2000 and after a big community push from Montecito residents, the historic blue rooftop buildings were demolished, as new owner Caruso looked to secure financing to rebuild the hotel. Caruso eventually raised more than $200 million to finance the deal and is on track to open the hotel in the summer of 2018. The Miramar will feature 161 guestrooms across 16 acres.

• Contact Joshua Molina at jmolina@pacbiztimes.com.