Today we’d like to introduce you to Cody Bertone.
Cody, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am a seasoned hospitality executive and currently serve as General Manager of W Fort Lauderdale, effective January 20, 2025.
I bring 19 years of hospitality experience to my role, having worked across several major brands including Marriott International, Virgin Hotels, Loews Hotels, and Omni Hotels & Resorts. I began my career as a Housekeeping Supervisor in New Orleans and steadily progressed through operations before accepting my first General Manager position in 2016.
I served as Opening General Manager of the Pontchartrain Hotel in New Orleans, where the property earned several notable accolades, including Travel + Leisure’s “It List” – Best New Hotels in the World for 2017 and being named the #1 Hotel in New Orleans multiple years in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards.
Most recently, I served as Opening General Manager of Virgin Hotels New Orleans, where I led the hotel through a hurricane just eight days after opening and helped guide the property to multiple accolades, including being named the #1 Hotel in New Orleans in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2024. I have also acted as Task Force General Manager for Virgin Hotels Chicago and supported the opening of Virgin Hotels New York.
I am an active participant in the community and previously served as Vice President on the Board of Directors for the Greater New Orleans Hotel & Lodging Association. I currently serve as a Board Advisory Committee Member for the Beach Business Improvement District, a role I have held since January 2025.
I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from Southeastern Louisiana University and a Financial Management Certificate from Cornell University.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road—there have been too many challenges to list, from the pandemic to hurricanes and hotel openings, but each obstacle along the way pushed me to grow, sharpen my skills, and gain new tools. Those experiences have made me a stronger leader and better prepared to guide teams through the unexpected situations and challenges that inevitably arise.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As General Manager of a luxury lifestyle hotel like W Fort Lauderdale, my role allows—and requires—me to be both strategic and creative. We recently completed an $8 million renovation of our WET East Pool Deck and Living Room Bar, which has been an exciting opportunity to reimagine the guest experience and bring new energy to the property.
I specialize in leading teams to deliver elevated service with a true sense of place for our guests, while also building a positive, high‑performing culture rooted in communication, support, and accountability. Equally important, I focus on delivering strong financial performance for our owners by aligning guest experience, operations, and strategy.
Opening hotels has been a defining part of my career—it’s a unique experience that stays with you forever. I’m especially proud of mentoring and developing leaders, helping them grow into their next roles. I’ll never forget the leaders who invested in me early on, and I’m committed to paying that forward.
What sets me apart is my ability to balance creativity and discipline—bringing vision to life while executing at a high operational and financial level. I thrive in complex environments, lead calmly through change, and stay deeply connected to both my team and the guest experience.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Continuously push yourself to learn and develop, ask questions, and build expertise beyond your current role—with enthusiasm and purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/fllwh-w-fort-lauderdale/overview/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wfortlauderdale/
