SANTA MONICA, Calif.—Sandbourne Santa Monica, Autograph Collection has appointed Kenan Tekin as general manager of the 175-room luxury beachfront hotel. The appointment comes as the hotel continues to expand its presence in the Southern California meetings, leisure, and dining markets.
Tekin will oversee hotel operations, including strategic growth initiatives, guest experience, team development, and overall property performance. He has more than 20 years of hospitality leadership experience across a wide range of hospitality assets, from boutique lifestyle hotels to large-scale resorts with more than 800 guest rooms, including Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Omni Austin Southpark (Texas), Red Cliffs Lodge Zion (Utah), and Sheraton Lake Buena Vista Resort (Fla). Throughout his career, he has managed hotel openings, renovations, rebranding projects, and operational transitions, with a focus on guest satisfaction and financial performance. His background includes F&B concept development, technology integration, and repositioning initiatives designed to enhance guest satisfaction and profitability.
Tekin has received multiple industry honors, including recognition as a finalist for General Manager of the Year awards, the HSMAI Los Angeles Best of the Best General Manager of the Year Award, and the J. Willard Marriott Awards of Excellence.
An active hospitality industry leader, Tekin previously served as president of HSMAI Los Angeles and currently serves on the organization’s board of directors. He holds a hospitality degree from Istanbul Hotel Management School and a Hotel Real Estate Investments & Asset Management certificate from Cornell University. He is also bilingual in English and Turkish.
“I am honored to join Sandbourne Santa Monica at such an exciting time for the property,” Takin says. “Sandbourne has already established a distinctive identity on the Westside, from its thoughtful coastal design and setting to exceptional dining experiences like Marelle, which has quickly become a standout culinary destination in Santa Monica. I look forward to working alongside this talented team to build on that momentum, elevate every aspect of the guest journey, and further strengthen Sandbourne’s reputation as a leading destination for group gatherings, memorable dining experiences, and sophisticated beachfront escapes.”
Located just steps from the beach and Santa Monica Pier, the 175-room Sanbourne Santa Monica beachfront retreat offers an array of amenities, including the Marelle signature restaurant, helmed by celebrated chef Raphael Lunetta; a state-of-the-art indoor/outdoor fitness center; an upscale pool with daybeds and the Sunset Pool Lounge; an onsite dog park; and complimentary pottery classes. It was designed by acclaimed Icelandic architect Gulla Jónsdóttir.
