LAGUNA BEACH, Calif.—The Ranch at Laguna Beach has appointed RJ Bear as general manager, promoting a longtime team member with more than 20 years of hospitality experience to oversee resort operations and guest experiences.
Bear has been with the Southern California resort since 2014, when he joined its pre-opening team as F&B manager. In that role, he helped establish F&B operations ahead of the property’s opening, including Harvest Restaurant & Bar, The Pantry, banquet and event spaces, and poolside service.
As general manager, Bear will oversee all aspects of the resort’s operations, with a focus on personalized hospitality and the property’s identity as a luxury coastal retreat rooted in nature, community, and its Laguna Beach setting.
“The Ranch has been such a big part of my life for the past 12 years, and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built here,” says Bear. “What makes this place special has always been the people, from our team members who have been here since the beginning to the guests who return year after year. I’m excited to step into this role, continue building on what we’ve accomplished, and find new ways to share everything that makes The Ranch and Laguna Beach unique.”
Before joining The Ranch, Bear held hospitality leadership positions at The Island Hotel in Newport Beach and Surf & Sand Resort in Laguna Beach. At Surf & Sand Resort, he oversaw operations across the property’s restaurants, bar, room service, pool, banquets, and golf-related functions.
With more than a decade at The Ranch, Bear has an established understanding of the resort’s operations, team, and surrounding destination. His appointment positions him to build on the property’s existing hospitality offerings while maintaining its connection to the local community and coastal environment.
