BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has named Tobby Rau director of operations for The Grove Resort & Spa Orlando. The 878 room all-suite hotel, which is a Benchmark Resorts & Hotels property, opened its first phase on March 10, 2017, just minutes from Walt Disney World® Resort in Orlando, Florida. Bill Lee, The Grove’s general manager, made the announcement. Tobby Rau was previously director of food & beverage at Streamsong Resort, located southwest of Orlando in Streamsong, Florida; there he also served as part of the property’s opening leadership team. Prior to Streamsong, Mr. Rau was director of food & beverage for the Royal Sonesta New Orleans, as well as at a range of other resort and hotel facilities across the U.S. and in the Caribbean. Mr. Rau has managed a variety of large-scale operations during his nearly thirty-years in the hospitality industry. With a keen focus on food and beverage, he has experience overseeing operations for both individual properties and clusters. Mr. Rau has directed food and beverage programs with revenues exceeding $52 million, operated up to eight food and drink outlets on a single property, and managed food and beverage service to meeting spaces up to 64,000 square feet in size.
Pyramid Global Hospitality was formed by the 2021 merger of three hotel and resort management companies, creating the most owner-focused, experiential company in the industry and its best workplace.