Spotlight | Carlos Rodriguez Sr.
The Investor, Hotelier shares his story and passion for the hospitality industry.
In this edition of Hispanic Business Update, a production of Hispanic Lifestyle we profile Hotelier, investor Carlos Rodriguez Sr. of Driftwood Capital. Carlos is the founder and former Chairman and CEO of Cardel Hotels, which merged with Driftwood Hospitality Management in 2003.
Carlos has been in the hospitality business for over 35 years where he has operated, acquired, developed, and made loans to various hotels all over the United States. He is the recipient of numerous industry awards such as Entrepreneur of the year for the Doral Chamber of Commerce, the National Excellence in Construction award from the Associated Builders and Contractors Inc., the Lifetime Achievement Award from Hilton, Hotelier of the Year for the Latin Hotel Owners Association, Developer of the Year for various hotel brands, among many other recognitions that he has received throughout his life.
He is a native of Costa Rica and holds a B.S. in Finance from Vanderbilt University, a hospitality certificate from Cornell University, and an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.
Hispanic Lifestyle interviewed Carlos at the annual Latino Hotel Association Conference held in Texas, October 2023.
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Founder, Chairman and CEO, Carlos Rodriguez oversees all activities and growth at Driftwood Capital. Carlos is the founder and former Chairman and CEO of Cardel Hotels, which merged with Driftwood Hospitality Management in 2003. At the time Driftwood Hospitality Management was a national hotel platform founded by Lehman Brothers and David Buddemeyer. Carlos has been in the hospitality business for over 35 years where he has operated, acquired, developed, and made loans to various hotels all over the United States. He is the recipient of numerous industry awards such as Entrepreneur of the year for the Doral Chamber of Commerce, the National Excellence in Construction award from the Associated Builders and Contractors Inc., the Lifetime Achievement Award from Hilton, Hotelier of the Year for the Latin Hotel Owners Association, Developer of the Year for various hotel brands, among many other recognitions that he has received throughout his life.
Carlos was a Board Member of the Central American Bank of Economic Integration (CABEI), and he was a Board Member and helped found Bank of Coral Gables which later merged with First American Bank of Chicago Illinois. Carlos was also Vice Chairman of The Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social which operates the hospital system and the largest pension fund of Costa Rica. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Advisors of First American Bank for Florida, the Baptist Health Foundation Executive Committee, the Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute Board, and the Latin Hotel Owners Association Board, as well as serving as a member of the Board of Advisors of Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, the R. Motwani Family Academy of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Broward College, the MRED+U Advisory Board of the University of Miami, and Marriott’s Bridging the Gap Steering Committee.
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