Richard Cooke Named General Manager of Hotel Bel-Air

Dorchester Collection appointed Richard Cooke general manager of Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles, effective Jan. 1, 2027.

Cooke joins Hotel Bel-Air from Rocco Forte Hotels, where he served as managing director for the United Kingdom and Northern Europe. In that role, he led operations at Brown’s Hotel in London and oversaw the company’s hotels in the United Kingdom, Belgium and Germany.

Before joining Rocco Forte Hotels, Cooke held senior leadership positions with Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts for more than 15 years. His roles with Shangri-La included general manager and area general manager positions in Asia and Canada.

Earlier in his career, Cooke held food and beverage management positions in the United States with Four Seasons, Regent Hotels, Ritz-Carlton and Rosewood.

Cooke was born and raised in the United Kingdom. He completed the general manager program at Singapore Management University and executive education at the Cornell-Nanyang Institute of Hospitality in Singapore.

Hotel Bel-Air is located on 12 acres of canyon gardens in Los Angeles. The hotel received the Michelin Guide’s three-key rating and was one of only two properties in Los Angeles to receive it, alongside The Beverly Hills Hotel.

Cooke’s family lives in the United States, and he will return to California for the Hotel Bel-Air role.