Ben Rafter, the CEO of Hawaii-based resort operator Aqua Hospitality LLC has stepped down after six years at the helm.
Rafter has also resigned as president of Aston Hotels & Resorts, and will be succeeded by Matt Bailey, the current COO of both companies.
Rafter said he was leaving to focus on his own development projects.
"After spending nearly every minute of every day thinking about Aqua or Aqua/Aston, I’m looking forward to the next chapter," Rafter said.
Aqua and Aston are both owned by Vacation Holdings Hawaii, the largest operator in Hawaii with 58 hotels and resorts.
Aqua’s success is incredible and it couldn’t have happened without every person and hotel owner contributing," said Rafter.
Prior to his appointment at Aqua, Rafter spent over a decade in leadership roles in the travel industry, including CEO of Honolulu company Get2Hawaii.
Successor Bailey has 30 years’ experience in hospitality and is a former managing director at the Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa, Maui.
