← All People

Bello, Stephen

Directory Profile for Stephen Bello

Assistant Professor of the Practice
Office: 
AGLS 459
Email: 
Phone: 
(979) 314-9322

Education

Undergraduate Education
Johnson and Wales University. Bachelor - Hotel Restaurant Management
Graduate Education
University of Las Vegas, Nevada - Hospitality Management 

Professional Summary

Stephen Bello is a hospitality industry executive and educator with more than 30 years of experience leading hotel, resort, culinary, and hospitality operations across the United States and internationally. Throughout his career, he has held senior leadership positions with some of the industry’s most recognized brands, including The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, Hilton, IHG, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Hyatt, Marriott, Dolce Hotels & Resorts, and Benchmark Global Hospitality. His career reflects a commitment to operational excellence, strategic growth, service leadership, financial performance, and the development of high-performing hospitality teams.

Bello previously served as Executive Vice President of BlueSky Hospitality Solutions, providing executive leadership for a hospitality company with 58 branded hotels and more than $2 billion in total assets. In this role, he led operations and strategic direction while overseeing growth, acquisitions, long-range planning, and financial performance. His accomplishments included directing $94 million in brand-mandated property improvement plans for Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, and IHG properties and leading the acquisition and transition of 10 full-service assets that added approximately $100 million in top-line revenue.

Earlier in his career, Bello served as Senior Vice President of Harwood Hospitality, where he combined his expertise in culinary arts, menu engineering, and luxury hotel management to grow the hospitality division of Harwood International. He also served as Vice President and General Manager for Arden Group, managing Le Méridien and InterContinental Tampa properties while focusing on asset value, profitability, market share, and operational efficiency. During his tenure, he achieved a 125 percent RevPAR penetration, an 18 percent cash-on-cash return, and increased net operating income at the InterContinental Tampa Hotel from $1.6 million to $5.1 million.

Bello’s extensive resort leadership experience includes serving as Managing Director of Hawks Cay Resort in the Florida Keys, where he led a 177-room hotel, 250 villas, and an 85-slip marina while overseeing a $34 million renovation. He also served as Operations Director and General Manager with Dolce Hotels & Resorts, supporting operations across 27 domestic and international properties.

A significant portion of Bello’s career was spent with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, where he held positions including General Manager, Hotel Manager, and Food and Beverage Director. His experience included leadership roles in Rancho Mirage, Philadelphia, Amelia Island, and Dubai. His work contributed to properties recognized with distinctions including the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and AAA Five Diamond recognition.

Bello holds a Master of Hospitality Administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a Bachelor of Science in Hotel/Restaurant Management and Culinary Arts from Johnson & Wales University. He has also completed a Cornell University certificate program in Real Estate Investment and Asset Management.

Now serving with the Arch H. Aplin III ’80 Department of Hospitality, Hotel Management and Tourism at Texas A&M University, Bello brings decades of firsthand industry experience into the academic environment. He has previously served as an adjunct professor and guest lecturer at several institutions, including the University of Tennessee and the Wharton School of Business. His extensive experience as a hospitality executive and educator provides students with valuable insight into the opportunities and evolving demands of the global hospitality industry.