Ante Dapic
Trabuco Canyon
Summary
A senior hospitality executive with over 20 years of experience across upscale and luxury resort operations — driven by genuine passion for the people, relationships, and culture of excellence. Proven in full-property operations, guest experience, and team development, including leading a comprehensive repositioning from upscale to luxury standards, with P&L ownership, forecasting, cost control, and bottom-line accountability. A hands-on, empowering leader who builds trust at every level.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Operations
SURF & SAND LAGUNA BEACH
Laguna Beach
08.2020 - Current
- Full-property operational leadership of luxury 165-room coastal resort.
- Coordinated property repositioning from upscale to luxury market, managing generational renovation process across all phases.
- Rebuilt service infrastructure - enhanced all operational manuals, envisioned and implemented a property-wide guest journey, and embedded Forbes-standards.
- Achieved Medallia LTR NPS post-renovation scores of 80+ and maintained average online rating of 4.8.
- Enhanced operational oversight in Rooms division, driving improvements in Housekeeping and Guest Experience departments' efficiency and quality.
- Elevated Splashes restaurant to recognition among the Top 100 Hotel Restaurants in the United States.
- Attained above-target cost flexibility during slower periods via effective labor management operational efficiency.
- Implemented property-wide communication tools enhancing cross-departmental collaboration and personalization of the guest experience.
- Assumed General Manager responsibilities for five months during leadership transition - overseeing all departments and ownership communication.
- Member, Visit Laguna Beach Board of Directors (August 2025 - Present)
Food & Beverage Director
SURF & SAND RESORT
Laguna Beach
01.2016 - 08.2020
- Oversight of a $20M F&B operation
- Grew F&B revenue and achieved above-budget bottom line annually by 5-10% annually through a disciplined culture of salesmanship, team incentives, and consistent growth in average check and outlet productivity.
- Led Splashes to TripAdvisor's #1 restaurant in Laguna Beach, subsequently achieving #1 in Orange County - sustaining top rankings and consistently high internal guest satisfaction scores.
- Elevated guest experience through seasonal activations and events, driving local interest and strengthening brand visibility and community relationships by representing Splashes at regional culinary festivals and charity events.
- Built a high-performing F&B team culture through role-specific training programs, mentoring at all levels, and a consistent framework of service standards, accountability, and recognition.
- Developed and managed a 360-label, award-winning wine program, evolving craft beverage offerings to enhance guest engagement and satisfaction.
- Oversaw F&B financial cycle, including annual budgeting, weekly business forecasting, and P&L analysis, transforming insights into actionable plans for improved financial performance.
- Engineered comprehensive analytical tools for menu development, pricing / cost and labor analysis.
Associate F&B Director
SURF & SAND RESORT
Laguna Beach
01.2012 - 01.2016
- Elevated Splashes from TripAdvisor Top 50 to Top 10 earning consistent Awards of Excellence and OpenTable Diners' Choice Awards;
- Achieved average annual F&B guest satisfaction of 93%+
- Led operational and cultural changes across a team of 150, including 20 leaders, through structured training and development.
- Managed F&B operations across all outlets, banquets, and in-room dining; cultivated relationships with repeat local and hotel guests while consistently exceeding bottom line targets through disciplined salesmanship and budget management.
- Enhanced beverage program by introducing local-centric and artisan products, craft breweries, and expanded wine selection, leading JC Resorts' Corporate Core Beverage Program.
Food & Beverage Director
CAESAR PARK IPANEMA
Rio de Janeiro
10.2009 - 08.2011
- Luxury hotel group in Brazil, member of The Leading Hotels of the World.
- Cultivated service excellence culture through strategic talent management, enhancing service quality across two restaurants, in-room dining, and beach service.
- Led development of fine dining, in-room dining, and banquet menus; improved beverage offerings and elevated wine program through structured staff education across all outlets.
- Improved operational processes across scheduling, labor control, and expense management - driving COGS discipline and contributing to improved departmental GOP.
- Led organization and execution of high-caliber events to attract discerning clientele, partnering with samba schools and PR agencies to enhance visibility and generate national press coverage.
Food & Beverage Director
CAESAR PARK AND CAESAR BUSINESS FARIA LIMA
São Paulo
02.2008 - 10.2009
- Led a team of 80 across a dual-property operation - building a culture of high performance through structured training, relationship-driven leadership, and consistent accountability across all F&B outlets.
- Exceeded revenue targets by 8%; implemented cost control tools that reduced food cost from 29% to 24%, beverage cost from 24% to 21%, and labor cost by 10% - contributing to improved departmental GOP.
- Improved guest satisfaction from 82% to 91% within first year through elevated service standards and team development.
- Reinvigorated fine dining restaurant with curated culinary festivals and partnerships with visiting chefs, including renowned French expat chef Erick Jacquin.
- Elevated wine program through structured staff education and integration of local ingredients and regional spirits into craft cocktail development.
- Established local business relationships through direct outreach and personal engagement; launched executive lunch program that more than doubled previous year's performance.
- Luxury hotel group in Brazil, member of The Leading Hotels of the World.
Food & Beverage Manager
LA CASA DEL ZORRO RESORT
Borrego Springs
01.2006 - 11.2007
- Established F&B leadership across operations and events by overseeing dining room outlets and in-room dining, developing training programs and scheduling tools, managing catering and convention services to AAA Four-Diamond standards, and fostering client relationships that increased repeat business.
- Managed dining and event services at resort in Borrego Springs, CA, enhancing guest experiences and service quality.
- Managed daily operations of food and beverage services at upscale resort.
- Oversaw staff training to ensure high-quality service standards were met.
- Coordinated inventory management to maintain optimal stock levels and freshness.
Catering & Convention Services Manager
LA CASA DEL ZORRO RESORT
Borrego Springs
01.2004 - 01.2006
- Established F&B leadership across operations and events, overseeing dining room outlets and in-room dining, developing training programs and scheduling tools, managing catering and convention services to AAA Four-Diamond standards, and cultivating client relationships that fostered repeat business.
- Managed dining and event services at resort in Borrego Springs, CA, enhancing guest experiences and service quality.
- Coordinated event logistics and services for diverse client gatherings.
- Managed vendor relationships to ensure high-quality service delivery.
- Developed comprehensive event proposals tailored to client specifications.
Education
Advanced Sommelier Examination -
Court of Master Sommeliers
07-2019
Certified Sommelier -
Court of Master Sommeliers
01-2015
Master Certificate - Hospitality Management
Cornell University School of Hotel Administration (eCornell)
01-2012
Bachelor of Applied Science - Hospitality Management
Rochester Institute of Technology / ACMT
Dubrovnik, Croatia06-2003
Skills
- Culture and Relationship Building
- Team Development
- Financial Analysis
- Operational Efficiency
- Property Repositioning
- Strategic Execution
Languages
- Croatian, native
- English, fluent
- Portuguese, fluent
Systems And Technology
Opera Cloud, HotSOS by Amadeus, Nor1, Hotel IQ (and Flow), Micros Simphony / EMC, OpenTable, OnTrack, Kronos, Intelity, Microsoft Suite, AI productivity
Timeline
Director of Operations
SURF & SAND LAGUNA BEACH
08.2020 - Current
Food & Beverage Director
SURF & SAND RESORT
01.2016 - 08.2020
Associate F&B Director
SURF & SAND RESORT
01.2012 - 01.2016
Food & Beverage Director
CAESAR PARK IPANEMA
10.2009 - 08.2011
Food & Beverage Director
CAESAR PARK AND CAESAR BUSINESS FARIA LIMA
02.2008 - 10.2009
Food & Beverage Manager
LA CASA DEL ZORRO RESORT
01.2006 - 11.2007
Catering & Convention Services Manager
LA CASA DEL ZORRO RESORT
01.2004 - 01.2006
Advanced Sommelier Examination -
Court of Master Sommeliers
Certified Sommelier -
Court of Master Sommeliers
Master Certificate - Hospitality Management
Cornell University School of Hotel Administration (eCornell)
Bachelor of Applied Science - Hospitality Management
Rochester Institute of Technology / ACMT