“Richard has more than 23 years of hospitality experience,” said Michael Linczyc, vice president of design and development. “This, coupled with his extensive sales, marketing and management background, is proving invaluable in establishing our high benchmarks for superior service, sophistication, distinctive amenities and guest satisfaction.”

Richard Verruni

Prior to joining The Westminster Hotel, Verruni was the managing director of Rosewood’s Carenage Bay Resort in The Grenadines, West Indies, and La Posada Resort and Spa in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He also served as vice president of operations for Rock Resorts in Anguilla, British West Indies, and Unique Hotels and Resorts in New York City, whose portfolio consisted of The Shoreham, The Mansfield, the Roger Williams Hotel, Hotel Wales, The Franklin, and The Beverly Crescent in Beverly Hills and The CuisinArt in Anguilla.

“This is an exciting venture that will establish one of the area’s premier independent hotels,” Verruni said. “The result will be a hotel that brings a new level of hospitality to the corporate, business and destination traveler.”

Verruni earned a bachelor’s of science degree in hotel management from Pennsylvania State University and received MBA finance certification from the Wharton/AT&T Executive Education Center. Additionally, he possesses a certificate in hotel administration (CHA) from the American Hotel Association Educational Institute.

The Westminster Hotel is in the final phase of a comprehensive $25 million rehabilitation and reconstruction project of the existing two- and three-story structure. Westminster Hospitality Group, which is a subsidiary of Kushner Companies of Florham Park, New Jersey, is partnering with the Scharf and Barad families to develop the new classic contemporary, independent hotel. 

Upon completion at year-end, The Westminster Hotel will feature 190 luxury guest rooms; 15,000 square feet of banquet and conference facilities. Centrally located off the Eisenhower Parkway on State Route 10, the hotel is minutes from Routes 280, 287, 78 and 24 and is in close proximity to Fortune 500 companies in the Essex/Morris County vicinity; 20 miles west of New York City; and 20 minutes from Newark International Airport.