Kara Randall '04

Biography

With over 20 years of experience in hospitality real estate and development, Kara Randall is a strategic, results-driven leader known for her focus on growth, innovation, and deal execution. She currently serves as Chief Development Officer, Luxury, North America at Accor, where she leads the growth and development of the company’s luxury portfolio across the region.

Prior to joining Accor, Kara spent more than two decades at Hilton, most recently as a senior executive within its Luxury, Residential, and Corporate Development group for North America. During her tenure, she negotiated more than 100 franchise and management agreements representing nearly 35,000 keys across multiple brand segments—driving more than $2 billion in enterprise value in her final six years alone.

Her work includes flagship projects such as the 3,300-key Resorts World Las Vegas development featuring three Hilton brands—Conrad, Hilton, and LXR—as well as Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach, Waldorf Astoria Deer Valley and Residences, Oceana LXR, Ka La‘i Waikiki LXR, Arizona Biltmore, Signia San Jose, and Signia La Cantera. She also played a key role in the U.S. launch and growth of strategic luxury and lifestyle brands including NoMad, LXR, and Signia.

Kara was involved in Hilton’s $2 billion 1031 exchange strategy, including the sale of the Waldorf Astoria New York and acquisition of approximately $2 billion in strategic real estate assets. Earlier in her career, she held leadership roles in Hilton’s Real Estate and Asset Management Group, overseeing complex ownership and lender relationships and protecting contractual and brand interests across more than 365 third-party hotel transactions.

A passionate advocate for diversity in ownership and leadership, Kara has supported initiatives to expand female and diverse hotel ownership and is an inaugural member of Castell, an industry-leading program advancing women in hospitality. She is also a frequent speaker and panelist on luxury hospitality, real estate, and development.

Kara earned her degree from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration (now the Nolan School) and previously served on the school’s Los Angeles Alumni Advisory Board.