Marquis San Diego Marina Names New General Manager

Vendors and group-business partners of the downtown property should expect a leader with sales and marketing roots to guide operations.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in People

Isometric editorial illustration of stacked cream key cards and a brass key hook on a teal field, evoking hotel operations leadership. — Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina has named Rhanda Richardson general manager of its 1,366-room downtown hotel, succeeding her role at JW Marriott Anaheim Resort. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina has appointed Rhanda Richardson as General Manager of the 1,366-room downtown property, succeeding her role as General Manager of JW Marriott Anaheim Resort. She will oversee all aspects of hotel operations.

Why it matters

Leadership changes at large downtown hotels shape operating priorities for the local hospitality sector, from sales and marketing strategy to vendor and staffing decisions. Richardson's background in sales, marketing and operations signals how the property may approach its commercial mix.

The Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina is a 1,366-room downtown property. The announcement did not provide comparative occupancy, revenue or staffing figures for the hotel or for Richardson's prior Anaheim post.

The players

Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina

A 1,366-room downtown San Diego hotel operated under the Marriott brand, one of the larger convention-oriented properties in the city.

JW Marriott Anaheim Resort

A Marriott-branded resort in Anaheim, California, where Richardson most recently served as General Manager.

Visit Anaheim

The official tourism marketing organization for Anaheim, which promotes the city to visitors and convention planners.

The details

Richardson began her career with Marriott as a cocktail server and rose through leadership positions across sales, marketing and operations before advancing to General Manager roles. Her most recent role was General Manager of JW Marriott Anaheim Resort, and she also served on the Visit Anaheim Board of Directors and chaired the Anaheim Tourism Improvement District Advisory Council. Her career path reflects a progression through commercial functions that hotel operators often rely on when running large properties.

November 5, 2026: Richardson's appointment as General Manager was announced.

Market Landscape

Large downtown hotels in Southern California compete for convention and group business across a regional market that includes Anaheim and San Diego. Leadership moves between major properties in these markets often reflect the competition for experienced general managers.

Operators in San Diego's hospitality sector should note the leadership change at a major convention hotel, as new general managers often revisit sales, staffing and vendor relationships. Businesses that supply or book large downtown hotels may see shifts in how the property approaches group and corporate accounts.

The takeaway

Hospitality businesses that depend on large downtown San Diego hotels should monitor how new leadership reshapes sales and purchasing priorities. Vendors and partners may wish to review their account relationships as the property's management team settles in.