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FOUNDERS
PETER B. COLE
Founder
Peter was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin. Yet, he didn’t really appreciate the “Midwestern Nice”, until he moved to the East Coast, went for a run and said good morning to everyone in Central Park, only to be looked at like a crazy person.
Peter is a lifelong hospitality veteran, whose eclectic sense of curiosity has led him to distinct leadership positions. He started his career at Marriott in the world of finance supporting the company’s M&A efforts. His financial skills allowed him to experience various sides of the hospitality business from hotel development through operations to corporate office.
Peter gained a deep understanding of the luxury industry and international operations during his time as the CFO of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. Later, his knowledge and wealth of expertise enabled him to successfully lead the Marriott/Starwood integration as Managing Director. During this time he oversaw a wide array of activities, including hotel operations, organizational design, talent management, loyalty programs, system integration, financial management, and unit growth.
Most recently, Peter was the CEO of Design Hotels, a highly curated portfolio of independent, design-driven hotels that function as social hubs and spaces for purposeful experiences. This time helped Peter deepen his belief in the power of working through a community and of curating experiences. Under his leadership the company launched Further, a laboratory for collaborative culture, and won a Skift Innovation award for its original Virtual Retreats.
Through these experiences Peter saw an opportunity to help forward-thinking entrepreneurs capture emerging trends by leveraging his background and expertise. Consequently, he formed the Eclectic Companies.
Peter is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and holds an MBA from the University of Maryland. He is an avid swimmer and cyclist, and loves to travel and explore new places. He enjoys a strong espresso, a good glass of wine or a neat pour of bourbon while listening to an eclectic collection of music.
ÉVA KASZALA
Co-Founder
Hospitality has run in Éva's family for generations, starting with her maternal great grandparents, who owned and operated a modest restaurant in Hungary, where she grew up. Her paternal grandparents were hobby winemakers who kept a small vineyard with a cellar. From an early age, they involved Éva in the vineyard operation (from spring pruning to fall harvest) and vinification process.
Éva's first exposure to hotel operations was at a young age, when she followed her maternal grandmother around at a small lakeside hotel helping her hand out room keys. Years later, Éva's first job was at her mother's restaurant, who made her "work herself up the ladder", starting in the kitchen as a dishwasher, then moving on to food prep and later working as a server.
Growing up in a tourist destination and being introduced to hospitality early on had a big impact on Éva's passion for the industry. Prior to committing to studying in the US, extensive curiosity pushed her to experience life in several countries (Italy, UK and US). Éva graduated with an MA in International Communication from the American University and an MA in Tourism Management from The George Washington University, School of Business in Washington, DC.
Soon thereafter she began her hospitality career at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and Bvlgari Hotels and Resorts as part of the Global Operations Team, supporting General Managers and regional teams at 100+ hotels around the world. This hospitality journey lasted over a decade and later expanded to Marriott Luxury Brands. In addition to her responsibilities, Éva also participated in various hotel openings and led the planning of several global executive conferences.
Éva’s varied and vast experience covers many facets of luxury operations, including service delivery, talent management, (hotel) owner relations and communications, customer relationship management, problem resolution, and project management. Consequently, Éva’s background and expertise provides a unique perspective to service delivery approaches applicable across industries.
Éva’s desire to continue her career more purposefully in an intimate setting, where she can directly impact a select group of forward-thinking entrepreneurs, urged her to form the Eclectic Companies.
Éva loves to travel and enjoys immersing herself in the cultural and the local authenticity of each destination. Whether traveling to a remote island in French Polynesia or spending nights in a van at one of the National Parks, she will never say no to a good glass of wine or to some fine European chocolate.