Hilton Management Services

Ted R. Ratcliff has been a Senior Vice President of Operations for Hilton Worldwide since 2001.  In his current capacity as Senior Vice President – Eastern North America, Ratcliff has operational oversight for 84 Hilton-managed properties from eastern Canada to Miami, including Hilton, Doubletree, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, and Embassy Suites branded hotels.

A 32-year Hilton employee and a 34-year veteran of the hotel industry, Ratcliff’s prior positions with the company include: Executive Assistant Manager and Resident Manager of the Hilton Washington; Hotel Manager and General Manager of The Palmer House Hilton in Chicago; and Area Vice President – Southeast, headquartered in Orlando.

Ratcliff began his career in 1976 with the Las Vegas Hilton, holding the positions of Purchasing Agent, Food & Beverage Controller and Catering Manager, before becoming the Director of Catering for the Hilton Washington in 1979.   He served as Assistant Director of Food & Beverage with the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. before being promoted to Executive Assistant Manager of Food & Beverage for the Hyatt Regency in Baltimore.  He rejoined Hilton in 1988.

Ratcliff currently serves on the board of directors of the Hotel Association of New York City.  While in Chicago, Ratcliff was chairman of both the Greater State Street Council and the State Street Commission.  He also served on numerous other civic boards, including the Chicago Chamber of Commerce, the Hospitality Academy at McCormick Place, and the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau.

Ratcliff received the Raoul Wallenberg Humanitarian Award from Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem in 1996.  This award was named for the Swedish humanitarian responsible for saving thousands of Jewish lives in Hungary during World War II.  Among other awards Ratcliff received were Visitors Choice Volunteer of the Year and General Manager of the Year in 2000.

Ratcliff has resided in New York City for the past seven years with his wife and two daughters.  He has been involved with St. Ignatius Loyola Parish in New York City and established a partnership/internship program with the High School of Hospitality Management.  Ratcliff is also a guest lecturer at the Boston University School of Hospitality Administration.  In the past, he has guest lectured at Chicago’s Roosevelt University and mentored Master’s Degree candidates at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration. 

A native of California, Ratcliff received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of California – Santa Barbara.