Who We Are
About LJ Trope & Co
Our team has a deep wealth of knowledge from real-life experience from developing global brand initiatives to actual hands-on success. Our experiences range from luxury branded and independent lifestyle hotels to select services in both domestic and international markets. We know how to assess a situation or market quickly and develop real-time actionable solutions to drive success. We attack each project in a collaborative and curious manner to get down to the root cause in order to develop innovative solutions with lasting success.
Our Values
- We believe that quality and integrity are first and foremost
- Honest and unrestrained collaboration leads to exceptional outcomes
- Being brave and challenging the status quo is a necessary activity
- Always do your homework, learn every day, and move fast
- Value and respect all
- Have Fun
Our Team
Lou Trope-Principal
Lou brings over 30 years of food and beverage operational and development experience in everything from large luxury resorts to boutique independent hotels and even some world class ski resorts. As the former global Vice President of Restaurants, Bars and Events for Marriott International Lou is very familiar with working on a global scale within the nuances of large and unique brands with a clear understanding owners expectations. His experience ranges from designing and repositioning hotel brands, developing destination locations from luxury and life style to resort and convention resorts and building global training programs from restaurant development and marketing to developing skills based training and business acumen programs for future leaders.
As Senior Vice President of Food and Beverage for Destination Hotels Lou not only designed and developed prominent restaurants and bars for bespoke independent boutique and lifestyle hotels but also was integral in developing pro forma and budget process to fine tune operations and evaluate future opportunities. As the Food and Beverage leader for Vail Resorts 300 plus restaurants Lou was able to implement common KPIs across the organization within a consistent reporting platform. In addition to fine tuning all aspects of QSR locations from supply chain, menu development, technology integration, marketing and financial performance. Lou quickly and effectively redefined the operating process to successfully navigate the challenges from COVID19 across North America.
Lou holds an MBA from San Diego State University, a BBA from Hofstra University and Degree in Hotel Mgt from New York Institute of Technology.
Elizabeth Yeash- Design
Elizabeth is a certified Interior Designer specializing in commercial and hospitality interiors. After earning her degree at Cornell University, Elizabeth started her career in Germany building facilities for the DoD abroad. Her passion for hospitality brought her back to the States and led her to eventually become the Director of Design for Destination Hotels/ Two Roads Hospitality.
During that time Elizabeth led design on numerous iconic independent lifestyle hotels and resorts including several projects within the Thompson Hotels brand. Elizabeth takes her in-depth understanding of hospitality and its many functions to provide critical insights to complex resorts as well as small boutique locations. Elizabeth was also the Director of Design and Planning for Hyatt Hotels focusing on the lifestyle division.
Elizabeth understands the unique nuances and design elements and details to bring hotel to life and capture that special vibe. She also understands how to work hand in glove with hotel owners and operators to over deliver on expectations, meet critical timelines and work within budgets. Her keen sense of design and space planning makes the dream come to a reality.
Elizabeth loves to craft rich guest experiences that work together with concepts, branding, positioning and messaging to create strong, efficient, and compelling F&B outlets. In her free time she loves to travel, cook, and spend time with her family in the mountains of Colorado.
Mikala Brennan
Mixology Maverick and Culinary Powerhouse
Mikala Brennan adores hospitality, and when we say adore, we mean head-over-heels, can't-get-enough-of-it love. Born & raised in Hawaii and getting in the way of her mom in the kitchen from an early age, Mikala was finally given the opportunity at 5 years of age to ‘stir the sauce’…it was from that moment that she knew it was her destiny to be in the food & beverage industry. She is responsible for being a badass, tracking growth and profitability (huge numbers & data nerd), coming up with awesome ideas, crazy-fun cocktail programs, growth strategies, some corporate stuff, and a lot of the less corporate-y stuff.
As a self-proclaimed 'shaker of tins,' she's the creative genius behind mind-blowing cocktails and the architect of unforgettable guest experiences. Her talent for tracking growth and profitability is nothing short of wizardry, and she's a bona fide data nerd.
Her journey has taken her from the humble dishwashing station to the lofty executive suite. She's navigated through local eateries, large hotels, and everything in between, learning the industry inside and out. From mastering the art of welcoming guests to working her magic in the kitchen, she's done it all. But Mikala doesn't just stop at mastering the art of hospitality; she's shaping its future. She's cooked up innovative concepts and management systems for upscale hotel chains and Michelin-starred restaurants.
As the 'shaker of tins,' Mikala's cocktails have graced the pages of esteemed publications like Bon Appétit, Vogue, Food & Wine, Imbibe, and Southern Living. She's a TV regular, appearing on the Travel Channel, and she's also been featured in renowned cookbooks and culinary documentaries. Mikala has competed many times on the Food Network - Rewrapped in 2014, Chopped in 2017 and Beat Bobby Flay in 2019.
Yet, beyond the kitchen and the bar, Mikala's heart is as big as her dreams. She's not just a talented mixologist; she's also a champion of various charitable causes. From HRC to Habitat for Humanity, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and many more, Mikala's commitment to making the world a better place is a cocktail of compassion.
Mikala Brennan is more than just a mixology maverick; she's a force of nature, an extraordinary figure in hospitality, and a true champion of humanity. Her journey isn't just about crafting cocktails; it's about crafting experiences and shaking up the world, one drink at a time.
New Concepts
With LJ Trope & CO, developing a new restaurant concept is a collaborative process that connects your vision with our experience and industry expertise.