Andy Bhikhari, CPC
Managing Partner
Division: Hospitality
Location: District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland
Andy Bhikhari
Managing Partner, Gecko Hospitality
Hospitality Division | Washington, D.C., Maryland & Virginia
Phone: 410-983-6571 | Email: andyb@geckohospitality.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andybhikhari/
Credentials: CPC
About Andy
Andy Bhikhari is Managing Director and Executive Recruiter with Gecko Hospitality, leading a team of recruiters serving the DC, Maryland, and Virginia market. Andy and the team partner with hotels, resorts, and private clubs across the region to place General Managers, Directors, and department leaders who move the needle from day one.
Background & Experience
What sets Andy apart is a foundation in business operations and process improvement, built over 10+ years before moving into recruiting. That background shows up in how Andy leads: a sharp eye for what actually drives performance in a GM or department head role, not just what looks good on paper. Andy holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of South Florida and is a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, and spent time at KPMG Advisory before transitioning fully into hospitality search.
Clients and candidates alike find Andy easy to work with and sharp about what actually matters in a hire.
Areas of Focus
Positions: General Manager and Assistant General Manager; Director of Operations and Rooms Division leaders; Food & Beverage and Sales leadership; Executive Committee and senior hotel leadership; Multi-property and regional leaders
Markets served: District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia.
How Andy Evaluates Talent
I evaluate hospitality leaders by the numbers behind their resume, not just the titles on it: P&L scope and labor management for an operations leader, food cost and covers for a culinary candidate, pipeline and systems fluency for someone in sales. From there I look at the shape of their career, whether they’ve grown a team, steadied a property through a rough stretch, and kept people around long enough to prove they can retain talent as well as attract it. What actually gives me confidence, though, is hearing the real reason behind someone’s drive, because that’s what shows up on a hard Tuesday, not just in an interview. I also pay close attention to how a candidate talks about a past boss or ownership group: grace under a bad situation says more about how someone will lead than any title could. At the core, it’s about understanding a client’s specific culture and aligning talent that will genuinely thrive there, not defaulting to a brand name because it looks good on paper.
Andy’s Market Perspective
The Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia hospitality market has real pockets of growth, especially where new ownership groups are stepping in and reinvesting in properties and clubs. Luxury boutique has been a particularly strong segment through it all. In my own searches, the steadiest hiring energy has come from independent and owner-operated clubs and boutique properties bringing on new leadership as that investment lands. From exclusive DC membership clubs, to Maryland’s Chesapeake-themed menus, to the serenity of Virginia wine country, hospitality here has a personality you won’t find everywhere.
Advice
For employers: Have your internal decision-makers aligned before we start the search; disagreement that surfaces halfway through is what turns a fast hire into a slow one.
For candidates: Come ready to talk about your team as much as yourself; how you’ve developed people and how you speak about them says more about your leadership than any number on a resume.
In Andy’s Words
“Underneath every placement is quieter work, helping good people build toward something real: a first home, a kid’s college fund, a retirement that doesn’t feel like a question mark.”
Testimonials
“Working with Andy Bhikhari at Gecko Hospitality has been a genuinely outstanding experience. From the very first conversation, it was clear that Andy takes the time to truly understand a candidate’s background, strengths, and career goals, rather than just matching resumes to job listings. What set Andy apart was his combination of responsiveness, market knowledge, and genuine investment in finding the right fit. If you’re a hospitality or operations professional in the DC area looking for a recruiter who will go to bat for you, Andy Bhikhari is the person to call.”
Heath W. (Placed candidate, Google review, 2026)
“Andy was extremely helpful and communicative throughout the entire process!”
Kelly V. (Placed candidate, Google review, 2026)
“The Gecko team was absolutely amazing. They were prompt and answered any questions that I had!”
Michelle E. (Placed candidate, Google review, 2026)
Andy Bhikhari, CPC
Managing Partner
Division: Hospitality
Location: District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland
Andy Bhikhari
Managing Partner, Gecko Hospitality
Hospitality Division | Washington, D.C., Maryland & Virginia
Phone: 410-983-6571 | Email: andyb@geckohospitality.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andybhikhari/
Credentials: CPC
About Andy
Andy Bhikhari is Managing Director and Executive Recruiter with Gecko Hospitality, leading a team of recruiters serving the DC, Maryland, and Virginia market. Andy and the team partner with hotels, resorts, and private clubs across the region to place General Managers, Directors, and department leaders who move the needle from day one.
Background & Experience
What sets Andy apart is a foundation in business operations and process improvement, built over 10+ years before moving into recruiting. That background shows up in how Andy leads: a sharp eye for what actually drives performance in a GM or department head role, not just what looks good on paper. Andy holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of South Florida and is a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, and spent time at KPMG Advisory before transitioning fully into hospitality search.
Clients and candidates alike find Andy easy to work with and sharp about what actually matters in a hire.
Areas of Focus
Positions: General Manager and Assistant General Manager; Director of Operations and Rooms Division leaders; Food & Beverage and Sales leadership; Executive Committee and senior hotel leadership; Multi-property and regional leaders
Markets served: District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia.
How Andy Evaluates Talent
I evaluate hospitality leaders by the numbers behind their resume, not just the titles on it: P&L scope and labor management for an operations leader, food cost and covers for a culinary candidate, pipeline and systems fluency for someone in sales. From there I look at the shape of their career, whether they’ve grown a team, steadied a property through a rough stretch, and kept people around long enough to prove they can retain talent as well as attract it. What actually gives me confidence, though, is hearing the real reason behind someone’s drive, because that’s what shows up on a hard Tuesday, not just in an interview. I also pay close attention to how a candidate talks about a past boss or ownership group: grace under a bad situation says more about how someone will lead than any title could. At the core, it’s about understanding a client’s specific culture and aligning talent that will genuinely thrive there, not defaulting to a brand name because it looks good on paper.
Andy’s Market Perspective
The Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia hospitality market has real pockets of growth, especially where new ownership groups are stepping in and reinvesting in properties and clubs. Luxury boutique has been a particularly strong segment through it all. In my own searches, the steadiest hiring energy has come from independent and owner-operated clubs and boutique properties bringing on new leadership as that investment lands. From exclusive DC membership clubs, to Maryland’s Chesapeake-themed menus, to the serenity of Virginia wine country, hospitality here has a personality you won’t find everywhere.
Advice
For employers: Have your internal decision-makers aligned before we start the search; disagreement that surfaces halfway through is what turns a fast hire into a slow one.
For candidates: Come ready to talk about your team as much as yourself; how you’ve developed people and how you speak about them says more about your leadership than any number on a resume.
In Andy’s Words
“Underneath every placement is quieter work, helping good people build toward something real: a first home, a kid’s college fund, a retirement that doesn’t feel like a question mark.”
Testimonials
“Working with Andy Bhikhari at Gecko Hospitality has been a genuinely outstanding experience. From the very first conversation, it was clear that Andy takes the time to truly understand a candidate’s background, strengths, and career goals, rather than just matching resumes to job listings. What set Andy apart was his combination of responsiveness, market knowledge, and genuine investment in finding the right fit. If you’re a hospitality or operations professional in the DC area looking for a recruiter who will go to bat for you, Andy Bhikhari is the person to call.”
Heath W. (Placed candidate, Google review, 2026)
“Andy was extremely helpful and communicative throughout the entire process!”
Kelly V. (Placed candidate, Google review, 2026)
“The Gecko team was absolutely amazing. They were prompt and answered any questions that I had!”
Michelle E. (Placed candidate, Google review, 2026)