The Savoy & Switzerland
The famous Savoy in London
My hospitality career started as a Management Trainee with the Savoy Group in London, working in all departments of the prestigious hotels, The Savoy, Claridges, The Connaught and The Berkeley. I worked in meat and produce purchasing, kitchen, bar, restaurants, banquets, control office, billing offices, and reception.
I also spent one year working at the Lausanne Palace hotel in their accounting department, perfecting my French, learning to ski and falling in love with mountains and lakes.
UK Hotels
The Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate
After graduating from the Savoy Management training program, I secured a position as Food and Beverage Manager at the Garden House Hotel in Cambridge, followed by Deputy General Manager of The Old Swan Hotel in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, a hotel rich in history and mystery, where Agatha Christie disappeared in 1926.
In 1990 I was recruited to open a boutique hotel and restaurant, Haley's, in Leeds. Haley's won Best New Hotel in the North of England and garnered three AA rosettes in the first year of operation.
In 1990 I was recruited to open a boutique hotel and restaurant, Haley's, in Leeds. Haley's won Best New Hotel in the North of England and garnered three AA rosettes in the first year of operation.
North America
Keswick Hall and Estate
In 1994 I came to USA to manage Keswick Hall, near Charlottesville, Virginia. This beautiful hotel was owned by Sir Bernard Ashley (husband of the late Laura Ashley) and operated as a European-style country house hotel. It is located on 630 acres that include an Arnold Palmer golf course and private club.
From 1999 until 2001, I ran my own company with my wife, Virginia, in Ontario, Canada. Our company, Immersive Communication, produced multimedia, interactive tours to market hotels and resorts. We worked with hotels in Wales, USA and Canada. We also created interactive informational kiosks for the Government of Canada, Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
From 1999 until 2001, I ran my own company with my wife, Virginia, in Ontario, Canada. Our company, Immersive Communication, produced multimedia, interactive tours to market hotels and resorts. We worked with hotels in Wales, USA and Canada. We also created interactive informational kiosks for the Government of Canada, Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
Kohler Co.
Riverbend, Kohler
In April 2001 I joined Kohler Company to open an exclusive private membership club, Riverbend. In many ways, I believe Riverbend was my finest project to date, as I was able to recruit and train all the staff, set standards and build the membership from the ground up.
In January 2006 I was promoted to Vice President - Lodging, responsible for all of Kohler's lodging properties including The American Club (5-diamond), the Inn on Woodlake (3 diamond) The Old Course Hotel Golf Resort and Spa in St. Andrew's (5 red stars), Riverbend and 15 restaurant businesses.
In January 2006 I was promoted to Vice President - Lodging, responsible for all of Kohler's lodging properties including The American Club (5-diamond), the Inn on Woodlake (3 diamond) The Old Course Hotel Golf Resort and Spa in St. Andrew's (5 red stars), Riverbend and 15 restaurant businesses.
All photography in this slide presentation copyright Stephen Beaumont
Victor International Corporation
Biras Creek Resort
In November 2011 I joined Victor International as VP-Hospitality. The company has diverse interests in USA and The Caribbean and I am responsible for Bay Harbor, a resort development on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, Biras Creek Resort, a boutique Relais et Chateaux Hotel in Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands as well as Oil Nut Bay, a luxury villa development with a rental management program and Beach Club, also on Virgin Gorda.
The Resort at Paws Up
The Resort at Paws Up
In October 2012, I was invited to join The Resort at Paws Up as Chief Executive Officer. The property is a luxury ranch resort sitting on 37,000 acres of pristine land in North Western Montana. It is best known for being on of the North American pioneers of the luxury camping concept, "glamping" (glamorous camping) and there are 5 camps, each with 6 luxury tented suites and their own dining pavilion. There are also 28 homes on the ranch, nestled within pristine woodland and mountains.
The Blackfoot River, made famous by Norman McLean's novel "A River Runs Through It" and later made into a movie of the same name by Robert Redford, runs through the ranch and provides the backdrop for the largest menu of activities of any property in the USA.
The Blackfoot River, made famous by Norman McLean's novel "A River Runs Through It" and later made into a movie of the same name by Robert Redford, runs through the ranch and provides the backdrop for the largest menu of activities of any property in the USA.
Immersive Communication
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In June 2014, I returned to Canada as Owner and Principal Consultant of Immersive Communication, a boutique training and consulting firm that I started originally in 1999. I now provide consulting services primarily to the independent sector of the hospitality industry, specializing in training, organizational development, emotional intelligence, executive coaching, wine education, photography and mobile app development.
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