COO will have global lodging responsibility
BUFFALO, N.Y. (November 2, 2010) – Delaware North Companies, one of the world’s leading hospitality and food service providers, announced today it has begun a search for a new chief operating officer for its parks and resorts division. The COO will report to Kevin Kelly, president of Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, and oversee operations in Yosemite, Yellowstone, Sequoia and Grand Canyon national parks; Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex; Niagara Falls State Park; Gideon Putnam Resort; The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake; the Queen Mary; and nearly 10 one-of-a kind company-owned resorts and hotels in the United States, Canada and Australia. These are: Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite; Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa in British Columbia; and Lizard Island, Heron Island, Wilson Island, Kings Canyon Resort and El Questro Homestead and Wilderness Park in Australia.
The chief operating officer will ensure the brand is optimized through an unparalleled range of services and expertise, including lodging, venue management, food and beverage, retail and educational and recreational programming. The individual must also be committed to carrying out Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts’ credo of providing “Stewardship and Hospitality in Special PlacesSM” while striving for operational excellence.
Responsibilities will include: providing strategic and operational leadership in all areas of business operations, including lodging, food and beverage, retail and attractions management, including the company’s proprietary customer service and environmental management programs – GuestPath® and GreenPath®; providing leadership coaching and development to management talent; and working in conjunction with business development, human resources, finance, sales, marketing, information technology, supply management, facilities and other support functions.
The ideal executive will have at least 12 years of leadership experience in the hospitality industry with global responsibilities in the area of operations. An undergraduate degree is required and a relevant master’s degree is helpful.
Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts is a leading hospitality provider in Special PlacesSM with hotel, retail, food service, recreation and transportation operations in historic, scenic and award-winning locations in North America and Australia. The company was recently named one of the top 100 management companies by Hotel & Motel Management and two of the resorts in its portfolio, The Ahwahnee and Lizard Island, are ranked as top resorts in Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Awards. An operating division of the nearly 100-year-old global hospitality and food service provider Delaware North Companies, Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts was founded in 1992 following the company’s winning bid for the largest contract in the U.S. National Park Service: Yosemite National Park. In addition to operating at some of the crown jewels among national parks, Delaware North has a portfolio that includes world-renowned hotels and attractions.
Any interested candidates should visit the careers section of Delaware North’s website, www.DelawareNorth.com/careers, to apply.