JOHN D. DITHMER, CHA
*** ***** ******* **** (#I-*)
St. George, UT 84770
435-***-**** (Cell)
********@***.***
HIGHLIGHTS
. Recently opened a luxurious full service lodge/spa in the mountains of
Southwestern Utah
. Managed AAA Four Diamond luxury resort spa and golf club located in
the beautiful Berkshire Mountains in western Massachusetts
. Responsible for 650 lodging units including hotel and conference
center, including seven condominium homeowners associations. Hotel
named in Conde Naste's Top 50 Ski Resort Hotels.
. Recently opened 92 unit luxury condominium beach resort and full
service spa; successfully repositioned resort and spa.
. Supervised and/or managed 15 AAA Four Diamond Hotels
. Enhanced asset values of golf and beach resort by $18 million
. Increased value of 400-room airport hotel by $10 million
. Increased revenues of commercial hotel by more than $1.81 million in
first year of management contract
. Implemented a menu-engineering program for full service properties,
resulting in reduced food costs and increased volume
. Established and conducted a symposium for owners and franchise company
- "How to Maximize Your Franchise Investment"
. Guest Lecturer, University of Denver, Auburn University and Green
Mountain College
SUMMARY
I have a solid background in operating independent hotels, food and
beverage, yield management, as well as sales and marketing. I have many
years of experience as a general manager and vice president of operations.
I have extensive skills in operating a variety of hotels and resorts
ranging in size from limited service properties to a 22-room country inn
with cross country skiing, a golf and beach resort to a 763 room full
service airport hotel. As well, I have encountered a full range of
business cycles throughout my career.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
July 2009 - May 2010
THE GRAND LODGE AT BRIAN HEAD, UT
GENERAL MANAGER
Recently opened this upscale full-service lodge and spa in the mountains of
Southwest Utah. The property has 100 luxurious (four diamond quality)
rooms and suites, a highly acclaimed steakhouse featuring Certified Angus
Beef, and a 150-seat high energy bar with an indoor fireplace and two large
outdoor fire pits. In addition, I opened and operated the Red Leaf Spa
within the lodge. Key opening responsibilities included:
. Construction management
. Staffing
. SOP development
. Website development
. Grand Opening events
. Co-op relationship development
2008 - 2009
CRANWELL RESORT, SPA & GOLF CLUB, LENOX, MA
GENERAL MANAGER
Responsible for all management aspects of this AAA Four-Diamond 380-acre
property with 114 luxury rooms and 18-hole golf course. Key features
include a golf school, 35,000 square foot spa and fitness facility, and
16,000 square foot conference center. Food & Beverage facilities honored
with Wine Spectator Award and Zagat rating.
2004 -2008
KILLINGTON SKI AND SUMMER RESORT, KILLINGTON, VT
VICE PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR of LODGING
Condominium Ski and Summer Resort
Responsible for all management aspects of this 200-room time-share hotel,
featuring restaurant and bar, high-volume 25,000 square foot conference
center, 450 individually owned condos on six sites, and elaborate spa in
Killington, the largest new England ski destination.
2002 - 2004
PINK SHELL BEACH RESORT AND SPA-FORT, MYERS BEACH, FL
GENERAL MANAGER
Responsible for the operation of this 235-unit luxury condo-hotel beach
resort and spa. Opened the new White Sand Villas, a
92-unit one- and two-bedroom condo resort. Managed the existing resort
through the construction phase and opening.
Successfully repositioned and re-branded the property from a two-star
quality to an upscale full service beach resort. Worked
closely with public relations firm and advertising agency to position the
resort. Hosted travel writers from the local, regional
and national media to ensure well rounded coverage of the property.
Received numerous favorable press clippings about the
property. The opening included development of all new SOP's for the
resort, opening a 120-seat island style alfresco fusion
restaurant, creation of a banquet and catering business, and three
successful grand opening events
1975 - 2002
RICHFIELD HOSPITALITY SERVICES (Formerly AIRCOA, MHM, Inc.), GREENWOOD
VILLAGE, CO
VICE PRESIDENT/OPERATIONS (1986-2002)
Supervised a portfolio of 12 hotels and resorts, varying in size and
complexity, ranging from a 22-room country inn with
cross-country skiing, to a 323-room full service beach resort. Supervised
properties include Hilton and Sheraton franchises as
well as a number of independent hotels. Responsibilities included
operations oversight of a full-service golf and beach resort,
a full service beach resort, and a university hotel and conference center.
Accountable for maintaining solid client/owner
alliances, monitoring and managing the performance of the General Managers
and overseeing the Sales and Marketing
departments. Responsible for the review of financial statements to ensure
maximum revenue as well as cost saving initiatives
and optimum profit for owners.
1975-1986 Served as General Manager in several locations for
Management Company
SUMMIT HOTEL, DALLAS, TX
GENERAL MANAGER
Managed AAA Four Diamond 376-room full-service hotel with 13,000
square feet of meeting space. This was a Flagship
hotel for Dallas based MHM, Inc. Supervised a $1.3 million
renovation. Hosted visiting NFL teams and achieved highest
possible rating from NFL coaches and staff.
HILTON HOTEL, ALLENTOWN, PA
GENERAL MANAGER
Managed AAA Four Diamond 229-room downtown hotel. Responsible for
opening hotel. Successfully positioned hotel as the
leading hotel in the Lehigh Valley. Exceeded budgeted revenues and
profit expectations of ownership group.
CERTIFICATIONS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Hyatt Corporation Management Development Program
Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) - American Hotel and Lodging
Association
Massachusetts Lodging Association - Member/Board of Directors
Lenox, MA Chamber of Commerce - Treasurer and Member/Board of Directors
Serve-Safe-National Restaurant Association
Co-Founder-Lehigh Valley Hospitality Association
Co-Founder-Lehigh Valley Tourism and Convention Bureau
EDUCATION
University of Denver-Denver, Colorado
Bachelor of Science-Business Administration
Major: Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management