Editorial Board   Guest Author

Mr. Holtzman

Richard Holtzman

Vice President & Managing Director, Montage Kapalua Bay

A seasoned hospitality executive with more than 30 years of experience, Richard “Dick” Holtzman oversees management of all operations for Montage Kapalua Bay. Mr. Holtzman joined the Montage Hotels & Resorts family following his most recent position as senior vice president of Pyramid Hotel Group, where he managed the company's resort portfolio since 2011. Prior to his role at Pyramid, he spent seven years as the President of Kukui'ula Development Company, LLC, (a joint venture of Honolulu based Alexander and Baldwin and Scottsdale based DMB Associates) a 1,000-acre luxury resort and residential community in Poipu on the South Shore of Kauai, Hawaii. Mr. Holtzman's experience also includes roles as president of Grand Bay Hotels and Resorts, which evolved from Carefree Resorts as the luxury division of Wyndham International. He also held management positions at several Westin Hotels including The Arizona Biltmore, The Plaza, The Westin Detroit, and The Westin Peachtree Plaza. Mr. Holtzman is a graduate of Cornell University's School of Hospitality Administration. He and his wife Sheila are the proud parents of three grown children. They have recently relocated from Scottsdale, AZ and are thrilled to be back to Hawaii.

Mr. Holtzman can be contacted at 808-662-6600 or dholtzman@montagehotels.com

Coming up in March 2019...

Human Resources: An Era of Transition

Traditionally, the human resource department administers five key areas within a hotel operation - compliance, compensation and benefits, organizational dynamics, selection and retention, and training and development. However, HR professionals are also presently involved in culture-building activities, as well as implementing new employee on-boarding practices and engagement initiatives. As a result, HR professionals have been elevated to senior leadership status, creating value and profit within their organization. Still, they continue to face some intractable issues, including a shrinking talent pool and the need to recruit top-notch employees who are empowered to provide outstanding customer service. In order to attract top-tier talent, one option is to take advantage of recruitment opportunities offered through colleges and universities, especially if they have a hospitality major. This pool of prospective employees is likely to be better educated and more enthusiastic than walk-in hires. Also, once hired, there could be additional training and development opportunities that stem from an association with a college or university. Continuing education courses, business conferences, seminars and online instruction - all can be a valuable source of employee development opportunities. In addition to meeting recruitment demands in the present, HR professionals must also be forward-thinking, anticipating the skills that will be needed in the future to meet guest expectations. One such skill that is becoming increasingly valued is “resilience”, the ability to “go with the flow” and not become overwhelmed by the disruptive influences  of change and reinvention. In an era of transition—new technologies, expanding markets, consolidation of brands and businesses, and modifications in people's values and lifestyles - the capacity to remain flexible, nimble and resilient is a valuable skill to possess. The March Hotel Business Review will examine some of the strategies that HR professionals are employing to ensure that their hotel operations continue to thrive.

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