WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME?

My favorite thing to do in my spare time is to spend time with family and friends. I especially enjoy watching my grandchildren play sports. I had one of the most enjoyable weeks I have had in a long time last week while watching one of my grandsons play baseball. My 2nd to the oldest grandson Eli is an exceptional baseball player. He was recently honored by being selected to play on a statewide [South Carolina] All-Star team called the Blue Chip Bulls.

The Bulls just finished a week long tournament here in Atlanta sponsored by the East Cobb baseball program in which 192 teams from all across the country competed. The Bulls finished the tournament with a 3-1-1 record tied for first in their bracket. Unfortunately, the one loss they had was to the team they ended up tied with which meant that the other team got to advance and we didn’t. I was so proud of Eli who was the starting SS and lead-off hitter for the Bulls. He batted .451 for the tournament and played errorless ball in the field. I’m hoping he’ll have his own baseball card one day.

OTHER THAN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY AND YOUR BELOVED RED SOX, WHAT IS YOUR REAL PASSION THAT WE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT?

Teaching. I think if I was not in the hotel business, I would be teaching in some capacity, probably at the college level and, more than likely, in the hospitality arena. I enjoy utilizing my experience and sharing my passion about the hospitality industry with others. I do a fair amount of teaching presently in my Head Coach capacity – just enough to “scratch my itch” in that area. I love it when I’m able to see audiences respond to information or knowledge that they were not aware of, and I particularly enjoy sharing about the history of the hotel business. It is not only one of the oldest professions, but it’s also one of the most interesting and rewarding. We in the hotel business often talk about the fact that once the business “gets in your blood”, it’s hard to get out. I believe the secret to success is finding something you are passionate about and then finding someone who’s willing to pay you to do it. I hope you enjoy this great business as much as I do.