Appointed CEO in 2009, Bob Jackson leads all Vintage Hotels-owned properties. Mr. Jackson's first position with Vintage Hotels was as General Manager of Prince of Wales, where he concurrently managed Sales and Marketing for the hotel group. Bob also assumed responsibility as General Manager of Queen's Landing in 2005. In 2007 Bob was appointed to Vice President of Operations and Co-Managing Director for Vintage Hotels in which he was responsible for the strategic direction of the hotels with a focus on Hotel Operations and Sales and Marketing.
With over 18 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Bob has held a variety of roles, the majority in senior management. He began his career in Toronto, where he grew through the hotels ranks in progressively senior positions before relocating to Niagara Falls. He then spent 7 years as General Manager with several Canadian Niagara Hotel Inc. properties, including the Brock Plaza Hotel; where he also assumed responsibility for various central corporate departments.
Mr. Jackson is a graduate of the University of Windsor and the Cornell Hotel School Professional Development Program. He is an active board member for the Niagara Wine Auction and former part-time instructor in the Hotel Management program at Niagara College.
In 2009, Rena McDonald was chosen to lead the newly formed Vintage Hotels Management and Development Group in which she is responsible for overseeing the operations of all Managed Hotel Properties, Hotel Acquisitions and other Business Development. In addition, Rena maintains her role as CFO for the entire organization, which includes Finance, IT and Purchasing.
Rena joined Vintage Hotels in March 1998 as Corporate Controller, a position she held until 2004 when she was appointed Vice President of Finance and Administration. Rena assumed additional duties as a Co-Managing Director of Vintage Hotels in 2007 where she was responsible for the strategic direction of Vintage Hotels with a focus on the Finance and Administration and Human Resources divisions. Rena has held a senior executive position for over 20 years in the hospitality industry.
Ms. McDonald is a member of the Society of Management Accountants of Ontario, CMA since 1984, and a past member of the Ministry of Tourism - Policy Advisory Council. In addition, she is an active Board Member of the Niagara Community Foundation and a member of the Hotel Financial and Technology Professionals of North America, for which she served on the Board of Directors from 2004 to 2007.
In July 2008 April Brunet joined Vintage Hotels as Director of Sales, bringing a wealth of experience in both Sales and Marketing. Ms. Brunet graduated Niagara College and swiftly developed a reputation for success in Sales. Her expertise soon grew to include Marketing as well as Operations. She held dual roles as Director of Sales & Marketing and Director of Operations at various hotels in Niagara Falls, Ontario before joining Vintage Hotels. Ms. Brunet is an integral part of the Vintage Hotels team, her role having been expanded to Director of Sales & Marketing in November 2008.
A recognized Human Resources spokesperson, particularly for Niagara Region's hospitality businesses, Anita Caslin has over 20 years+ experience as a Professional Human Resources Practitioner. Ten of those years have been in the hospitality industry in the Niagara Region. She joined Vintage Hotels in 2003 after serving as Human Resources Manager of Canadian Niagara Hotels Inc. for six years.
Since 2004, she has been Chair of the Niagara Hospitality Human Resources Professionals Association. She is a member of the Hospitality and Tourism Program Advisory Committee, Niagara College, and a Steering Committee Member of Niagara College's Tourism Industry Development Centre. Ms. Caslin sits on the Board of Directors for the Business Education Council of Niagara, the Niagara Workforce Planning Board, and is an executive member of the Executive Human Resources Leadership Council of Niagara. Ms. Caslin is also a member of the Human Resources Professionals of Ontario.
Michelle Miller grew up at Vintage Hotels, beginning her career in 1990 as a Guest Service Agent. After 19 years with the company, she has worked in many management capacities including various corporate, food and beverage, front office and training roles. Prior to her role as General Manager since March 2006, Ms. Miller has previously been a Resident Manager and Assistant General Manager with Vintage Hotels. Michelle was also chosen to lead Moffat Inn as General Manager when it was added to the corporate portfolio in 2007.
In June 2008, Ms. Miller graduated from the General Manager’s Program at Cornell University. She is currently an active Board Member of Vintage Hotels’ partner charity Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada.
Although European-born, Ms. Kszan has called Niagara home since childhood. An early interest in hospitality led to her studies in Hotel and Restaurant Management, after which she held her first management position as Restaurant Supervisor at Minolta Tower in Niagara Falls. Lily spent the following 12 years furthering her hospitality experience in a number of progressive management roles with Canadian Niagara Hotels.
Lily first joined Vintage Hotels as Food & Beverage Manager for Queen’s Landing in April 2006. She was subsequently promoted to the position of Assistant General Manager of Queen’s Landing in 2008. Her success in leading an exception team resulted in her promotion to General Manager of Queen’s Landing in September 2009 where she oversees Vintage Hotels’ largest conference hotel.
Paul MacIntyre has been with Vintage Hotels for over 7 years. He has been in his current role as General Manager for the Pillar and Post since July 2004. Mr. MacIntyre has held many positions under the previous Vintage Inns umbrella, including General Manager and Food & Beverage Manager of the Prince of Wales. Paul also served as the General Manager of the Oban Inn for five years.
A native of the Niagara Region, Mr. MacIntyre has worked in the Niagara-on-the-Lake hospitality industry since 1988, beginning at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club where he rose to the ranks of Club House Manager in 1994. Paul graduated from Cornell University’s General Manager’s Program in January 2007.
Jill Sproule started her career in hospitality at The Millcroft Inn & Spa. She worked as a student at the Front Desk while studying hospitality at Ryerson Polytechnic as it was known then. After graduating from Ryerson Ms. Sproule started a 15 year career with Holiday Inn working in various management positions at several hotels from Downtown Toronto to Kitchener.
An opportunity presented itself in 1995 for Jill to return to The Millcroft Inn & Spa as the Assistant Innkeeper. This role continued until January 2009 after Vintage Hotels purchased the Inn and offered Jill the position of Innkeeper. Ms. Sproule is a past president of the Greater Dufferin Area Chamber of Commerce and is a new member of the Hills of Headwaters Tourism Board of Directors.
Born and raised in Niagara, James showed an early interest in a hospitality career. As Food and Beverage Manager at the Renaissance Fallsview Hotel in Niagara Falls, Ontario, he developed an affinity for excellence in food service and hospitality. This led to various positions at Sheraton on the Falls, where James progressed from Restaurant and Banquet Manager to Director of Corporate Sales. He later took a position as Director of Conference Services at the Sheraton Fallsview. Mr. Drummond joined Vintage Hotels in September 2008 as Food and Beverage Manager of Pillar and Post. In October 2009 James was appointed General Manager of The Glenerin Inn where he continues to lead the Mississauga inn into a new standard of hospitality under a management agreement between Vintage Hotels and the inn. As General Manager, James successfully manages the daily operations of The Glenerin Inn.
Executive Chef Andrew Dymond was born in Wales and raised in Niagara, he later headed back across the Atlantic to train with some of the top chefs in Europe. In England, he worked in the kitchens of the prestigious Relais & Chateaux hotels before returning to Canada in 1998 to work as Sous Chef at Queen's Landing. Three years later, Chef Dymond was promoted to Executive Chef of The Oban Inn. Chef Dymond's philosophy: "Don't overdo food. Treat it with the utmost respect in the natural form, and you'll get the best presentation and product".
Executive Chef Randy Dupuis has led the culinary team at Pillar and Post since 2004. Having been born and raised in Niagara, Chef Dupuis graduated from the Niagara Culinary Institute in 1984 and went on to hone his skills in both Toronto and Niagara restaurants. In 1995, he joined the culinary team at Queen's Landing where he worked directly with Executive Chef Stephen Treadwell. Five years later he was appointed to run the kitchen at the Shaw Café & Wine Bar. Chef Dupuis's goal remains to create food that is appealing but not intimidating. His "food without attitude" approach is what makes guests flock to his dining rooms.
Executive Chef James Olberg has wanted to follow in his father's footsteps and cook professionally since childhood. Before joining Vintage Hotels, he was executive chef at Vancouver's Glowball Grill & Satay Bar from 2003-2007, where he created a Chef's Gallery where diners could eat close to the action. Chef Olberg's creativity and skill have earned him multiple awards at culinary competitions. As a member of Culinary Team Canada, he has earned four Silver Medals. At Queen's Landing, guests savour Chef Olberg's French traditional cuisine with a modern West Coast edge.
