The hotel management company for High Peaks Resort, Spire Hospitality, recently recognized two local Lake Placid residents with top honors.
General Manager Matthew Wheeler and nearly 30-year-employee Darcie McCulley were both recognized at the recent Annual Leadership Conference. Wheeler took home the prestigious General Manager of the Year award, recognized as the top GM across all Spire hotel brands for his vast contributions to the success of the property and tourism in the Lake Placid destination, while McCulley was recognized as the Administrative & General Associate of the Year.
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Matthew Wheeler
Recognized for his vast contributions to the success of the property and the tourism industry in the Lake Placid community, Matthew was nominated by multiple colleagues and leadership individuals within the Spire Hospitality management company, one of the nation’s leading and most respected hotel management companies.
“Matthew was able to transform his property’s Year Over Year success, by identifying key leaders and promoting them into new challenging roles that played to their skill set,” said Tim Foley, vice president of operations, Spire Hospitality. “By making these changes, Matthew was able to elevate the service levels and significantly grow market share, guiding an awakening of High Peaks Resort in a historically challenging market."
“Matthew has a unique focus on both employee and leadership team encouragement, as well as guest satisfaction,” said Darcie McCulley, director of operations, High Peaks Resort. “He incorporated both bellman and concierge service as a part of the sense of arrival experience this year, as well as poolside service and a holiday champagne toast upon arrival. His pulse on guest feedback and passion for our team to improve the experience has allowed High Peaks Resort to maintain the impressive top-ranked position on Trip Advisor."
“This prestigious award from Spire Hospitality is certainly something to celebrate,” said Wheeler. “Our team at High Peaks Resort deserves to celebrate alongside me. If it weren’t for each of these individuals working together for our common goals every day, I wouldn’t be recognized today.”
Darcie McCulley
McCulley’s dedication to the success of her colleagues and her impact in maintaining the hospitality and spirit High Peaks Resort guests expect made her nomination remarkable among a vast group of eligible candidates for the accolade.
“Darcie has been a loyal employee of High Peaks Resort for 27 years working as a cocktail waitress, bar manager and now as our director of operations, where she has consistently served as the
[img:aaaDarcie.jpg]repository of all information as the property transitioned through General Managers,” Wheeler said in a press releas. “Darcie is a quiet, strong, real leader, and is now an actual leader of our Operations Departments, having the respect of the entire team, and without fail making countless ‘right’ decisions every day. Without any doubt in my mind, the successes I have had at this hotel as the GM, and the overall success of the property is attributable to the commitment, correct action and consistent message of Darcie McCulley.”
“This recognition is both humbling and inspiring,” said Darcie McCulley. “I’m honored to be among those honored in the past, and know I was selected from a group of amazing associate nominees throughout the Spire Hospitality portfolio. I’m proud of all the High Peaks Resort team accomplishes and look forward to many more successes in the years to come.”
Presented this April at the Annual Leadership Conference in Atlanta, Ga., the Spire Hospitality Associate of the Year award recognizes achievements and encourages upward mobility and development. The program engages high potential management associates for further development leading to greater responsibility.