Having known Kirby for many years, it was about time to enjoy a dinner with him and his wife Vicki, and see what the guy was up to 6 days prior to the AH&LA Inaugural Gala Reception & Dinner on Sunday, November 11, 2001 at The Plaza Hotel in NYC. Kirby is taking the helm from John Russell, the 2001 Chairman.

Hard At Work 

Kirby has some 35 years experience in the hospitality industry. Yes, his dad was a hotelier, and Kirby grew up in the Manager's residences of Inter-Continental hotels in Latin American. Kirby's career got off on the right foot, serving in the US Army in Vietnam. He obtained a BS in Business Administration from Florida State University in 1972 with a major in Hotel and Restaurant Administration. In the early days Kirby was a manager trainee at the Inter-Continental Curacao, worked for the corporate office of Hilton Inns and Southern Host Hotels, was General Manager at The Buccaneer, Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, and discovered Minnesota in 1985 as Manager at Pannell Kerr Forster's Minneapolis office. In Kirby's case there are too many stops to mention them all. 
 

Hard at Work On His Company Kirby started American Hospitality Management Company in 1988, as the story goes, with credit cards. His wife, Vicki Richman, who joined the company later, serves many roles including co-partner, financial advisor, risk manager, and most importantly as cash manager. Financing American Hospitality Management's operations no longer survives on credit card debt!  The company specializes in hotel management, equity participation in ownership, receivership and foreclosure management, consulting, and other specialized services for the hospitality industry. Hard at Work On Serving the Industry Kirby has served his industry with aplomb. He has taken the concept of "doing your piece" to the heights necessary to be appointed as the Chairman of AH&LA.

Kirby Payne smiling back to me as  I take a photo of the front entrance of  the corporate office at 1500 South  Highway 100, #375 in Minneapolis

Kirby was an allied member of the Minnesota Hotel & Lodging Association while with PKF, later becoming a regular member when he started managing hotels in Minnesota after starting his company. In 1992 he was voted in as Treasurer and by 1996 was President of MH&LA. During his time serving the lodging industry in Minnesota Kirby assisted in moving the association's agenda into several new laws protecting the innkeepers of the state.

In 1997 Kirby had a tough decision. Did he have the time and resources to contribute his energies to serving the 91-year-old AH&LA with some 13,000 property members? After being asked by John  Russell, Kirby had two days to decide if he should be a nominee for Secretary of the association. Consulting with Vicki, friends and his staff the decision was unanimous. And so it was, after a five month campaign he was duly elected as Secretary in 1997, thus beginning his ascension to the 2002 Chairmanship.

As the leader of the AH&LA board and the 200 AH&LA staff, Kirby has the confidence to lead the association through challenging times. On top of the list is contributing the associations resources and ideas for recovery and action plans following September 11, also - the ever present task of increasing and retaining the membership base. Kirby will, I am sure, be efficient and effective in communicating the association's values and goals. His experience guarantees it.
 

Hard at Work On His Acceptance Speech On Monday, November 5th Emily and I found Kirby in his office at 5:30 pm, and as he says "practicing my acceptance speech." Truth be told, Kirby was working away on several deals. More importantly, Vicki was working payroll, i.e. you know cash management!  However, the two of them did find time to take a couple of travelers out to dinner. We drove directly to the Foshay Tower and the cafe un deux trois. Over steamed mussels and other

Our waiter took this shot of the owner of cafe un deux trois, Michael Morse,  frolicking with his good friends, Kirby  and Vicki. That's Emily and Dick  on the right.

Hard at Work Sharing His Experience

Over time, Kirby has shared with Hotel Online many of his well written and timely articles. I believe it is important for all of us to reread these works to appreciate the magnitude of Kirby's dedication to the hotel industry. We need to understand the message - it is time for the rest of us to begin "hard work" for our industry.
 

Thank you Kirby and Vicki.