(SOLVANG, CA; December 5, 2016) – Alisal Guest Ranch Resort & Spa is thrilled to welcome Kathleen Cochran as the new general manager, overseeing the 10,500 acre property in the Santa Ynez Valley in Central California. Throughout her expansive career in hospitality, Cochran has managed multiple high-end luxury hotels and resorts across the nation, and most recently served as the managing director at The Resort at Paws Up.
No stranger to California, the Santa Ynez Valley represents a homecoming of sorts for Cochran, who has roots in nearby Santa Barbara. Prior to her time at Paws Up, Cochran spent five years as the managing director at Bacara Resort, where, under her direction, the property achieved its highest occupancy rates and revenue ever in the history of the property. Prior, she dedicated 24 years to Loews Hotels, where she served as general manager of the Loews Coronado Bay Resort near San Diego, as well as managing director of The Plaza Hotel in New York City.
“I am excited to return to California and put my personal stamp on the Alisal,” says Cochran. “I was lured to the resort by its undeniable commitment to regional authenticity, staff loyalty and the exceptional culinary, spa, golf, and resort programming. I look forward to working closely with the incredible team to elevate the Alisal guest experience even more.”
Cochran takes the reigns from David Lautensack, who recently retired after more than two decades as general manager of the resort. Says Jim Jackson, Chief Operating Officer for the Alisal, “We were fortunate to have David Lautensack serve as our general manager for 23 years and we recognize it is difficult to replace someone of his stature and reputation. With Kathleen's breadth of experience and energy, we have a great opportunity to build upon our past successes to continue improving the guest experience at the Alisal. We look forward to welcoming Kathleen to the Alisal family."
A believer in the notion that resorts and hotels thrive best when they are connected to their communities, Cochran has participated in a number of community events throughout her career, including the Santa Barbara Food & Wine Weekend and a partnership with California State Parks that raised $750,000 for the preservation, enhancement, education and ecological/historic interpretation of Silver Strand State Beach near San Diego. At Loews Hotels, she initiated an array of guest programs, including kids’ activities and pet-friendly stays, which have become standard offerings across the organization.
Cochran has received numerous accolades for her management leadership, industry innovations, and community collaborations, including Woman of the Year by the Goleta Chamber of Commerce and Top Woman in Business by Pacific Coast Business Times three years in a row. Her work at Loews Coronado Bay Resort culminated in a number of management awards, including General Manager of the Year by the California Hotel & Lodging Association, San Diego’s “Best Place to Work” by San Diego Magazine and San Diego Business Journal, and “Workplace Excellence” from the Society of Human Resource Management.
Cochran is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration General Manager program. In her spare time she enjoys cooking and spending time with her family and friends.
