In talking to McCartney, you get the feeling he always believes in what he says. That is one reason WHG selected him for their newly-renovated property. Over the last couple of years, the company has gradually made a number of significant changes to this hotel. With the radical upgrades and updates, WHG needed to fill its GM position with an effective leader who understands the area. 

�I was raised as an outdoorsman�and did a lot of hiking and camping growing up here in the North Carolina Mountains. I spent all of my early school years here in Asheville,� he says. �I graduated from Asheville High School.� He then continued his studies at and graduated from the United States Air Force Academy, as did WHG Founder Patrick M. Nesbitt, Sr. 

�I started in the hospitality industry in 1979 with a tour company in Hendersonville called Globe Treks Tours�Part of the year, we took middle school-age children on adventure camping and team-building trips where they had to rely on each other to cook and clean. We took them whitewater rafting, climbing and hiking�Then the other half of the year, I planned and escorted group leisure travelers for tours of the Eastern United States, including the Washington, D.C. area, Williamsburg and Epcot in Orlando. I did that for seven years and certainly learned a great deal about customer service.� 

Shortly after McCartney and his wife married, he transitioned from working in tours to working in hotels specifically. �From doing all of my tour work, I became accustomed to staying in hotels and loved it,� he says. �A job opened in the housekeeping department at an Atlanta-area Marriott and it seemed like a perfect fit for the kind of team atmosphere in which I like to work. From there, it seemed like a natural progression to learn about other hotel management elements and hopefully contribute to the success of the places I have worked.� 

In the past 21 years, McCartney has held positions such as director of services, general manager, and director of operations & human resources at Marriott brand properties throughout the Southeast, in the Midwest and in New Jersey. While at the Charleston Marriott, he received the Manager of the Year Award. During his years at the Newark Airport Marriott, he won the Director of Services of the Year Award for the New York Region. Most recently, he was general manager at Marriott�s Shelter Cove on Hilton Head. 

�This new opportunity with WHG does two things; it gets me back into the Renaissance brand within the Marriott Family. I like the Renaissance brand, because of its distinctive style, culture and savvy service. The other reason is it returns me to my hometown and close to my family.� 

Now that he is back home, McCartney�s mindset is a valuable match to WHG�s refreshed Ashville Renaissance. He explains, �My management philosophy is to make sure the staff with whom I work have everything they need to do their job, in terms of tools and resources. The next level is to celebrate successes with the staff, such as their superior satisfaction scores and individual honors and awards. If people have what they need to do their job, the hotel�s success will follow.� 

McCartney adds, �I work with people, people don�t work for me. The Marriott Corporation and Windsor Hospitality Group cultures are to take good care of our associates, who will take good care of our guests. That fits my values, so this synergy allows me to progress personally and professionally. That is precisely the attitude WHG seeks in its leaders.� 

About Windsor Hospitality Group - Windsor Hospitality Group is the hotel division of Windsor Capital Group, Inc., the California-based commercial real estate acquisition, development and management firm. The WHG portfolio includes 31 brand name hotels in commercial and cultural hubs throughout the country, including Greater Atlanta, Seattle and Detroit. It is the largest private franchisee of the Embassy Suites brand, which just won its third J.D. Power and Associates "Highest Guest Satisfaction Among Upscale Hotel Chains" distinction. Through third-party management contracts and acquisitions, the Windsor portfolio will continue expanding in the coming months. Visit: www.wcghotels.com for more information. 

Windsor Hospitality Group
http://www.windsormanagementservices.com
http://www.wcghotels.com