"Craig not only brings a wealth of experience to this position, but also a sincere interest in furthering education, networking and professional development opportunities for everyone in the resort industry.  His interest and enthusiasm for the unique aspects of this segment of the hospitality industry will be a tremendous asset in this leadership position," said Anita Bauer, IRMA Executive Vice President.

Madison is an Asheville native who began his career in the hospitality industry while working summers during high school. He started as a Bellman at the (then) Great Smokies Hilton in Asheville, and was promoted to Front Desk Supervisor shortly
thereafter.  

Following graduation, he attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, studying Radio, Television, Motion Pictures and Advertising. Three days before he was to start his senior year, Madison left school, got a Small Business Administration loan and co-founded The Alpha Group, an advertising agency in Asheville. He was President of The Alpha Group from 1978-1999.

In 1979, The Alpha Group was hired by the Grove Park Inn to handle its local Food & Beverage advertising. After five years of successful and expanding advertising efforts on behalf of the hotel, Madison was retained on a management contract to be the hotel's full-time Director of Marketing, a position he held for 15 years. His tenure coincided with the expansion of the Grove Park Inn from a 150-room seasonal hotel to a 510-room resort and conference facility. In helping to guide and giving direction to that transition, Madison was responsible for the creation of many of the special events and internal programs that made The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa a success.

Appointed General Manager in September 1999, Madison's first task was executing the vision of hotel owner Elaine D. Sammons for the Resort in the 21st Century. He is currently overseeing three-year, $64 million property improvement program, including a new Main Inn roof, expanded Sports Complex, new Laundry, guest room "reinvention," restoration of the resort's century-old, Donald Ross-designed golf course, and a $40 million, 40,000 square-foot Spa. The Spa ~ the finest in North America ~ opened on February 28, 2001.

Madison is Board Chairman for the International Resort Managers Association, Vice Chairman of the North Carolina Hotel & Motel Association, and a Board Member of the North Carolina Travel & Tourism Coalition and the Asheville Chamber of Commerce. He helped found the North Carolina Golf Alliance, and coordinated the resort's hosting of the North Carolina Governor's Conference on Travel & Tourism in 1997 and 2001.

Craig is married. He and his wife Lee have a daughter, Chelsea.