COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. – (JUNE 20, 2018) – Garden of the Gods Collection, a private club and luxury resort, today announced the appointment of Stephen McLean as director of food and beverage. McLean joins the team with 30 years of experience in club management, property management and hospitality industries. He started his career in 1988 with Ritz Carlton, as a banquet supervisor and director for properties in Buckhead, Ga., and Palm Beach, Fla. During his time at these properties, McLean managed more than 25,000 and 31,000 square feet, respectively, of meeting space and generated more than $12 million in banquet revenue.
From 1993 to 1997, McLean was quickly promoted internally at the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, from assistant banquet director to director of banquet operations, overseeing a $12.5 million operation with more than 30,000 square feet of banquet facilities. In 1998, he was hired by the PGA National Resort and Spa to restructure the banquet department; he focused on overhauling service levels, developing a management team, facility management, labor retention and financials.
In 1999, McLean joined The Trump Organization at Mar-a-Lago Club and Trump International Golf Club as the director of food and beverage. The ultra-exclusive, members-only social dining club is the only private social club to attain a six-star diamond award from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences.
In addition to his passion for the food and beverage industry, McLean has served as the director of club operations for Pelican Bay Foundation in Naples, Fla., overseeing four dining rooms and tennis and beach operations for the 6,500-resident community. He successfully instituted an in-house catering department, offering home deliveries, that resulted in more than $120,000 in new revenue in its first year. His community and club management experience extended to The Bear’s Club Property Owners Association in Jupiter, Fla., a luxury gated community developed by Jack Nicklaus and Associates, recognized as one of America’s most prestigious and prominent real estate developments, with total home values of more than $500 million. Most recently, McLean served as the general manager of Azure Condominiums in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., where he oversaw 101 multi-million dollar residences; the property encompassed 15 acres, featuring a private marina for resident yacht parking.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Stephen to the Garden of the Gods Collection team,” said Scott Marble, the property’s assistant general manager. “With extensive leadership background in both private clubs and hotels, he offers a wealth of knowledge that will enhance the dining experiences at Garden of the Gods Collection, and his skills perfectly align with our goals to further elevate the various dining outlets on property.”
The culinary team at Garden of the Gods Collection maintains a rigorous commitment to training, most recently including a sommelier training provided by the International Wine & Spirits Guild the Collection. Last year, 15 staff members at the Collection received sommelier certification. Under McLean’s direction, the Garden of the Gods Collection will continue to grow its new Exclusive Culinary Experience Membership, which grants access to all dining outlets on property and includes invitations to all food and beverage social events.
