September 12, 2024 – Olympia Hospitality is pleased to announce the appointment of Nick Shumate as General Manager of Inn by the Sea, Maine’s premier beach destination. Shumate began work at the Inn in 2016 as Director of Operations and later took over as Resort Manager in 2023. In his new role Shumate is responsible for overseeing all aspects of operations at the resort including management of the 62-room hotel, seasonal programming, human resources and revenue generating drivers for the property including dining room, lounge, SPA, and events.
Shumate brings over two decades of hospitality experience in various roles in hotels and resorts throughout New England. During his 9-year tenure at the Inn, Shumate developed a guest experience department directed at operational excellence which contributed to the resort being selected from among 650 properties for IPrefer’s Hotel of the Year 2023. He also took the lead on becoming a member of Beyond Green, a small global portfolio of the most sustainable hotels on the planet.
“Nick has been instrumental in the hotel’s achievements and growth over the last eight years and I have great confidence the Inn will continue to flourish under his leadership,” stated Sara Masterson, President at Olympia Hospitality. “Nick’s ability to motivate and recognize the efforts of the Inn’s hospitality team is complemented by his dedication to the Inn’s success, care and respect for the natural seaside environment, and the well-being of the surrounding community. Nothing gives me greater pleasure than to announce an internal promotion of a deserving leader who has grown with the organization. I look forward to collaborating on new standards of excellence while upholding the legacy of relaxed, elegant hospitality at Inn by the Sea.”
“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead a property that has such a great history of coastal hospitality and is a cherished destination for both visitors and employees,” said Shumate. “I look forward to working with our team to create unforgettable experiences for our guests.”
Previous experience with luxury brand hotels includes Director of Front Desk Operations at the 294 room Charles Hotel in Boston and various roles at the Portland Harbor Hotel in Portland. Earlier, Shumate worked with the conversion team at Double Tree by Hilton to convert the hotel from Wyndham to Hilton and worked directly with ownership on multi-million-dollar improvements.
While at Inn by the Sea, Shumate achieved many goals, overseeing rolling upgrades to the property, and elevating guest experiences. In 2024 the property achieved Wine Spectator’s second tier award Best of Award of Excellence for the deep wine cellar in Sea Glass, AAA’s Best of Housekeeping, and received Travel + Leisure’s 2024 World’s Best Award as one of the Top 10 Resorts in New England, and USA Today’s 10Best Eco-Friendly hotels. Shumate takes over leadership at the resort just as plans for upgrades to accommodations are announced.
Shumate is active in several industry associations including New England Inns and Resorts, Hospitality Maine and Visit Portland. He received his associate’s degree in Hospitality Management from Southern Maine Technical College.
A Maine native, Shumate lives in Buxton, Maine with his wife who has also chosen a career in hospitality.
