Stuff about me
I started this blog way back in the swinging sixties of the internet years, 2006, when I was general manager of Opus Hotel in Vancouver. The first-ever General Manager's Blog, it attracted a worldwide following for its irreverent insider's look at running a hotel.
When I left Opus to focus on my writing career, the blog morphed into my author website – which is why it's named after me.
My writing career began as a bit of a lark. While working on the front desk at the Pan Pacific Hotel, I naively thought it would be fun and easy to write a mystery set in a hotel. I should have started with something a bit less ambitious – a short story or a haiku, perhaps. Ten short years later, Murder at the Universe was published.
My publisher liked the idea of a hotel manager who writes murder mysteries set in hotels and contracted me to develop the concept into a series. I was given less than two years to write two more books. That took all the joy out of writing, but I did manage to deliver, and Murder at Hotel Cinema was published in 2008, followed by Murder at Graverly Manor in 2009. Hospitality employees in particular enjoy my books because I kill off the occasional difficult guest and tyrannical manager.
I'm now done with mystery writing and as such this blog has taken a tragic turn toward the corporate and boring. Apologies, but a guy's got to make a living. Book writing is a poverty-inducing, soul-destroying experience. Or so it was for me. But I'm better now. Really.
Today this blog is intended as a resource to help hoteliers and travel marketers around the world understand and adopt the latest trends, tools and best practices in online marketing, social media and reputation management.
In addition to my hotel career, I have held positions as area sales manager with Canadian Airlines and as vice president, sales and marketing at Vancouver Film School. I hold a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and have studied film, writing and acting. I speak and write French and Spanish to varying levels of offensiveness.
These days I write, consult and speak about online marketing, social media, reputation management and storytelling for the hotel and travel industries. I travel frequently and explore hotels at every opportunity.
I love running my own consulting business, but I really miss my expense account as a hotel manager.
Inquire about my writing and hospitality consulting services, training or a speaking engagement. View my Speaker Profile here.
