Remembering Jack Vaughn, CHA – by John Hogan

Because the calendar continues to maneuver forward, I discover it a constructive reminder for me to mirror on those that have positively influenced me through the years.

Jack Vaughn handed away 10 years in the past, on November 14, 2014. Included on the finish of this text is a brief bio, however the objective of this column is to remind us of what impression one particular person can have on so many individuals in so some ways.

I lived in Nashville within the Nineteen Eighties and Nineties, when the town was present process a significant transformation. My unique task was Common Supervisor of the 300-room downtown Sheraton which was throughout the road from the publish workplace and the boarded-up Union Station, years earlier than it was repurposed to a beautiful lodge.  Downtown Nashville at the moment was a hotelier’s nightmare, with decrease Broadway, 2^nd road and your complete space providing little draw for conferences or group enterprise aside from primarily the tour buses that got here on weekends to benefit from the Grand Ole Opry.

A serious change began within the mid-Seventies when the native house owners of the Opry determined so as to add a significant conference lodge adjoining to the Opryland USA theme park and the relocated Grand Ole Opry Home from its downtown location within the Ryman Auditorium.  This choice and the number of Jack Vaughn as Common Supervisor of the Opryland Lodge modified the panorama of Nashville perpetually.   In its preliminary section 1, the lodge was an incredible change to the conference market. It was initially  600 rooms, and  has now developed to  2,888 rooms and is among the 30 largest lodges on the earth.

I by no means labored instantly on any of Jack’s groups however served with him on two 5-year phrases for the Nashville Conference & Tourism Fee and lots of different regional and nationwide trade committees and boards.

What I bear in mind most about Jack although was his dedication to everybody.

I bear in mind:

• Watching him stroll round a bunch of affiliation executives who have been contemplating the Opryland Lodge for his or her main conference.  One doesn’t hear many senior lodge normal managers introducing a foyer housekeeper (by identify) to the affiliation executives and that she could be considered one of greater than 1,500 hospitality professionals who could be caring for his or her group once they held their worldwide assembly there. (PS- the group booked!)
• Recalling his very deep dedication to all associates when for 20+ years he made sure that both he or his senior, long run supervisor Joe Henry could be at EVERY weekly New Worker Orientation with remarks about hospitality, their position, how they have been every appreciated and extra of their half in providing hospitality.
• Recognizing his dedication to house base by by no means looking for or accepting sure positions reminiscent of President of the American Lodge & Lodging Affiliation.  He saved his values in place and his ego intact.

View the unique tribute to Jack Vaughn by John Hogan and Eight Others Who Knew Him Nicely.

Jack Vaughn, CHA  temporary bio

• Born in Portland, OR.
• Joined the Marine Corps at age 17, serving within the Vietnam battle.
• Started his 40+ 12 months profession within the hospitality trade as a key clerk at Westin’s Lodge Benson in Portland.
• Labored his approach up by way of the ranks, Vaughn, in 1969, turned the Common Supervisor of the Continental Plaza in Chicago.
• Recruited by the enduring Century Plaza Lodge situated in Los Angeles, CA, serving as its Common Supervisor by way of 1975.
• That 12 months, earlier than floor even broke, Vaughn was recruited by Gaylord Leisure to function the primary Common Supervisor of the Opryland Lodge and Conference Middle. Understanding of a trailer and overseeing development, “The Home That Jack Constructed” went up below Vaughn’s watchful imaginative and prescient, in the end turning into the most important lodge and conference heart on the earth at one cut-off date.
  

Vaughn served in quite a few positions with Gaylord Leisure and its predecessor corporations, together with

• Vice President of WSM, Inc.,
• Senior Vice President of Opryland USA, Inc.,
• Vice President of Gaylord Leisure Firm,
• Chairman of Opryland Lodging Group, and
• President of Opryland Hospitality and Sights Group, the place he oversaw the Opryland Lodge, the distinguished 5-star Broadmoor Lodge and Resort, Opryland Theme Park, Opryland Worldwide Journey, the Common Jackson Showboat, Opryland River Taxis, the Music Metropolis Queen, Grand Ole Opry Excursions, the Springhouse Golf Membership, KOA Campgrounds, and the Wildhorse Saloon.
• Vaughn was additionally instrumental within the idea and design of the Gaylord Palms Resort and  Conference Middle situated in Kissimmee, FL, and the Gaylord Texan Resort and Conference Middle situated in Grapevine, TX.

  Further actions

• An outspoken trade advocate for revolutionary conference area, Vaughn was named to the Conference Council’s Corridor of Leaders in 1988.
• Vaughn additionally held quite a few distinguished state and nationwide positions, together with membership on the Congressional Journey & Tourism Caucus Advisory Council, director of the American Lodge & Motel Affiliation (AH&MA), President and Chairman of the Tennessee Lodge & Motel Affiliation, and Honorary Trustee for Lifetime of the American Lodge Basis
• Vaughn obtained Worldwide Exhibitors Affiliation’s Distinguished Service Award in 1986, and the AH&MA Lawson A. Odde Award in 1989.
• He was named Lodges Journal’s “Unbiased Hotelier of the World” In 1990.
• He additionally obtained the Resort Government of the Yr Award and the American Coronary heart Affiliation’s Coronary heart of the Group Award.
• Vaughn was additionally one of many first 100 individuals within the nation appointed as a delegate to the 1995 White Home Convention on Journey and Tourism.
• Vaughn participated in lots of civic organizations, together with President of the Center Tennessee Boy Scouts of America, Government Committee Member of the Nashville Rotary Membership, Chairman of the Metropolitan Conference Middle Fee, Director of Easter Seals Society of Tennessee, and as a member of numerous different organizations.
• Vaughn additionally held quite a few distinguished state and nationwide positions, together with membership on the Congressional Journey & Tourism Caucus Advisory Council, director of the American Lodge & Motel Affiliation (AH&MA), President and Chairman of the Tennessee Lodge & Motel Affiliation, and Honorary Trustee for Lifetime of the American Lodge Basis.
• Vaughn’s profession and life’s work was honored by the Tennessee Home of Representatives in 1999 as devoted to the Congressional Report and was likewise honored by Decision of the Tennessee State Senate. Upon retirement in 1999, by decision of native authorities, a portion of Briley Parkway was renamed the “Jack Vaughn Parkway.”

His obituary closed with this commentary:

Nonetheless, of all his many accomplishments, Vaughn’s proudest, and what he thought-about biggest, achievement was his household, every considered one of whom will miss him past what any quantity of phrases might ever hope to precise.

John J. Hogan, Licensed Lodge Administrator (CHA), Licensed Grasp Lodge Provider (CMHS), Licensed Hospitality Educator (CHE), Licensed Lodge Proprietor (CHO)

John Hogan is a profitable hospitality government, educator, writer and marketing consultant and is a frequent keynote speaker and seminar chief at many hospitality trade occasions. He’s CEO and Co-Founding father of HospitalityEducators.com , which has greater than 2000 useful resource pages and has turn into the #1 impartial web site for lodge house owners and managers. He’s additionally the Principal of HoganHospitality.com , which provides lodge skilled witness providers and hospitality consulting.

Contact us for help – John.Hogan@HospitalityEducators.com 602-799-5375 HoganHospitality.com : john@hoganhospitality.com