“ WHEN SOMEONE TOLD ME WHAT THEY WANTED , I ENVISIONED EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE SAYING AND BROUGHT IT TO LIFE .”
GENERAL MANAGER ’ S LIFE
THE
JAMES E . MOORE III GENERAL MANAGER HAVANA CABANA KEY WEST , FLORIDA
I always found myself in the kitchen , and during the summers when I was smaller , I would stay with my grandmother who basically taught me how to cook . I found myself cooking at the Olive Garden . That was my first job working the line . I loved it . I love food , I enjoy eating . I enjoyed putting a smile on a guest ’ s face when they really enjoyed their meal , when they had their first bite . It just came natural to me , putting all the pieces together , executing it . When someone told me what they wanted , I envisioned exactly what they were saying and brought it to life .
After I did the free-standing restaurants , I found myself wanting to get more into the hotel aspect . My first hotel job was the Holiday Inn in Philadelphia in the historic district . I started as the restaurant manager and worked my way up as food and beverage director .
I mastered that . And then I moved over to the rooms department . I didn ’ t know that aspect of the hotel and at the time I spoke with my hotel manager I said , ‘ You know what , I think I want to learn the other side of it . I ’ ve never done it before , but I always love great challenges .’ And she looked at me and she said , ‘ James ,
“ WHEN SOMEONE TOLD ME WHAT THEY WANTED , I ENVISIONED EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE SAYING AND BROUGHT IT TO LIFE .”
JAMES E . MOORE III are you sure ? Usually F & B people don ' t cross over to the dark side ’ ( laughs ). And I said , ‘ I think it would be a good challenge for me to go and know the whole of it . So that way it ’ s not just one side . I have a complete understanding of how the whole operation works .’ My first GM job was actually in Parsippany at the Hampton Inn in New Jersey . I was AGM at the Embassy Suites in Center City , Philadelphia first . I was with Hilton for quite a while , different properties , different brands within the Hilton umbrella .
And then I saw an opportunity in Key West . So I relocated in 2017 . I started down here with the Hilton , right before Hurricane Irma , and that was actually my one question on all of my interviews with them . I said , ‘ Can you tell me what plan you have in place for a hurricane ?’ And then of course , that first year it happened , but we were able to execute very well . We were the first hotel that actually opened back up . No damage , but we opened back up because we were supporting the first responders , the police department , things of that nature . We had power , we had electricity . So , we housed them , we fed them and we took care of the community .
And then I saw this opportunity here at Havana Cabana and I always told everyone , I want a boutique hotel . I don ’ t want a super-size hotel . That just wasn ’ t what I was looking for . I ’ ve done some of the larger hotels , but the smaller hotel aspect , I believe that is the right fit for me . Like a tailor-made suit .
64 hotelsmag . com April 2019