lagniappe
Wilbert
Mason
general manager , Peter Island resort and sPa , tortola , BrItIsh VIrgIn Islands
Growing up in a small village in Saint Vincent , Wilbert Mason watched cruise ships sail by and dreamed of working in the hospitality industry . After receiving a scholarship to study hospitality management at Utah State University , Mason soon realized hotels were his life calling . Since 2008 , he has helped guests enjoy the idyllic setting of Peter Island , where he has been general manager for five years . Even though the island life is in Mason ’ s blood , he says his biggest hotel pet peeve is a hightech one : no Wi-Fi , intermittent Wi-Fi or slow Wi-Fi .
What is your favorite travel item ? My dental kit . I don ’ t leave home without it .
What is on your nightstand ? My phone and a Moleskine notepad to capture any creative idea that might come to mind late at night or early in the morning .
What was your favorite childhood hobby ? Climbing mango trees and eating mangos . It was not uncommon for me to eat at least 20 mangos per day .
What was your most embarrassing moment on the job ? While working for a major hotel chain as the night manager I received a call from a group of businessmen who would be arriving late that evening . I confirmed the company had 10 rooms with guaranteed late arrival . Unbeknownst to me the in-house reservation manager did not close out from the central reservation system , so the hotel was oversold by 20 rooms . Since all of these reservations were guaranteed , we could not turn anyone away until that last room check-in . When the businessmen arrived , I had to direct them to another hotel that was 45 minutes away on a cold , snowy night . One of them shouted in the busy lobby , “ You told me you have my rooms !” My word is my bond , so to have this happen was extremely embarrassing .
Why do you work in hotels ? The hospitality industry offers endless possibilities if you work hard . Managing a hotel gives me the ability to communicate with a sensitive , diplomatic approach , and most of all develop the ability to think on my feet .
If you were not a hotelier , what would you be ? I would have been a doctor or in some job that helps people change their lives and gives people a sense of hope for a better tomorrow . I think the best way to feel successful is to give back and serve others .
What was your best hotel experience ? The Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora . The bed was one of the best I have slept in ; I slept longer than I have in years . The staff remembered my name during the entire stay . I went on a snorkeling excursion and swam with sharks and stingrays . I didn ’ t want to return home .
64 HOTELS January / February 2014 www . hotelsmag . com