The Seven Sins of Karen Earp |
GM, Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara |
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Born and raised in The United Kingdom, Karen Earp studied hotel, catering and tourism management at the University of Surrey, earning her Bachelor of Science Degree with Honours and completing a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from City University Business School (now Cass Business School) with a specialization in Marketing and Finance. Her thesis was on service quality delivery systems, an area that she has had ample opportunity to execute upon throughout a hospitality industry career that has spanned the globe and influenced many of the world’s most celebrated hotels.
As an assistant manager at Four Seasons Hotel, London she was responsible for the installation of computerised switchboard and front office systems and tasked with analyzing the effectiveness of the of hotel’s training programs. From there, she took a role as assistant manager of guest relations at New York’s Pierre Hotel where, once again, she was responsible for computer installation throughout the hotel and was focused on guest relations and operational problem solving.
After being promoted to Front Office Manager, she returned to Four Seasons, London as Front of House Manager responsible for the operation of Front Office. |
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Her first General Manager role followed at none other than the famed Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris. Her two-year assignment included a complete closure of the iconic hotel, extensive renovation and ultimately the hotel’s re-opening and marketing plan creation. The $120 million US project was multi-faceted and included numerous interior design responsibilities, purchasing and renovation of antiques and coordination with construction crews and the French government to achieve proper building permits and licenses.
As a result of her success in Paris, Karen was named General Manager of Four Seasons Canary Wharf, London and took the new 142 room property from pre-opening, design and construction to its on-time, on-budget opening in a 66 week span. Once again, she was responsible for the consistent attainment of high core and cultural standards compliance and the hotel exceeded all Four Seasons retention standards for rooms division, food and beverage and operating profits. The hotel ultimately attained the RAC Gold Ribbon Award, 2004 Conde Nast Traveller Top 4 UK Business Hotel, was voted Best Hotel in London and received a Top 5 Restaurant rating featuring Italian cuisine by 2004 Zagat Survey. It also was the winner of 2004 Springboard Award for Best Employment Practice and Karen was recognized as winner of the 2001 UK Hotelier of the Year Award.
Following her six year tenure at Canary Wharf, she accepted the role of General Manager for Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara, an iconic 207-room oceanfront resort in Southern California where she has helmed the resort’s operation for the last ten years. The 27 -acre resort includes management responsibilities for a 500-member exclusive beach club and a private golf course. Over $400 million US in renovations have been made to the historic property which was first opened in 1927 and a new golf course designed by the legendary Jack Nicklaus is currently underway and will open in 2017. The resort has maintained AAA Five-Diamond status throughout her tenure and is recognized throughout Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts as one of the top five hotels in the world that performs as an innovation champion. |
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| Wrath - What makes you angry about the hospitality industry?
Bad service and bad attitude in any service industry and not apologizing when occasionally things do go wrong.
Greed - If all your food fantasies came true what would be on your Plate?
Miso glazed black cod, arugula salad with avocados, followed by my favorite desert: apple and blackberry or rhubarb crumble.
Sloth - What do you do to unwind?
Take a walk on Butterfly Beach, bike ride to the Santa Barbara Harbor or swim laps in the Pacific Ocean after a sauna.
Pride - What are you most proud of?
Developing team members who later become General Managers. Mentoring, coaching and developing them is a part of my job that I really enjoy.
Lust - Is there anything that you are still lusting to achieve?
To achieve a half marathon.
Envy - who are you most envious of?
Isadore Sharp, our Chairman and Founder who built this global luxury brand and created a company culture that has spanned the globe from a Motel in Toronto to now 95 Hotels and Resorts around the world.
Gluttony - have you ever over indulged?
Oh yes! Only on rare occasions such as our bountiful Sunday Brunch.
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| We put the spotlight on the industry's most recognisable faces in our new interview segment "Seven Sins". If you want to know what inspires the industry's movers and shakers or what your favourite food loving celebrity likes to indulge in then you'll find it in their Seven Sins. |
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