Regional Director of Operations

Mr. Nicholson was promoted to his current position in July 2012.  He joined Innisfree Hotels in 1996 as Assistant General Manager of the Beachside Resort and Conference Center; previously located on Pensacola Beach where the Holiday Inn Resort currently stands.  Since joining Innisfree, Mr. Nicholson’s  held the position of General Manager  at numerous Innisfree owned and operated hotels. 

He was the Regional Manager for the Hampton Inn & Suites in Ocala-Bellview.  He assumed control of this 109 room hotel after the owner failed to meet debt obligations.  He renegotiated all outstanding contracts and service agreements.  He quickly reduced expenses by over 25% and increased Net Operating Income by over 100%. 

While he was the General Manager at the Hilton Garden Inn, the property was designated as number one for service delivery among more than 500 of the brand’s hotels.  He also rebuilt the hotel’s management and line teams after the BP Oil Spill in order to successfully maximize business opportunities the following year.

While he was General Manager of the Holiday Inn Express, he oversaw comprehensive brand renovations in 2004 and again 2009 as well as hurricane rebuilds in 2004 and 2005.  He increased the gross room revenue by 100% within two years of Innisfree’s purchase of the hotel.  Most remarkably Mr. Nicholson preserved outstanding bottom line profits during the hurricane impacts of 2004 and 2005, US recession of 2008 and the BP Oil Spill of 2010.

Mr. Nicholson’s skill set often takes him beyond the confines of his job description; over the years he’s managed contract implementations, property franchise changes, general manager turnovers, property improvement planning and franchise quality assurance compliance.  His specialties include revenue and yield management, electronic distribution, hotel IT integration, budgeting, property operations and staff turnover reduction.

Boards and Professional Memberships

• 2003, President, 2002 and 2001, Vice-President, 2004, Chairman of External Activities, Pensacola Area Lodging Council
• 2003, Board Member, Pensacola Tourism and Convention Committee
• 2003, Board Member, Passenger Hospitality Committee, Cruise Pensacola Task Force
• 2003, Board Member, TACC Composition Sub-Committee

Awards and Certifications

• Certified Hotel Administrator
• Certified Food Protection Manager and Educator
• State of Alabama, Responsible Vendor Manager
• Hilton Garden Inn General Manager Class 2010
• Holiday Inn Express General Manager Class 2004
• OnQ PMS, Rates and Inventory, Revenue Management, eSales, GroupQ & CRM certified
• Distribution Marketing for Hotels GDS and Internet, Hotel Electronic Distribution Association Network University, 2002
• Behavioral Interviewing Training 2004
• Hurricane Preparedness Training, Intercontinental Hotels Group, 2004 – 2011
• STR Strategies, Intercontinental Hotels Group, 2008
• Optimal Revenue Management Strategies, Intercontinental Hotels Group, 2009
• Leading the Guest Experience, Intercontinental Hotels Group, 2011
• 2009 / 2010, Most Improved RGI, Intercontinental Hotels Group
• 2002 & 2004, General Manager of the Year, Innisfree Hotels
• 2003, 2001 Quality Excellence, Best Western International
• 2003, Maintenance Excellence, Best Western International
• 2001, Housekeeping Excellence, Best Western International
• 2005, 2002, 2001,  Highest Increase of Occupancy, Innisfree Hotels
• 2006, 2002, 1999, Highest Increase of ADR, Innisfree Hotels
• 2007, 2002, Highest Increase of RevPAR, Innisfree Hotels
• 2009, 2002, Highest Increase of Income Before Fixed Cost, Innisfree Hotels
• 1999, 1998, Lowest Housekeeping Cost, Innisfree Hotels
• 2003, 2002, 2001 Quality Excellence, Innisfree Hotels
• 2003, 2002, 2001, 1999, 1998 Highest Guest Satisfaction, Innisfree Hotels
• 2001, Highest Guest Loyalty, Innisfree Hotels