Local Hotel Owner Rick Widman Named To Board of Directors for Small Luxury Hotels of The World
February 11, 2011
CHARLESTON, SC – February 11, 2011 – Local hotelier Rick Widman, owner of Charming Inns (John Rutledge House Inn; Wentworth Mansion; Fulton Lane Inn; Kings Courtyard Inn) and Circa 1886 restaurant in Charleston, recently joined the Board of Directors for the Small Luxury Hotels of the World™ (SLH), a distinction given to only 12 other property owners from around the world. Widman, who is a member of SLH through the Wentworth Mansion, was elected to a 3-year board term by SLH owners and managers from the US, Caribbean, Bermuda and the Bahamas. Widman joins only two other hoteliers from the Americas on the SLH board: Samir Saab, founder of Prohotel International, a marketing group that services top hotels in the Latin American market; and Michael Landry of the Pillars Hotel in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
“I am honored to have been elected to this esteemed position by my SLH peers,” said Widman. “I look forward to representing not only the Wentworth Mansion and Charleston but other hotel owners around the world as we grow and discuss the future direction for SLH and the worldwide hospitality industry.”
As a member of the SLH Board of Directors, Widman will be responsible for representing the interests of other SLH members all over the world as they relate to all aspects of the hospitality industry. He will work with other board members to set financial goals, create public relations campaigns, develop sales strategies and set new directions for SLH members. The board meets four times a year at locations around the world, including the SLH headquarters in London. The first board meeting is scheduled for the beginning of March in London. However, because of Widman’s commitments as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the BB&T Charleston Wine & Food Festival, he has elected to stay in Charleston and support the Festival rather than travel for the first SLH board meeting.
About Small Luxury Hotels of the World™
The Small Luxury Hotels of the World™ (SLH) brand is an unrivalled portfolio of some of the world’s finest small independent hotels. Comprising over 520 hotels in more than 70 countries, the diversity of the individual hotels, and the experiences that they offer, is exceptional. From cutting-edge design hotels to palatial 17th century mansions, city centre sanctuaries to remote private islands, historic country houses to idyllic resorts, Small Luxury Hotels of the World offers only the very best. Reservations can be made at any Small Luxury Hotels of the World property by calling 1-800-525-4800, the new iPhone app available as a free download from the Apple Apps store or via www.slh.com. Travel agents need only remember the GDS code LX for LuXury.
About Charming Inns®
Charming Inns® is a family of four elegant and historic bed and breakfast inns all located within the heart of downtown Charleston. The properties, which include the AAA Five Diamond Wentworth Mansion®, the AAA Four Diamond John Rutledge House Inn, the Kings Courtyard Inn and the Fulton Lane Inn, have received numerous national accolades, including three as members of Historic Hotels of America and one as a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World. In addition, Charming Inns owns and operates Mobil Four Star, AAA Four Diamond Circa 1886 restaurant located on the grounds of the Wentworth Mansion. For more information, call (843)722-8680 or visit www.CharmingInns.com.
