Marcus Hotels & Resorts has announced that Kevin Karau has been named general manager of Heidel House Resort & Spa in Green Lake, Wis. The company also announced that Mark Fenton will assume the general manager role at Timber Ridge Lodge & Waterpark in Lake Geneva, Wis.
Karau comes to Heidel House Resort & Spa after serving as general manager of Timber Ridge Lodge & Waterpark since 2014. In his new role, Karau will oversee the operations of the year-round destination resort located on Wisconsin’s deepest inland lake, including 18,000 square feet of meeting space, 180 guestrooms, dining establishments including Grey Rock restaurant and the award-winning Evensong Spa.
Karau joined Marcus Hotels & Resorts in 2013 as director of operations for the AAA Four-Diamond Grand Geneva Resort & Spa. Prior to joining Marcus Hotels & Resorts, he served as general manager of three beachfront hotels for Seahaven Beach Resorts in Panama City Beach, Fla. Karau’s more than 20-year hospitality career includes general manager roles under ResortQuest International, one of the largest vacation rental management companies in the U.S. He also served as director of lodging at Portofino Island Resort & Spa in Pensacola Beach, Fla. and hotel manager of Snowshoe Resort in Snowshoe, W.Va. under Intrawest Resorts. His prior experience includes serving as vacation rental operations manager for WaterColor Inn and Resort in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., and revenue manager of the Hermitage Hotel in Nashville, Tenn. He attended Belmont Abby College in North Carolina.
Fenton joins Timber Ridge Lodge & Waterpark after serving as resident manager at the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa. In his new role, he will oversee the operations of the only all-suite destination of its kind in the Midwest, offering year-round family fun featuring Moose Mountain Falls, a 50,000 square-foot indoor/outdoor waterpark, 225 suites, meeting spaces and family barbecue restaurant.
Prior to joining Marcus Hotels in 2014, Fenton was with Hyatt Hotels Corporation for nearly 25 years. He began his hospitality career as a corporate trainee, and was later promoted to director of rooms and senior director of rooms at prestigious locations including the Hyatt Waikiki Resort and Spa, Hyatt Regency San Francisco, Hyatt Regency Sacramento and Hyatt Charlotte. He graduated from Penn State University with a degree in hotel and restaurant management and attended Les Roches, a Swiss hotel school.
“We are confident that both Kevin and Mark will bring operational excellence to their new properties. They are proven hospitality leaders and will positively engage with the local communities and their associates,” said Joseph Khairallah, chief operating officer of Marcus Hotels & Resorts.
