Michael BlaksteenA native of Denmark, Michael Blaksteen comes to his new role with 15 years of experience within the food & beverage industry. Most recently, Mr. Blaksteen served as assistant food & beverage director for the Hilton Waikoloa Village on the Big Island of Hawaii, responsible for a food & beverage program generating $40 million in annual revenue with 13 full service outlets. He had originally joined the property in the role of banquet beverage manager. Previous to these appointments, Mr. Blaksteen was assistant food and beverage director for the historic, ocean-front Hotel Laguna of Laguna Beach, California. He gained important experience in opening a hotel while serving as front desk manager of The Hampton Inn, located in Foothill Ranch, California. Earlier in his career, Michael Blaksteen was employed in positions of increasing responsibility within the international cruise industry. He launched his career in hospitality at the Kur und Sporthotel Parkhotel Frank in Oberstdorf, Germany. Mr. Blaksteen earned his hotel management degree as Hotelkaufmann at the Staatliche Berufsschule Mindelheim in Germany. He is currently the Balli and Conseiller Société Mondiale du Vin of the Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, Bailliage de la Grande Île D'Hawaï. Additionally, he is a member of L'Academie de Gastronomie Brillat-Savarin and holds many prestigious Wine Spectator Awards of Excellence. Mr. Blaksteen is fluent in English, German and Danish as well as Norwegian and Swedish.