George Schweitzer has been appointed as Managing Director at The Benson Hotel
The Benson, a 287-room property located near Portland's iconic Pearl District and operated and managed by Coast Hotels, today announced the appointment of George Schweitzer as its managing director. In his new role, Schweitzer will be responsible for leading and managing all hotel operations. He will also work closely with appropriate departments to ensure the exceptional guest experiences for which the property is known.
Schweitzer brings over 30 years of experience in hospitality management, general management, software development and entrepreneurship to his new position at The Benson. Most recently, he served as CEO of West Coast Event Productions, where he managed operations, sales and administration for the company's Portland headquarters, as well as branch locations in Bend, Oregon, and Las Vegas, Nevada. Prior to that, Schweitzer was regional vice president of the Portland-based hotel management company Crescent Hotels & Resorts, where he oversaw a portfolio of properties throughout the country under multiple leading brands, including Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and Sheraton. He also served as an acting general manager at the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas, Texas. Additionally, Schweitzer was executive vice president and chief operating officer of Red Lion Hotels Corporation, a publicly traded company, from 2008 to 2013.
Schweitzer attended the University of Montana, the University of California-Los Angeles and California State University-Long Beach, where he received his educational background in business administration and political science. He also holds leadership positions in various community organizations: the Washington Tourism Alliance Board, the Spokane Metropolitan Boys & Girls Club and the Washington State University School of Hospitality Management.