Marcus Hotels executive leaves to head Kalahari's new Pocono resort
Steve Magnuson is leaving as vice president of operations at Marcus Hotels & Resorts to manage the newest location for Wisconsin Dells-based Kalahari Resorts, according to a press release from Kalahari Wednesday.
Magnuson, who joined the hotels division of Milwaukee-based Marcus Corp. in 1994, will serve as vice president and managing director of Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in Pocono Mountains, Pa., a $230 million resort and indoor waterpark slated to open in summer 2015.
“His extensive background in creating unparalleled guest experiences, paired with his iron-clad ability to steer growth and foster success for resorts pre-and post-launch, will be essential to Kalahari’s expansion – not only in the Pocono Mountains, but beyond,” said Todd Nelson, owner of Kalahari Resorts, which has locations in Wisconsin Dells and in Sandusky, Ohio.
Magnuson joined Marcus 20 years prior as general manager of Grand Geneva Resort and Spa, according to the press release from Kalahari. There, he oversaw a multimillion-dollar overhaul of the 1,300-acre Lake Geneva property.
His trajectory follows former Marcus Hotels president Bill Otto, who resurfaced in 2013 as executive vice president at Kalahari Resorts after resigning from Marcus in 2011. Marcus Hotels' search for a new president is still underway after Otto's successor, Kirk Rose, resigned roughly a year ago.
Reported by: Milwaukee Business Journal
Magnuson, who joined the hotels division of Milwaukee-based Marcus Corp. in 1994, will serve as vice president and managing director of Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in Pocono Mountains, Pa., a $230 million resort and indoor waterpark slated to open in summer 2015.
“His extensive background in creating unparalleled guest experiences, paired with his iron-clad ability to steer growth and foster success for resorts pre-and post-launch, will be essential to Kalahari’s expansion – not only in the Pocono Mountains, but beyond,” said Todd Nelson, owner of Kalahari Resorts, which has locations in Wisconsin Dells and in Sandusky, Ohio.
Magnuson joined Marcus 20 years prior as general manager of Grand Geneva Resort and Spa, according to the press release from Kalahari. There, he oversaw a multimillion-dollar overhaul of the 1,300-acre Lake Geneva property.
His trajectory follows former Marcus Hotels president Bill Otto, who resurfaced in 2013 as executive vice president at Kalahari Resorts after resigning from Marcus in 2011. Marcus Hotels' search for a new president is still underway after Otto's successor, Kirk Rose, resigned roughly a year ago.
Reported by: Milwaukee Business Journal
