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Bob Barto, new general manager of Beaver Run Resorts.
BRECKENRIDGE — Bob Barto moved to Summit County 30 years ago and started working as a dishwasher at the Keystone Lodge. He recently became general manager of Beaver Run Resort and Conference Center, one of Breckenridge's largest and most successful lodging businesses.
“I'm very excited about the opportunity,” Barto said, adding that he's received “a lot of support from Beaver Run and the local community.”
Barto is challenged with finding new revenue sources for Beaver Run. Revenue for 2009 so far is about 35 percent lower than 2008.
“The fun part now is for me to take what we know and work with staff to figure out what we need,” he said.
He's batting around ideas such as allowing people to bring dogs to the hotel on their vacations — a growing trend in the industry.
He also said research is under way to perhaps bring Mixed Martial Arts competition to the conference center. And if the hotel becomes pet friendly, perhaps dog shows could occur in the conference center, he said.
Despite the lower revenue, the company made changes to ensure profitability was only 6 percent off.
Beaver run has about 125 year-round employees and as many as 250 during peak season. Barto said only “a couple” were laid off as part of budget adjustments.
He said 5 percent pay cuts were made “top to bottom,” and the homeowner's association board put in raises for next year's budget.
Barto has been with Beaver Run for 18 years. He was assistant general manager to Joe Shackleton until the promotion.
Shackleton started local company Bridge Hospitality Management, which was recently selected to manage Beaver Run after the former, Park City-based company hit financial ruin.
Barto said one of the unique aspects of Beaver Run is a low turnover rate. The average time for a member of the executive committee is 15 years, and many of the management staff have been with the company for 10 or more years.
“It's very unheard of in this industry to have longevity,” he said, adding that managers at companies such as Hyatt Hotels and Resorts and the Marriott Hotels typically move after about two years.
He said Beaver Run offers 567 rooms, the “largest conference center under one roof” in the county and is a few steps away from the Beaver Run Super Chair on Peak 9.
“The lift is a huge part of what has made Beaver Run successful,” Barto said.
In the winter he keeps work and play in balance by hitting the slopes — sometimes night skiing at Keystone Resort with friends he's had since he moved to Summit in 1979.
Robert Allen can be contacted at (970) 668-4628 or rallen@summitdaily.com.
“I'm very excited about the opportunity,” Barto said, adding that he's received “a lot of support from Beaver Run and the local community.”
Barto is challenged with finding new revenue sources for Beaver Run. Revenue for 2009 so far is about 35 percent lower than 2008.
“The fun part now is for me to take what we know and work with staff to figure out what we need,” he said.
He's batting around ideas such as allowing people to bring dogs to the hotel on their vacations — a growing trend in the industry.
He also said research is under way to perhaps bring Mixed Martial Arts competition to the conference center. And if the hotel becomes pet friendly, perhaps dog shows could occur in the conference center, he said.
Despite the lower revenue, the company made changes to ensure profitability was only 6 percent off.
Beaver run has about 125 year-round employees and as many as 250 during peak season. Barto said only “a couple” were laid off as part of budget adjustments.
He said 5 percent pay cuts were made “top to bottom,” and the homeowner's association board put in raises for next year's budget.
Barto has been with Beaver Run for 18 years. He was assistant general manager to Joe Shackleton until the promotion.
Shackleton started local company Bridge Hospitality Management, which was recently selected to manage Beaver Run after the former, Park City-based company hit financial ruin.
Barto said one of the unique aspects of Beaver Run is a low turnover rate. The average time for a member of the executive committee is 15 years, and many of the management staff have been with the company for 10 or more years.
“It's very unheard of in this industry to have longevity,” he said, adding that managers at companies such as Hyatt Hotels and Resorts and the Marriott Hotels typically move after about two years.
He said Beaver Run offers 567 rooms, the “largest conference center under one roof” in the county and is a few steps away from the Beaver Run Super Chair on Peak 9.
“The lift is a huge part of what has made Beaver Run successful,” Barto said.
In the winter he keeps work and play in balance by hitting the slopes — sometimes night skiing at Keystone Resort with friends he's had since he moved to Summit in 1979.
Robert Allen can be contacted at (970) 668-4628 or rallen@summitdaily.com.
