Developer and Owner of Highlander Mountain House

If you could use only 3 words to describe your Highlander Mountain House, what would they be?

Layered, Warm, Soulful.

What makes Highlander Mountain House unique?

It’s a modern take on an English country house hotel transposed into the Southern Appalachian mountains. With a heavy dose of music, art and literature for spice! A place where guests can feel the layers of history.

Which Bellino product is your favorite?

I love them all but we use the percale linens and the guests consistently rave about them!

How do you unwind after a long day?

Surfing when at the beach or hiking/fly fishing when in the mountains.

Where is your favorite place to spend time at Highlander Mountain House?

In front of the massive wood burning fireplaces- they’re the heartbeat of the hotel.

What is the first thing you do when you wake up?

Kiss my daughter and grab a cup of coffee and a newspaper.

What is currently inspiring you within the travel and hospitality industry?

Smaller more intimate lodging experiences that connect guests to the context of their surroundings.

How did you discover and decide to develop a property in that area (highlands, NC)?

The landscape and the layers of history in the mountains of Western North Carolina totally inspired me. Hospitality to me is pure storytelling and I wanted to share the myriad of compelling influences and stories from this region with our guests.

As a developer, describe the 3 most important aspects you look for to embark on a new project.

Good bones, Good Location, and Compelling Vision- I can usually feel what I think an older property wants to be and envision how it will be used by the guests. The challenge is making it happen. But my vision is always very vivid to begin with.

Developing a property in a remote location versus a big city: can you describe advantages and disadvantages?

I seek to develop unique destinations within destination markets. And they are always places I want to be whether in the mountains, in a city or at the beach. And my rule of thumb is build the place where you want to stay. So it’s ultimately about trusting in your own taste and experiences.