SAL V. SPANO, CHA, CHAE

 

His hospitally career began in 1968 at the Diplomat Hotel and Club a 1,160 room property spread over 400 acres located in Hollywood, Florida, he served as Comptroller with multi-property responsibilities in both financial and operations. During his tenure, he participated in new acquisitions, sales of two hotel properties and mangement of the Diplomat Mall and their real estate group.

In 1981 he joined Arvida Corporation’s hospitality group as Director of Accounting and Comptroller for the five star Boca Raton Hotel and Club. During this period he made major contributions in the areas of operations, financial management and technology. Mr. Spano was promoted to Vice President Finance of the Boca Raton Hotel and Arvida Resort Management Associates (newly formed management company following the $100 million dollar sale of the Boca Hotel).

A separate group called Arvida Hospitality Management Inc. was formed by the parent company, Arvida Disney Corporation. Mr. Spano first served as Vice President of Finance for this group until 1984. With the expansion of this division, he was appointed Chief Administrator as the new Vice President of Administration with operational and division organizational growth responsibilities of managing the Boca West Club Inc., Boca West Community, Boca West Resort, Broken Sound Club Inc., Town Swim and Racquet Club, the Radisson Parkway Center Suite Hotel in Boca Raton, the Marriot at Sawgrass, Jacksonville and the Ocala Hilton Hotel in Ocala, Florida. In addition, its affiliate Arvida Resort Management Associates, held the management contracts for the Boca Raton Hotel and Club and management consulting agreements with the Longboat Key Club, Sarasota and The Sawgrass Resort and Club, Jacksonville, Florida.

In 1992 Mr Spano Formed International Hospitality Mangement, Inc.(IHMI) As President he coordinated the merger and acquisition of Sausman Hotel Group and Excel Corporation of America. This company had direct daily operation and management responsibilities of the company’s eight properties, they also managed five separate food and beverage units from full service to banquets in both the hotel and club enviroment.

From 1995 through 1997 after IHMI was sold he held posts as Director of Operations for Willams Island and President and General Manager of Wycliffe Golf & Country Club. From 1997 to present Mr. Spano was the President of Palm Beach Polo and Country Club Community for nearly two decades and if the President of The Tesoro Community. As President of the two master property association he provides operational oversight to 45 separate communities in Polo and 1,600 completed homes within a 2,200 acre resort community. At Tesoro there is over 1,400 acre resort community with a build out of over 900 homes. Mr Spano is Vice President in 14 active corporations kindly see the attached organizational chart.

He holds the coveted CHAE designation (Certified Hospitality Accounting Executive) from the International Association of Hospitality Accountants, and the CHA (Certified Hotel Administrator) from the American Hotel and Motel Association in additon to a Real Estate license from the State of Florida. He is an Honorary Community Professor at Florida International University and HFTP has established a schorlarship in his name in recognition of his industry contributions.