Our management team has decades of experience and knowledge in the hospitality and vacation ownership industries and has a great track record in helping revitalize resort properties. Everything we do and every decision we make is guided by our adherence to our Core Values.
Scott Styron, President, LaTour Hotels and Resorts
As President of LaTour Hotels and Resorts, Mr. Styron works with the executive team to drive the strategic direction of the company, developing and maintaining a positive corporate culture and delivering maximum profitability for our shareholders. He works closely with VP of Operations and General Managers to ensure adherence to brand standards and corporate policy.
Prior to his current role, Mr. Styron served as Chief Operating Officer for Patton Hospitality Management as well as Vice President of Resort Operations and Director of U.S. Resort Operations for Festiva.
In 2009 Mr. Styron moved to Asheville, North Carolina, to develop the rental division of Festiva. That division has since grown to produce nearly $30 million in annual revenues.
Prior to joining Festiva, Mr. Styron served in several hotel management positions notably within Interstate Hotels and Resorts and Hilton Hotels where he earned two consecutive Pinnacle Awards of Excellence. He has nearly 30 years in the hospitality industry serving in almost every aspect of hotel and resort operations.
Mr. Styron received his bachelor’s degree in retailing from the University of South Carolina, is a Registered Resort Professional from the American Resort Development Association and holds several industry certifications from the American Hotel and Lodging Association.
John Small, Vice Chairman, LaTour Hotels and Resorts
John E. Small is one of the most well-known hospitality executives in the mixed-use industry, with a broad and extensive background in the travel, tourism, and vacation industry. From 2000 to 2017, John was the founder and the Chairman of ResortCom International. Concurrently with that position, for the last ten years, John has served as Vice Chairman of LaTour Hotels and Resorts, a boutique hospitality group acquired from ResortCom by Zealandia Holding Company of Asheville, North Carolina. Zealandia is one of the largest independent development groups in the mixed-use industry with holdings that include Festiva Resorts, Patton Hospitality, Vacation Condos (a large rental marketing group), and Resort Travel Exchange (RTX) an exchange and travel company with over 100,000 members.
John has worked on six continents and has held key management positions at some of the world’s leading properties including the Shangri La Hotel – Singapore, Block Hotels Africa, Sun City Resort – South Africa, Sugarbush Resort – Vermont, Royal Lahaina Resort – Maui, and Waiohai/Poipu Resorts – Kauai. His cruise line experience covers Sitmar Cruises, Royal Viking Line, and Princess Cruise Lines. He has operated Hotels, Resorts, Safari Game Lodges, and Cruise Ships. While under his management, these entities received worldwide recognition as leaders in the industry. John was a Senior Vice President of RCI, the largest international vacation exchange company, and Chief Operating Officer of RCI Management (RCIM). During his time as President and Chief Operating Officer of RCIM, he was instrumental in growing RCIM from 19 to over 43 resorts, in three and one-half years. During his tenure, RCIM won 40 American Resort Development Association (ARDA) Awards and received special recognition as the Employer of Choice in the Timeshare Resort Industry by ARDA. Prior to leaving RCI, John conceived, wrote, and developed the Fractional Exchange Business Plan Program for RCI, now called the Registry Collection. As well, John was instrumental in expanding the Fractional Ownership concept worldwide for the industry for the past eighteen years. John was President and Founder of International Resort Management (IRM). In 2002, IRM merged with Resort Communications to form ResortCom International. John is married to his wife of over 30 years, Denise, and resides in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Kevin Blocker, Senior Vice President of Operations, LaTour Hotels and Resorts
Mr. Blocker supervises the daily operations of LaTour’s managed properties. Working with regional directors and property managers, his focus includes financial performance, property and asset management, driving customer service scores, and business development. With over 30 years of experience in the hotel & resort industry, Mr. Blocker began his career in the limited-service hotel field and transitioned to resort management in 2004. He has opened and managed several properties in the US and Caribbean. Prior to joining LaTour, he served as Director of Board Relations, Quality Assurance Director, Regional Operations Director, Special Projects and Acquisitions, and Director of Association Compliance. Born in Columbia, South Carolina, Mr. Blocker received his degree in Hotel, Restaurant, & Tourism Administration from the University of South Carolina and is a licensed real estate broker in Asheville, NC.
Jeremy Moser, Senior regional director of operations, LaTour Hotels and Resorts
Jeremy began his hospitality career more than 20 years ago on a five-star Mississippi River cruise line working his way up to operations management. From 2001 to 2006, Jeremy worked front services at a full-service AAA 4-diamond business hotel and conference center while earning his degree from the Haworth College of Business at Western Michigan University. After graduation, Jeremy worked in fractional ownership for Fairfield Resorts and Wyndham Vacation Ownership before transitioning to the Zealandia family as a General Manager over 10 years ago. He last served as the Area Manager of Resort Operations for Patton Hospitality Management in Myrtle Beach in addition to maintaining his General Manager role at Ellington – Wachesaw Plantation East. He serves on the board of directors for the Canadian Vacation Ownership Association (CVOA) and is a Registered Resort Professional from the American Resort Development Association (ARDA). Jeremy currently oversees the day-to-day operations for the LaTour Hotels and Resorts West region to support growth in owner experiences, rental services, consulting services, as well as property and assets management.
Daniel Hamman, Senior regional director of operations, LaTour Hotels and Resorts
Based in Orlando, Daniel joined LaTour in January 2017. He oversees the operations of hotels, resorts, and rental programs in Florida and Alabama. Like many in the industry, Daniel began his 20-year hospitality career working line-level positions, primarily in front office operations. Prior to joining LaTour, he held management positions with Choice Hotels, Best Western, IHG, Shilo Inns, and Diamond Resorts.
While working as a front desk supervisor for a full-service hotel and conference center, Daniel earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in professional writing with a minor in business and international studies from Brigham Young University-Idaho. Upon graduation from BYU-Idaho, he was a volunteer intern at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. Daniel worked in Brazil from 2002-2004 where he became fluent in Portuguese. His international experience, foreign language abilities, and diverse geographic experience contribute to his success in building and leading diverse teams. He enjoys finding solutions to challenging problems and developing the people around him, earning the C. Wayne Kinser Leadership Award in 2019. Daniel is a licensed community association manager in Florida and is an active member of the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association.
Travel is more than just work for Daniel. He enjoys frequent road trips with his wife of 15 years and their three children, exploring state parks, natural springs, beaches, and cities together. Their love of travel gives Daniel ways to explore and learn from the guest’s side of the experience and apply it in his work.
Jackie Wickiser, Senior regional director of operations, LaTour Hotels and Resorts
Based in Central Florida, Jackie Wickiser joined LaTour Hotels & Resorts in 2018, where she oversees resorts in the Eastern United States. Born and raised in the Northeast, her family owned a restaurant, nightclub, and banquet facility in New Jersey where she held various positions such as server, bartender, prep cook, maître d’, and various management positions. She learned all facets of restaurant and banquet management, which made for a natural transition into the hospitality industry.
She began her 30-year career in hotels and resorts working as the Food and Beverage Manager at the Sands Hotel and Casino in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This is where her passion for the hotel industry began. During her time in San Juan, she learned Spanish and is now bilingual.
After 3 years in the Caribbean, she returned to the US and settled in Orlando, Florida where she worked as a front desk agent to learn more about hotel operations. Shortly after, she was recruited as an Assistant General Manager for Extended Stay America and grew to General Manager. With a strong desire to lead a large, full-service hotel, she worked as a Director of Housekeeping with Interstate Hotels & Resorts. In 2003, she transitioned into the vacation ownership resort segment as Executive Housekeeper. She held several roles during her 16-year tenure with Island One/Diamond Resorts such as Director of Housekeeping, Engineering and Facilities Manager, Director of Operations, and finally reached her goal as General Manager of one of Diamond Resort’s largest properties of 638 units and waterpark. Over the course of her career, she has overseen various resort openings, large renovation projects, and mechanical projects such as commercial laundry renovations. She specializes in optimizing distressed assets and has a strong focus on enhancing guest service and guest experience through training and efficiency. Jackie enjoys mentoring her team and developing new leaders. She has served on various committees to develop training programs, served as a business partner on corporate initiatives, and was a finalist for Diamond Resort’s “Resort of the Year” in 2017.
Jackie has a love for travel, exercise, and spending time with her family and dogs, along with a passion for gardening, frequenting plant & garden shows, and farmers markets. She is very active in the community and the Central Florida Hotel Lodging Association.