Laura McIver Appointed GM of El Encanto

Laura McIver has been appointed as General Manager of El Encanto, a luxury hotel in Santa Barbara due to reopen in March 2013.

Beginning on 6 August 2012 as General Manager, McIver will oversee all the day-to-day operations of the hotel which is part of Orient-Express.

“Laura’s vast experience in the hospitality industry makes her the ideal choice for El Encanto,” said Ali Kasikci, Regional Managing Director for Orient-Express North America, Mexico and Caribbean. “Beyond her proven expertise to successfully run and manage luxury properties, her intimate knowledge of Santa Barbara positions her to be a strategic force behind the reopening of this community icon.”

Most recently, McIver served as General Manager of Canary Hotel in Santa Barbara and she has more than 20 years experience in the hospitality industry. She has held senior positions with ETC Hotels including Hotel Casa del Mar and Shutters on the Beach.

McIver is an avid supporter of local businesses and non-profit organisations and she is presently the Board Chair for the Santa Barbara Conference & Visitor’s Bureau, Board Secretary of the Santa Barbara Region Chamber of Commerce, on the Executive Leadership Committee for the American Heart Association and a member of the Dream Foundation’s Advisory Board.

Part of the Orient-Express portfolio since its purchase in 2004, El Encanto has been closed since June 2006, undergoing an extensive restoration to recapture the romance and glamour that made it a favourite getaway of Hollywood’s elite.

Nestled on seven-acres of gloriously landscaped and historic gardens, El Encanto enjoys sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean from its commanding hilltop perch.

The hotel features 92 bungalows, a boutique spa, signature restaurant featuring California coastal cuisine and a Santa Barbara dedicated wine list, an outdoor swimming pool, a window-lined ballroom with private terrace, three meeting rooms with panoramic ocean views, and an array of outdoor event venues.

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