Ballantyne Magazine covers news, events, real estate, restaurants, shopping, health, schools and business in the upscale Ballantyne Area of Charlotte, NC.
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"At the end of the day, hotels aren't selling products," Radder says. "They're selling experiences." can relax in privacy at the hotel. That's an advantage his hotel will always have over the high-rise luxury hotels in uptown Charlotte, he says. Personal and professional connections drew Radder here. His wife, Kim, is from South Carolina. Coming here also represents a chance to work again with H.C. "Smoky" Bissell, whom he got to know 25 years ago while managing a Marriott in Jacksonville, Fla. Bissell had an ownership stake in that Marriott, and The Bissell Companies Inc. owns The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge. Radder's most important job as general manager, he says, is overseeing the hotel's 430 employees — making sure they have the training and tools they need to make guests feel special. At the end of the day, he says, hotels FALL 2010 aren't selling products. They're selling experiences. And having the best, well-trained and well-equipped employees can enhance those experiences. But as the hotel has aged, it's also time to update parts of it, he says. At the top of his list: changes to the spa and restaurant. He says the spa offers strong service and he looks forward to further developing it as a world-class spa. The Gallery Restaurant, he says, offers a good, traditional experience, but needs to be freshened up to keep pace with guests' changing expectations. He's discussing the scope of both projects with his bosses. Still, Radder applauds the hotel owner's interest in spending money to keep The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge a world-class destination, even in tough economic times. Just last year, the hotel added an outdoor pool and bar and two tennis courts. "Usually when times are hard, people start cutting corners," Radder says. "There are no cutting corners here." CELEBRATING TEN YEARS 2000-2010 BALLANTYNE MAGAZINE 31