A News Release Under Scrutiny
A news release issued by the Grove Isle Hotel & Spa and published by the hospitality industry media
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Noble House Hotels & Resorts Appoints Michael D. Allen to General Manager of the Grove Isle Hotel & Spa
COCONUT GROVE, FL (July 27, 2005) — Noble House Hotels & Resorts has announced the appointment of Michael D. Allen to general manager of The Grove Isle Hotel & Spa, the luxury boutique hotel on Biscayne Bay, set in the heart of Coconut Grove. In his new position, Mr. Allen will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day management and operations at the 49-room property, inclusive of its restaurant, spa and club.
Mr. Allen has held executive level positions within the hospitality industry for more than 20 years. Most recently, he served as the general manager of Nantucket Island Resorts [Emphasis added.] in Nantucket, Massachusetts. While there, Mr. Allen oversaw four boutique resorts as well as their residential rental home components, including The White Elephant, Harbor House Village, The Wharf Cottages and the Harbor View Inn. Prior to that, Mr. Allen held various operational roles within Interstate Hotels Corporation and the Marriott Corporation. Additionally, he has experience working with private club memberships at the Sawgrass Resort.
“Michael’s vast experience in and knowledge of the boutique and luxury resort experience is of great benefit to The Grove Isle Hotel & Spa,” said Marc Pujalet, president of Noble House Hotels & Resorts. “Michael and his team will ensure an extraordinary guest experience, while continuing to position the property as one of the premier boutique hotel destinations in South Florida,” added Pujalet.
Mr. Allen holds a B.S. in business from the University of Massachusetts and has an A.A.S. in travel and tourism administration from Adirondack Community College.
[The above was reported in the hospitality industry press and by The Center for Hospitality Research at Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration.]
Sources at the Nantucket Island Resorts confirmed Mr. Allen left Nantucket Island Resorts in May 2001.
As reported by http://www.ehotelier.com/ and http://www.hotel-online.com/: “Khaled Hashem is the new Managing Director of Nantucket Island Resorts, taking over from Michael Ducamp, who has left the company. Hashem had been the General Manager and Director of Operations for the group since September 2004.”
Sources at the Sawgrass Resort confirmed: “We have no record Mr. Allen has worked here in recent years."
Sources at Noble House & Resorts confirmed: Marc Pujalet left the company some months ago. Bob Foster is the president.
The evidence is overwhelming and irrefutable:
Michael D. Allen categorically refuses to let the guests and employees of the Grove Isle Hotel & Spa, the members of the Grove Isle Club, the general public, his colleagues in the hospitality industry, and the members of the media know where he was employed from May 2001 until July 2005.
Mr. Vokey spills lots of ink (actually, they are keystrokes turning loose “explanatory” email messages) beating around the bushes re Mr. Allen’s employment history and attacking Heinz Dinter with malicious and false messages re Grove Isle’s new general manager for the sole and express purposes of maligning the excommunicated Grove Isle Club member and hiding the truth.
Mr. Vokey, why don’t you just simply tell the world where Michael D. Allen was employed during those four-plus years just prior to being hired by Noble House. The world is entitled to know because the Grove Isle Hotel & Spa is eager to play host to and serve the world. Please, let us be honest — your guests and club members deserve it.
Let us not forget Noble House’s track record of filling the post of general manager and club director at Grove Isle during the past 7 years:
■ Ed Woodson (1998-2000)
■ Jean Marc Jalbert (2000-2001)
■ Lloud Van Horn (2001-2002)
■ Ron Burleson (2002-2004)
■ Raluca Leibowitz (2004-2005)
■ John Leinhardt (June 2005)
■ Michael D. Allen (July 1, 2005)
And underscoring employment stability at the Grove Isle Hotel & Spa, 4 key managers resigned during August 2005 — less than 2 months after the new GM’s arrival:
■ Baleen Chef Donna Wynter
■ Baleen Sous Chef (second in charge)
■ Spa Terre Director Monique Michaud
■ Director of Membership Denyse Hall
posted by noble truths | 9:37 AM
3 Comments:
I was copied in the following email (presented here verbatim) addressed to Frank Martinez on Saturday, November 5, 2005 from Scott R. Vokey, Vice President and General Counsel, Noble House Hotels & Resorts (those responses deserving and/or requiring a response are numbered [1], etc. and given below):
There are no inconsistencies in Michael's resume. The "incorrect understanding" you refer to in your email below is solely a function of the fact you made your allegations from what Heinz told you and also worked off your interpretation of a press release, which you manipulated to imply Michael was fired from his last jobs(s). Michael was not fired from Nantucket Island Resorts. I have no idea who Heinz talked with about that, but his investigative reporting is not accurate. [1]
No question that you wanted to create the impression Michael was fired to stir up controversy with members and guests. And what does any of that have to do with the situation with Heinz? [2]
It would be like us maligning Heinz by selectively publishing to members information about his past - maybe there is something there related to his Ph.D., the research of his thesis, prior lawsuit, relief from creditors, his finances, etc., etc. etc. What would be the point? Who cares? I am sure the members do not. We do not and have no interest in or energy to do so.
Heinz past is not relevant, unless you or Heinz want to make it relevant. You wrote what you did about Michael at your own risk, which I begged you not to do. I am sorry you got into the frenzy of Heinz' vindictiveness. You relied on Heinz investigative reporting and you did that at yourown risk. Obviously he is not an independent, objective investigator/reporter. His sleuthing is only designed to do one thing - embarass Michael, Grove Isle and Noble House in the eyes of our guests, staff and members. I beg you to stop this campaign against Michael, Noble House and Grove Isle now.
I have not blocked my email from receiving email from Heinz, nor does his email go into my Outlook Junk E-mail. I doubt seriously he ever sent any that was returned. My mailbox gets pretty full (especially with stuff from Heinz) but I have not blocked my email. I have no intention of proving that to you or Heinz.
Let me remind you that Heinz was terminated as a vendor to Grove Isle. He made demands and threats. Michael and I started to investigate the background of his relationship with grove Isle and he made more threats and demans. He then went nuclear and ultimately made more threats, all kinds of demands, went to the members & condo owners, published all this drivel about Grove Isle, etc. which led us to the private settlement agreement with the prohibitions about using the Grove Isle facilities. And here we are still dealing with the same stuff as before the settlement. In my opinion, Heinz is too clever by about half. [3]
Had Heinz simply said fine, I understand you want to publish your own club newsletter, but I want to be a member. let's true up my account because you owe me some credit, and agreed to pay his dues like other members before he went nuclear with his threats, demands, etc. and all the publicity (which I remind you none of which was initiated by Grove Isle/Noble House - if anyone has trashed Heinz reputation it is he and you) we would not be here. [4]
And on top of that you got into this frenzy, took up his cause, rejected our invitation to sit down and find out the facts in a reasonable fashion. Instead you demand we bring in all these other folks to the discussion with the idea you'll marshall some wave of support for bringing Heinz back into the club, including by the tennis staff. And you have used the same guerilla tactics as Heinz with your email to the hospitality online news services and apparently to members and condo owners.
There are other issues. For example, you will find that the allegations related to Jamie Colee's 1999/2000 letter also are unsubstantiated. All the work was done. Again, I have no intention of proving that to you and Heinz. And I also begged you and Heinz not to publish that. In any event, what is the point of looking in the rear view mirror of 5 or 6 years ago? Do you honestly think that is news? That is an irrelevant distraction to our efforts to focus on the future of the club and resort and especially on the prompt repair of the hurricane damage, including the tennis courts (about which the board of the condo association is fully aware). Do you think we are not in contact with the condo association and that your email letter will come as a surprise? [5]
So should we focus on responding to your allegations and those of Heinz from 5 years ago, to your allegations about Michael Allen's resume, etc., or focus on our hurricane repairs, client and member service, and helping our associates get their lives and jobs back in order? The choice for us is obvious.
You will not even give me your phone and address and you want me to send you Michael's resume. Please stop this. Why won't you give me your phone and address?
I understand you are a lawyer. I also understand Heinz is familiar with legal process. Michael Allen's resume is irrelevant to any dispute between you, Heinz and Grove Isle. Merely for discussion sake, let us assume Michael was fired (which he was not!!!) by Nantucket Island Resorts. In the controversy with you and Heinz it has no relevancy or bearing. It is irrelevant, except to the extent you and Heinz tried to threaten, cajole, demand, blackmail Grove Isle into letting Heinz return in some fashion to Grove Isle. You obviously have set out to tarnish Michael's image and that of Noble House in the eyes of the members, the press, the public and condo owners. You took that risk and we reserved all our rights, and continue to do so.
As a lawyer, you know well then that if you and / or Heinz bring a lawsuit there likely will be counterclaims and also there likely will be cross and / or third party claims. And what is the claim in the lawsuit? Grove Isle had a right to terminate Heinz as a vendor. Is his reputation the issue? Well it is you and Heinz who have made it one, if it is. If he opens that door, we have no choice but to go through it. Michael's resume/past will be irrelevant in any lawsuit by you and Heinz, except to the extent you have sought to trash Michael and that is likley to be part of a counterclaim. Heinz' resume/past will not be irrelevant since he and you seem to want to make it an issue.
I see none of us being benefitted by a lawsuit, except maybe our lawyers. Now is a good time to stop this. Michael and I have spent many hours over the last weeks dealing with you and Heinz and dealing with the frenzy you have sought to create. The email exchange, which includes promises by Heinz, is voluminous. Please pass the volumes along to the lawyer you and Heinz have retained so he or she gets the full picture.
We are not going to keep devoting our personal time to you and Heinz. We are far better served focusing our time and resources on on other matters, including communicating with our associates, guests, members and condo association.
If you and Heinz have retained a lawyer, please have him or her call me next week. My office number is 425.732.4980. I simply wish to stop this enormous waste of time, energy and resources.
Please stop and please have the lawyer you and Heinz have retained call me.
Scott R. Vokey
Vice President & General Counsel
Noble House Hotels & Resorts
+++ RESPONSES: +++
[1] The news release was not manipulated; it was presented verbatim, exactly as released by the Grove Isle Hotel & Spa. There is absolutely no reference whatsoever to Michael Allen having been fired from his last job(s). The accompanying “Clarifying Notes” stated facts.
[2] Does it not prompt the obvious question, “Where has Michael been for the past four years?” when the news release of July 27, 2005 states, “Most recently, he served as the general manager of Nantucket Island Resorts” and officials of the Massachusetts establishment confirm Allen’s employment was terminated in May 2001.
[3] My written agreement for services to Grove Isle was acknowledged in writing by Messrs. Vokey and Allen in a letter dated October 12, 2005: “As we have indicated to you, we have researched your claim and have gone back to former employees as well as records to unearth the facts of your business relationship with Grove Isle Club.” Furthermore, Vokey and Allen agreed to pay me in full for what I was still being owed. The agreement also called for a 60-day written notice by either party. Instead of honoring the 60-day termination notice as any legitimate and honorable business person would, Allen summarily kicked me out of the club and threatened me with criminal prosecution if I set foot unto their property. Wow! So I made “threats”? Mr. Vokey, this accusation, unless proven true, is actionable. Prove your serious accusations. I demand you prove them forthwith.
[4] That’s exactly what I expressed in writing: Just pay me, let me be a member, and we all live happily ever after. BUT, I documented the horrible food quality and pathetic service at the Baleen restaurant and submitted our report to Mr. Allen (though I had submitted the report in confidence to the general manager and pointed out to him we were doing this to be of help to him), Mr. Allen responded by kicking me out of the club.
[5] Mr. Vokey, calling someone a liar is not gentlemanly. Let it suffice to say, your statement, which I repeat here, is a lie: “All the work was done.” The truth is, very, very little was done — especially the MOST CRITICAL work has NOT been done. Mr. Vokey, some of the work that was not done in 2000 is news — it is VERY SIGNIFICANT news, honestly. I do admit, I am not an expert on problems addressed in Jamie Colee’s letter of January 12, 2000. Perhaps eyewitnesses and experts should have the last word.
Again, you did not tell the truth
Dear Mr. Vokey,
In your email addressed to Frank Martinez dated Saturday, November 5, 2005, and sent at 10:35 am, you stated as follows:
“I have not blocked my email from receiving email from Heinz, nor does his email go into my Outlook Junk E-mail. I doubt seriously he ever sent any that was returned. My mailbox gets pretty full (especially with stuff from Heinz) but I have not blocked my email. I have no intention of proving that to you or Heinz.”
I have reviewed the records — can submit them as evidence in a court of law and can testify under oath — and these records show that Dr. Dinter sent you email messages at svokey@noblehousehotels.com on three (3) occasions prior to the date of your utterance above and one more today, and all four email messages did not reach you because they were blocked. The dates and times are (1) November 4 at 6:25 am, (2) November 4 at 11:08 am, (3) November 5 at 2:59 am, and (4) November 7 at 11:08 am.
The latest email contained the following message: “Mr. Vokey, you have accused me of making threats. Such accusation, unless proven true, is actionable. I demand you prove your serious accusation forthwith. Heinz Dinter”.
Lo and behold, I sent an email message to you today at 2:27 pm at svokey@noblehousehotels.com and it was not rejected. My email contained the following message: “Mr. Vokey, Your comments regarding Mr. Colee’s letter of January 12, 2000 puzzle me. Referring to “looking in the rear view mirror” could not possibly refer to the statute of limitations, could it? Paul David”
Your comments are contained in your November 5 email response to Frank Martinez and are published verbatim in the comments section under the heading “A News Release Under Scrutiny” at my blog www.nobletruths.blogspot.com.
Again, Mr. Vokey, you did not tell the truth, did you? What are you trying to hide from public scrutiny?
For more information, I invite you to visit my blog at
www.nobletruths.blogspot.com
From time to time I will advise when another blog entry has been posted.
Paul David
davidfortruth@yahoo.com
I received a letter dated November 9, 2005 from Scott R. Vokey, Vice President & General Counsel of Noble House Hotels & Resorts which states: "You directly, and indirectly through claims by Paul David, Frank Martinez and Gerry Sanchez, have challenged the employment history of Michael Allen, especially at Sawgrass Resort & Spa and at Nantucket Island Resorts. In my opinion you have each implied our press release falsified his employment history and implied he was fired from previous positons."
In my opinion, I can find no falsification. The blog entry simply reports the truth. Perhaps, Mr. Vokey, you care to explain the discrepancy noted, i.e., the news release of July 27, 2005 says, "Most recently" and Nantucket Island Resorts confirmed Mr. Allen's employment came to an end in May 2001. That's a discrepancy representing more than four years. Where was Mr. Allen employed from 2001 until 2005?
In an abundance of caution, the blog entry was changed from "Mr. Allen's employment terminated in May 2001." to "Mr. Allen left Nantucket Island Resorts in May 2001." We have no knowledge of the reason for employment termination and do not wish to imply what you apparently imply.
With regard to the Sawgrass Resort employment, nothing is said about or implied Mr. Allen having been fired. Again, the blog publishes a fact, i.e., the truth.
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