Changes At Top of Resort

Donald Ponniah, hired last summer as President and General Manager of Grand Traverse Resort & Spa, has been relieved of his duties. Richard Bailey, Interim CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians, announced the news to Resort staff yesterday. The Grand Traverse Band owns the Resort.

Bailey also announced that Scott Chouinard, who had been the Resort’s Assistant GM and Vice President of Finance, will serve as Interim President & General Manager. A search for a permanent replacement will begin immediately. Bailey did not elaborate on the reasons for Ponniah's sudden departure.

Ponniah came to the Resort last summer from the Los Angeles Hilton North and brought big ideas. In a February 2011 Traverse City Business News cover story, Ponniah talked about the possibility of increasing the Resort's scope by managing additional hotel properties, growing its own food and more. He championed an increased focus on superior customer service and additional investments in sales and marketing to boost Resort occupancy. He made several staff changes along the way.

Sources tell The Ticker that Ponniah's hard-charging style and rapid changes clashed with the Resort's culture.

"So far I haven't failed with any property," Ponniah said in the February interview. "The only thing that will stop me is an act of God. That's my only enemy."

His most public cause was a campaign to bring more flights and new airline service to Cherry Capital Airport. He told The Ticker in August, "We’re told many times [by customers] that there are not enough flights and that what they charge is a rip-off. You can go London to Chicago for $353, but you can’t go Chicago to Traverse City for under $700."

The Airport's Kevin Klein tells The Ticker that, despite Ponniah's exit, he expects the airline's efforts to lower prices and increase flight options to continue.

"We have been working directly with the Tribal leadership – not just with Donald – so we'll continue to do that and move forward with our strong relationship," says Klein. "We've been working with the Resort and Casino to try to help them build their conference business and build the region as a destination, no matter who's in charge out there."

The Tribe's other business leadership position, the CEO of the Economic Development Corporation, is also open, with Richard Bailey serving in an interim capacity since Jim McWilliams was let go in June.