Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa Appoints Milan Drager as New General Manager
Forbes Five Star, AAA Five Diamond Resort Appoints Hospitality Veteran Milan Drager
Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, Southern California's only Relais & Châteaux property, has announced the appointment of Milan Drager as the new General Manager. A leader in the hospitality industry with over two decades of experience inclusive of Forbes Five Star and AAA Five Diamond properties, Drager will be leading the award-winning resort and spa which spans 45 sprawling acres with wide open spaces, lush gardens and olive and citrus groves.
"It is with great enthusiasm that we announce the addition of Milan Drager to our Rancho Valencia family," says Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa Co-Owner Jeff Jacobs. "With a background that showcases incredible global experience and a true grasp on the pulse and future of luxury hospitality, coupled with a deep appreciation for and understanding of the signature Rancho Valencia experience that people know and love, we couldn't be more excited to have Milan on board to guide us as we continue to bring the resort to new heights in our signature Rancho Valencia style."
Most recently serving as the General Manager at MacArthur Place in Sonoma for the past two years, Drager's career highlights include international management positions with the Shangri-La group at properties throughout Australia, Tokyo, Myanmar and Vancouver, in addition to a variety of roles across the industry, including Director of Food and Beverage with the Mandarin Oriental Group in San Francisco, as well as with Hilton International in Hawaii.
"Rancho Valencia is known as one of the world's most desired luxury destinations, rooted in warm hospitality, and a dedication to delivering memorable experiences," said Milan Drager, "I am excited to work alongside the dynamic team to ensure the success and continued growth of one of the most prestigious hotels,"
Drager's love and knowledge of hospitality stems from childhood, where guests were often welcomed into his family home over a shared meal. Driven by his intellectual curiosity, he ultimately turned these values into a career, earning his Masters of Business Administration in Hotel Management degree from leading hospitality school, École hôtelière de Lausanne, in addition to receiving certifications in hotel real estate investment, asset management and business administration from Cornell University.
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