The Board of Directors of Mountain Lake Lodge – the Virginia hotel where the original Dirty Dancing was filmed 35 years ago – has announced the promotion of Heidi Stone to President and CEO, who is a Saratoga Springs native.
Stone brings 35-plus years of hospitality experience to her new role. During her extensive career, Stone has served as Director of Sales & Marketing for the independent four-star High Peaks Resort in Lake Placid and Berkeley Hotel in Richmond, VA, and has worked with brands such as Doubletree, Disney World, Hilton, Omni Resorts, and Peabody Hotels. Originally from Saratoga Springs, she earned her degree in hotel and restaurant management at SUNY.
Stone’s first hotel job was at age 16 at the front desk of the Howard Johnson in Lake George, where her general manager became her mentor and instilled in her enough inspiration for an entire career. Stone believed then and now that anything is possible – her advice for young people starting out in the hotel industry is to seek out a leader to mentor them. Now, Stone leads with a culture that inspires employees, gives them opportunities to grow, and promotes from within.
“I was fortunate to get the mentoring and training I needed, and I want to do the same for those coming up behind me,” said Stone, who strives to grow associates “on purpose,” provide training to be their best and become long-term players.
Having served as General Manager since 2013, her appointment comes at a time when the award-winning resort has not only survived the pandemic but recorded its two best years ever. She and her team have transformed the historic property from a near-ruin a decade ago into a highly successful lodging destination that enjoys soaring occupancy along with national recognition that celebrate its Dirty Dancing cult status.
For more information about Mountain Lake Lodge, visit www.mtnlakelodge.com.
