Portland Harbor Hotel GM named Maine innkeeper of the year
HospitalityMaine, the non-profit trade group representing hotels and restaurants in Maine, named Gerard Kiladjian of the Portland Harbor Hotel its 2019 Innkeeper of the year.
Kiladjian, general manager of the downtown hotel and Inn at Diamond Cove, was recognized by his peers for his dedication to the industry for two decades.
“It’s a great time to be in the hospitality industry in Maine,” said Kiladjian, who is of Armenian heritage and grew up in Syria. He worked his way up through the industry at both branded and independent hotels in Canada, New Jersey and Boston before settling in Greater Portland.
For Kiladjian, who has a helpful, clear-eyed demeanor, the career has been a natural. “At 18, my mother kept telling me you’ll be good in hotel management,” he recalled.
Kiladjian joined Hart Hotels in 2004 as manager of the Portland Harbor Hotel where he also oversees BlueFin North Atlantic Seafood, the Inn at Diamond Cove and Diamond’s Edge Restaurant on Casco Bay.
“Gerard has been a tremendous asset to Hart Hotels since he joined our organization 15 years ago,” said Hart Hotels’ CEO David Hart. “He has a strong work ethic combined with a generous spirit – two qualities critical to success in the hospitality sector.”