THE CURATOR
Lesley Carey, Founder, bio
Managing Partner/Hospitality Management, Hotel Branding, Entrepreneur,
Wellness Expert
Lesley Carey has over 20 years of development, renovation and general management with luxury boutique hotels and resorts both in the United States
and internationally.
Ms. Carey has created, designed, and managed some of the top boutique hotels in the world including the Famous Argyle Hotel (now Sunset Tower) on Sunset Boulevard; she managed the Argyle renovation, repositioning and rebranding. She oversaw the renovation and rebranding at the Orlando Hotel in Los Angeles, The Crescent Hotel, Beverly Hills, and the The Lodge at Rancho Mirage, Palm Springs, California. At these hotels she served as General Manager and Vice President of Hotel Operations.
As President of Palmer Hospitality Group in Beverly Hills, Ms. Carey leads a team of professionals around the world. She developed and created a 5-Star luxury boutique hotel, SILQ, with properties in Bali, Indonesia and Thailand.
Lesley parlayed her talents into the creation of the Biggest Loser Resorts, a powerful major wellness and fitness brand based off of the hit NBC Show, The Biggest Loser. She defined and developed three additional resorts in the portfolio with locations in California, Florida, New York, and cast the template for expansion into Europe, the Middle Eastern markets, and Portugal. Ms. Carey currently lives in Los Angeles, California.
Joyce Walkup bio
Project Manager
Joyce has enjoyed four decades in the hospitality industry. Her career has included assignments in over six properties at The Ritz-Carlton, LLC travelling as a Senior Manager for The Ritz-Carlton Task Force Operations Division. Joyce is a certified meeting planner and expert in planning and executing small to large-scale luxury social and corporate events
Joyce has held management positions as Senior Manager, Meetings and Special Events at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua; Food and Beverage Manager at Grand Hyatt, Union Square; Assistant Hotel Manager at The Inn at Union Square, San Francisco; and was the Restaurant Assistant Manager at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
Joyce has received numerous awards including the distinctive President’s Circle Award from The Ritz-Carlton, Resorts of Naples, and has been elected Manager of the Quarter at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, Golf Resort, The Grand Hyatt Union Square, San Francisco, and Rosario Resort & Spa, Orcas Island, Washington, and was the recipient of the Food & Beverage Manager of the Year Award, at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, Virginia.
Joyce has also owned and managed her own restaurant, All Seasons Café, in Prescott, Arizona, and a catering company, Aera, in Richmond, Virginia and is currently the Owner of her own private event planning business, Green Mountain Gatherings, in northwest Montana where she calls home. She is the former Vice President of the Northern California Chapter of Wish Upon a Wedding.
Joyce showcases her passion for photography and writes her own blog at www.sweetbreathing.com
Gregory Meyers bio
Chief Operating Officer
Global Wellness Operations
Gregory has over three decades in the hospitality industry. His career has included assignments in properties at The Ritz-Carlton, LLC, JW Marriott, The Peninsula Hotel, Kimpton Group, Wolfgang Puck Catering and the InterContinental Hotel Group, in Senior Management roles in the Operations, Sales, Catering and Event Services. His work has taken him across the country from Chicago, New York and currently in Los Angeles, as well as internationally to Japan, Belgium, Korea, Mexico and France.
As General Manager/Director of Operations, Gregory oversaw all aspects of Operations/Sales/Marketing/Large-Scale Luxury Red Carpet, and Pre & Post Film & TV Production Events. Greg successfully transformed all venue operations along with all food and beverage outlets as well as the catering events and all service aspects of the newly contracted Wolfgang Puck Catering Management at NBCUniversal Media Studios.
In addition to these projects, Mr. Meyers' talents oversaw the pre and post Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Academy Awards - Oscar's Events and Governor's Ball where over 2000 A-List Entertainment and Celebrities attended the Red Carpet Premier after-show parties. Greg was selected to be part of the Pre-opening and Opening Team of the JW Marriott and The Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles L.A. LIVE, setting a new standard for luxury in the preeminent sports and entertainment district. Other noteworthy awards include the distinctive Marriott International President’s Circle Award, three times, from The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles and JW Marriott LA Live! And Marriott International Global Sales Team of the Year two times.
Gregory parlayed his years of talent in new pursuits within the Health and Wellness Industry. As the Executive Director of Operations and Business Development/Marketing for a major medical firm and laboratory specializing in skin cancer diagnosis, treatment and prevention and directed two offices and acquired 6 addition offices throughout Los Angeles. Greg was the primary driving force for all new Skin & Beauty Center acquisitions and to develop the luxury customer services and systems protocols, plus all hiring and training of highly-specialized staffing for each center.
Gregory is Master Life Coach and Wellness Coach Certified
THE EIP TEAM