James Ridenour
State Delegate
James Ridenour
Chef Concierge
Intercontinental- Melbourne The Rialto
495 Collins Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
PH: +61 3 9620 9111
FAX:+61 3 9620 9122
intercontinental.com/melbourne
I began my hotel career with a hotel apprenticeship at the Holiday Inn Harbourside in Vancouver, Canada. I then continued on to take a Diploma of Hospitality Management at the British Columbia Institute of Technology and at the same time began working in the front office for the prestigious Hotel Vancouver, now part of Fairmont Hotels and Resorts.
After a few years of service I then took up another front office position with one of Canada’s best hotel’s, the Sutton Place Vancouver which held the distinction of being one of only three hotels in Canada to achieve the highest recognition for hotel excellence, the CAA/AAA Five Diamond Award. After several years of service, I then accepted a position at the prestigious Sutton Place Hotel Toronto, Canada as the Assistant Chef (Chief) Concierge.
I was then offered a position in the telecommunications industry at Bell Canada and I decided to try something new. I held a variety of positions with varying accountabilities such as training assessment and design, process management and implementation, call centre management, problem resolution and marketing.
Upon moving to Australia I decided to return to my passion, the hotel industry and accepted a position as a Duty Manager at the Melbourne Marriott hotel.
I then moved to Melbourne’s grand hotel, The Hotel Windsor, where I held the position of Chief Concierge for three years.
I now work at the InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto in the role of Chef (Chief) Concierge.