GRANT CHANNING has been named Executive Vice President and General Manager of the award-winning, 900-acre Grand Traverse Resort & Spa, near Traverse City, Mich.

Channing is a 34-year veteran of resort, hotel, and restaurant management and operations.  Most recently, he was the Director of Hotel Operations at the new 255-room Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, Calif., where he participated in the pre-construction and construction phases of the hotel.  From 2000 to 2004, he was Director of Hotel Operations at the renowned Turning Stone Casino Resort in Verona, N.Y., which hosts PGA Tour events. 

He has previous experience as the General Manager of Vista Hospitality, a 240-room convention hotel in Binghamton, N.Y., Vice President & General Manager of the multi-faceted Ancaster Food  Services in Ancaster, Ontario, Canada, and General Manager of the luxury 110-room Brownstone Hotel in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

As Executive Vice President and General Manager of Grand Traverse Resort & Spa, he will oversee management and operation of Michigan's most comprehensive destination resort and one of northern Michigan's largest employers.

Channing, a native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, said, "I am excited to have the honor to work for the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and to be part of the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa team.  The Grand Traverse reputation for the finest in facilities and service is renowned, and I look forward to leading the Resort to even higher achievements."

- About Grand Traverse Resort & Spa -

With nearly $11 million in renovations throughout the property since March 2003, Grand Traverse Resort & Spa is a new experience.  The 900-acre property is located near Traverse City, Mich. along the sandy shores of Lake Michigan's Grand Traverse Bay.

One of the Midwest's finest full-service, year-round, golf, spa, vacation, and conference destinations, Grand Traverse Resort & Spa offers over 600 Hotel and Tower guestrooms and suites, as well as studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom Condominiums, 85,000 square feet of versatile meeting space, and 54 holes of championship golf including The Bear, designed by Jack Nicklaus, and The Wolverine - a Gary Player signature golf course, and golf school.

Additional features include a full-service spa, comprehensive tennis program with indoor and outdoor tennis courts, complete health club with indoor and outdoor swimming pools, children's center, shopping gallery, diverse restaurants and lounges and year-round recreation.

Grand Traverse Resort & Spa is an award-winning destination resort.  It has been ranked among the Top 20 Mainland Resorts and Top 50 Travel Destinations and Services worldwide by Condé Nast Traveler magazine.  Additional accolades include honors from GOLF Magazine, Family Circle, Successful Meetings, and many other respected organizations.

Grand Traverse Resort & Spa is proudly owned and operated by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.