Ed
Ed Romanowski - Founder / President & Chief Executive Officer / Director / Executive Team / Bellstar Hotels & Resorts and Bellstar Developments Inc.
Ed's tourism and hospitality career spans over 30 years in government, management consulting, business start-ups, development, and operations. He founded Bellstar in 2003. Ed is an accomplished executive responsible for implementing hundreds of development, marketing, operations, financing, organization development, and planning projects for resorts, hotels and tourism projects principally in Alberta and British Columbia. Ed has guided and overseen Bellstar's growth from only one resort property under management in 2004 to 12 in 2010. All of these are condo resorts where consumers have purchased whole or fractional units and contract Bellstar to manage the property and operate them as a hotel resort.
Ed led the development and management of the $75 million 226 unit Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort & Spa on Osoyoos Indian Band lands near Osoyoos, B.C. He is also in charge of the $30 million Spirit Ridge Residence Club Development adjacent to Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort & Spa. Spirit Ridge is Bellstar’s most acclaimed condo resort development. It is uniquely located in Canada's desert, next to Nk'Mip Cellars, vineyards, Sonora Dunes Golf Course, Canada's warmest lake and the Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre. In its second year of operation, Spirit Ridge achieved a 4.5 Star Canada Select rating. Bellstar is currently developing and marketing over $250 million of resort units in three destinations.
Ed was the developer and founder of Waterton Lakes Lodge in Waterton Lakes National Park (sold in 2000), founder of Royal Tours in Alberta (sold in 1991), and the former Principal in charge of the Edmonton office of Pannell Kerr Forster Management Consultants. He left Pannell Kerr Forster in 1992 as Managing Principal (Canada).
During his management consulting career both as an independent and as a Manager/Principal of Pannell Kerr Forster, Ed was in charge of feasibility studies, valuations, financings and plans for resorts, hotels, attractions and tourism businesses throughout Alberta, B.C., Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories in Canada. A good portion of these businesses were in smaller communities, on Indian Reserves, and in environmentally sensitive areas.
Ed was educated in planning, engineering, architecture, valuations and real estate development in Canada and the U.S. His education includes a Bachelor of Arts Honours (BA Honours) from the University of Winnipeg, and a Master of City Planning (MCP) from the University of Manitoba. Ed is also a Certified Management Consultant and a Member of the American Resort Developers Association and The Executive Committee.
Ed’s community and volunteer efforts include Chair of the Tourism & Hospitality Industry Advisory Committee, Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary, board positions at the Calgary French & International School & the Edge School for Athletes, mentoring university students, and coaching minor hockey teams. He makes several presentations each year to University students and industry organizations about project financing, resort development and marketing. In addition to developing and managing resorts, Ed has been the project manager for the development of the Calgary French & International School and the Edge School & Sports Complex.
Ed is a Shareholder and Director of Bellstar Hotels & Resorts Ltd. and Bellstar Developments Inc.
