New Williams Inn Appoints Leadership Team

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Left, Kevin Hurley has been appointed as the general manager of the new Williams Inn, and Kevin DeMarco as the inn's executive chef. Inset: Darcy Lyle has been named the inn's director of sales.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Waterford Hotel Group has announced three appointments at The Williams Inn. Kevin Hurley has been appointed as the inn's general manager, Kevin DeMarco as the inn's executive chef and Darcy Lyle as the inn's director of sales.

The new Williams Inn, located at the corner of Latham and Spring streets in Williamstown, will open on Aug. 15. Owned by Williams College, the inn will replace the current Williams Inn, which will continue to operate through July 31.

Inspired by the architecture of local area farms, the new 58,000-square-foot inn is built of stone and wood, with interior design that is reminiscent of a contemporary New England farmhouse. The inn will feature 64 guest rooms, a fitness center, a full-service restaurant and bar, and a combined 3,200-square-foot meeting and event space that includes a 2,800-square-foot ballroom and an additional 400-square-foot space directly adjacent to the ballroom. Event space reservations are being accepted starting Sept. 1.

The property’s exterior features a 3,500-square-foot greenspace that can be tented for outdoor functions.

The inn will house a 62-seat restaurant, The Barn, featuring a menu filled with locally sourced American classics. The Barn will offer patrons breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as two private dining spaces. During prime weather months, outdoor seating will be available on the rear of the property.


With more than 15 years of experience in the hospitality, Hurley has dedicated his career to the hospitality industry by taking on various roles at several hotels and resorts in the United States in addition to his native Canada. Prior to joining The Williams Inn, Hurley worked as an assistant general manager at the Kimpton
Taconic Hotel located in Manchester, Vt. Additionally, he has held posts at Omni Hotels and Resorts, the storied Charles Hotel in Cambridge, Mass., and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. Hurley completed his undergraduate studies at Bishops University in Sherbrook, Quebec and later went on to earn a master certificate in hospitality management from Cornell University. He lives in Greenwich, N.Y., with his wife Amanda and sons William and Louis-Edmond.

A graduate of the famed Johnson & Wales University in Providence, R.I., DeMarco has honed his culinary skills up and down the East Coast over the past 13 years. He joins The Williams Inn team from the Newport Restaurant Group, Newport, R.I. His last post was as chef tournant at the historic and celebrated Castle Hill Inn, a Relais & Châteaux property. DeMarco also worked at Grande's Bella Cucina in Palm Beach, Fla., and Public Kitchen & Bar in Providence, R.I. DeMarco is a SWE certified specialist of wine and spirits.

Lyle brings a wealth of knowledge to The Williams Inn with 28 years of experience in the hospitality and sales industry. Prior to joining The Williams Inn, Lyle worked in sales at the Clark Art Institute. Additionally, she has held positions in operations and sales at numerous hotels throughout the upstate New York region, as well as the New York State Hospitality and Tourism Association. Lyle attended Herkimer Community College, where she received a degree in tourist facilities and management promotion. While in school, she interned with
Disney, where she found her passion for the hospitality and tourism industry. Lyle resides
with her husband Allen and daughter Samantha in Hoosick Falls, N.Y.

 


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Williamstown Business Focuses on Connection Through Storytelling

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Hari Kumar's goal is to help people excel at what he calls the oldest art form: story telling.
 
The engineer turned communications specialist recently struck out on his own to found Connect Convivo, which offers public speaking programs. 
 
"Convivo means with life, with joy, with warmth, like in convivial. So the idea is to help people build confidence and joy in their ability to connect," he said. "So with my background in communication, I know that communication isn't just about conveying content. 
 
"It's about building a connection, and especially in these AI driven days, people are really hungry to connect in authentic ways, and storytelling is one of the most authentic."
 
Kumar offers training and classes to help people enhance their personal and organizational speaking skills in storytelling, conversation, networking and presentations. 
 
"So public speaking, presenting customer engagement. For nonprofits, I offer classes on mission-driven storytelling. For businesses, I do customer centric storytelling," he said. "And then for the general public, it starts out with just getting up on stage and telling the story with no slides, no notes, no memorization."
 
Kumar is offering a four-week in-person storytelling series on Wednesdays starting Jan. 8 and ending with a showcase on Jan. 29. More information here; "Adventures in Storytelling" is limited to 10 people. He's also planning a virtual class on presentations and a business storytelling class in February while continuing the regular series. 
 
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