Slick Talk With Wil

Ryan Killeen’s hospitality career officially began after participating in the hotel management program at Vancouver Community College. While in school, Ryan started cleaning bathrooms and making beds with the housekeeping team at the Fairmont Pacific Rim — considered Vancouver’s definitive luxury hotel. He was climbing the ladder at a healthy pace and was presented with an opportunity to join the opening team in Dubai at Fairmont the Palm. Without processing what this meant, Ryan said yes. Living in Dubai, working with 52 different nationalities, and leading the guest services team was the most eye-opening experience of my life. For Ryan and fellow North Americans, it was an opportunity to gain valuable work experience and open the floodgates to new opportunities back home. For others, it was an opportunity to provide for their families and give their children a future. After returning to North America, Ryan took on progressive roles in Vancouver, Calgary, Boston that included sales, business development, le