What is your hometown, what brought you to the Emerald
Coast and how long have you been here?
I grew up in Cleveland where I began work at a young age in the
restaurant business. After graduations from Ohio University and
earning a Masters from FIU in Miami, I began my career at the
Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, DC. From there, I worked
my way to Detroit and found myself operating 3 large Italian
restaurants. I was approached by a fi rm working for Jim Altamura
with Marina Café, Destin Chops, and Borago in this little fi shing
village called Destin. After a few years in Detroit, needless to say,
the sand and sun of Florida was warmly appealing. I have called
Destin home for 20 years now!
What is your profession and give a brief description of
what you do.
Marketing. Management. Business Development. Basically I help
sell fun!
Since my arrival in Destin, I have worked closely with 11 different
Emerald Coast restaurants, a plethora of retail and resort properties
focused on experiential destination vacationing; directed night
clubs and entertainment venues; and developed an apparel
company with seven locations in three states.
Today I am blessed to be able to work with some of the best
executives and owners in the restaurant, retail, entertainment, and
hospitality industry. In 2011, I accepted the position of General
Manager for HarborWalk Village, where I currently spend the
majority of my time. Additionally, I am a consultant for both the
Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park and Great Southern Restaurant
Group. Through my consulting work, I am able to provide skilled
and practical guidance as a project leader, operational director,
leasing and property manager, digital marketer, website & SEO
expert and business development coach. www.Hall.consulting
What led you to choose this profession?
I truly enjoy helping others realize their business dreams. I love the
challenge of development and consulting engagements to fi ll a gap,
turn a company around, or take the company to the next level.
What do you like best about Destin and what makes it
unique?
Its growth, natural beauty, and charm. Even after 20 years here I
feel privileged every day to have put my roots in Destin. I love that I
can raise my daughter in such a unique and wonderful town.
Give us three words that best describe you.
Driven, Versatile, Dad
I AM DESTIN because…
Over the past 20 years I have been immersed in the growth of
Destin as a guy behind the scenes, driving the engine to help grow
many Destin businesses. Shortly after the BP oil spill hit in 2010,
my partner and I were called on by the FRLA in conjunction with
the area TDCs to produce the national ad campaigns that told the
country loudly that our beaches were open! I remember sitting at
the computer designing the ads late into the night, never feeling
more passionate about Destin and our surrounding communities.
Within a couple days we were running full page ads in the Wall
Street Journal, New York Times, and USA Today to thwart the
damage area businesses took from the national media. I still feel this
passion about our area and the image we share with our current and
potential guests.
I AM DESTIN
John
Hall
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