Board Member

David R. Shipman

Managing Director
Vintage Inn and Villagio Inn & Spa

 

Background Information

David R. Shipman, managing director of Vintage Inn and Villagio Inn & Spa in Yountville/Napa Valley, California, is the epitome of a well-respected “progressive” hospitality executive, with more than 25 years of luxury hotel expertise. Mr. Shipman has made his mark in several management positions, working at the upscale Auberge Du Soleil in Rutherford, California, and at the well-known Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company in Aspen, Colorado—he credits his former colleagues at Ritz-Carlton for his knowledge, drive, energy and passion for the hotel business.

Since 1998, Vintage Inn and Villagio Inn & Spa has grown to become one of the Napa Valley’s highly successful privately owned upscale luxury hotels. Villagio Inn & Spa has recently been recognized in Travel+Leisure Magazine’s “World’s Best” Awards 2011 Reader’s Survey, which named the Villagio, “Top Hotel,” and Spa Villagio, “Top Hotel Spa.”

A native of Washington State, Mr. Shipman has shown leadership abilities and expertise in developing and implementing strategic plans for hotel openings, re-structuring hotel operations, and ownership and guest relations, and has paved the way for highly successful property positioning and team building.  He has demonstrated his strength as a strategic thinker and team builder in a variety of challenging environments and has consistently shown positive performance results by prioritizing owner, guest and employee expectations. In his present position, the savvy hotel professional has maintained exemplary performance records.

Upon graduating from Purdue University with an Associates of Arts Degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management, Mr. Shipman worked for Club Corporation of America in Seattle, Washington, before working for Imperial Equipment Leasing as manager of an 80-foot motor yacht in Newport Beach, California.

Mr. Shipman’s community involvement includes chairman of the Napa Valley Lodging Committee, board member of the Destination Council - Legendary Napa Valley, and the Yountville Tourism Business Improvement District.

Presently, Mr. Shipman lives in Napa with his wife Claudia. He has two daughters: Stevie, who recently returned from deployment in Iraq, and Britt, who is a junior at Sacramento State University.  He is a passionate supporter of V-Foundation Wine Celebration for Cancer Research and enjoys snow skiing, tennis, bike riding and collecting wine