John Keating
General Manager, Fairmont St Andrews
John Keating joined Fairmont St Andrews in June 2015. An Irish national, John has worked within the hospitality industry for more than 30 years and has brought a wealth of knowledge and experience with him. He studied at the Thames Valley University, London, completed his hotel management training at the Ritz Hotel, and is also a ‘master restaurateur’ and recently graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Asset Management.
He has many years of international experience in hotel operations and openings across a wide range of luxury properties and brands around the world. Management stints in Lucknam Park and Bath Spa, in the UK, were followed by eight years in Asia with CCA International in five-star resorts and golf clubs in China, Indonesia, Taiwan, Russia, and the Bahamas.
He was the opening general manager at Sandals Emerald Bay, Bahamas, and Managing Director of Cameron House, Loch Lomond. He joined Fairmont St Andrews four years ago from his most recent position as director of operations for Palmerston Hotels & Resorts Europe, as well as managing Brocket Hall, a prestigious private estate in the UK’s Home Counties.
John has incredible vision. He has overseen a three-year multi-million pound renovation project and implemented the 3 year Junior Hotelier Hospitality Apprenticeship and the 4 year Graduate Apprenticeship in Business. During his time at Fairmont St Andrews the resort has received multiple awards under his leadership. John has been shortlisted for General Manager of the Year at the prestigious Catey Awards as well as Best Hotel General manager at the Scottish Hospitality Awards. During his tenure he has also used his influence as the General Manager to affect tangible changes to operate as sustainably as possible. He has accepted multiple sustainability focused awards on behalf of the hotel using during his time at the resort including the AA Eco Hotel of the Year (2018-2019), Fife Business Award: Greenest Business (2019), CIS Excellence Awards: Sustainable Business Award (2019), and has been shortlisted for the Catey Awards: Sustainable Business Award (2019).
John has implemented an array of environmental programs to the resort, most notably the installation of three honey bee hives to the five-star resort as part of the ongoing commitment to green tourism.