Radford’s Highlander hotel names senior leadership

The Highlander, a $40 million boutique conference hotel opening this spring in Radford, announced its senior leadership team March 1.

The team includes Executive Chef James Kirby; General Manager Rachel Pegues; Director of Sales and Marketing Ginger Clark; and Director of Food and Beverage John O’Conner.

Kirby is a graduate of the culinary program at Johnson & Wales University and previously worked for five years at The Inn at Little Washington, where he rose to sous chef. He has also taught culinary arts at Stratford University and worked in Washington, D.C., restaurants including the Blue Duck Tavern and L’Ardente. He also ran an organic farm in the Shenandoah Valley that catered to D.C. restaurants.

“I plan to use seasonal ingredients to highlight the special, regional cuisine we will offer at our new restaurant, Bee & Butter,” Kirby said in a statement. “We’re planning to work with local food producers in as many creative ways as possible — bringing an exciting but relaxed, new culinary experience to the area — one that is worthy of this new rooftop facility with its jaw-droppingly beautiful view but appropriate for both everyday dining and special family events.”

Kirby will work closely with O’Conner, who has worked at Colonial Williamsburg Resorts, managed Williamsburg Winery and led operations for Richmond’s Kabana Rooftop and Lounge.

Clark will oversee the hotel’s spring 2023 opening and its meeting and group sales operations. Clark spent the last seven years leading sales with Hilton properties in the Roanoke, Blacksburg and Radford markets.

Pegues is responsible for overarching hotel operations, including staff management and guest satisfaction and relocated from Charlotte, North Carolina. Pegues has worked with hotel management firm Aimbridge Hospitality for more than three years and previously served in general manager positions with Marriott International Inc., Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc., and Hyatt Hotels Corp. properties. 

The Highlander will be owned and operated by a special-purpose entity created for the project for the benefit of Radford University and its foundation. University officials and their partners in the project broke ground in April 2021. Partners in the project include Chicago-based real estate firm JLL, which specializes in structuring public-private partnerships and helped guide the project, Virginia Beach-based general contractor S.B. Ballard Construction Co. and architect firm BLUR Workshop, based in Atlanta. Texas-based Aimbridge Hospitality has been named manager of the property.

The conference hotel will have 124 rooms, including four suites, and a 4,000-square-foot conference space that will allow the university to host large-scale events it couldn’t accommodate previously. There will also be a 2,750-square-foot indoor rooftop bar and restaurant and a 1,650-square-foot rooftop terrace.