Dean Lane, general manager of the Palmer House, A Hilton Hotel and 30-year veteran of the hotel and resort industry, has been named Hilton’s area general manager, Chicago. Tim Benolken, Senior VP, operations-North America, Hilton, made the announcement.
In his new role as area general manager, Lane will oversee the operations of four additional Hilton branded hotels including The Drake; Embassy Suites by Hilton Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile; Hilton Rosemont/Chicago O’Hare; and the President Abraham Lincoln Springfield, a DoubleTree by Hilton. He will continue to serve as the GM of the Palmer House, A Hilton Hotel, where he has been for over ten years.
Lane began his hospitality career at the 2,000-room MGM Grand Hotel in Reno, Nevada where he experienced three ownership changes—MGM Grand, Bally’s Reno, and the Reno Hilton. As the hotel’s executive assistant manager, he was involved in the $250 million renovation of the property. He has also served in various management positions at the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort and as Resident Manager of the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort – both in Phoenix, AZ.
During his tenure at the Palmer House, Lane played a large role in the four year, $140 million renovation of the 146-year-old hotel and the subsequent record-breaking revenue and market share gains.
Accolades Lane has acquired include: Historic Hotels of America’s “Historic Hotelier of the Year” in 2014 and the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Associations’ “Hotelier of the Year” in 2015. This year, he was voted Chairman of the Board for the latter association.
Lane’s community and business involvement include the State Street Commission, Board Member of Chicago Loop Alliance and service on the Board of Directors of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest, Indiana.
Lane makes his home in Orland Park, Illinois with his wife and son.