Edward Villafane

With extensive experience in luxury hotels and resorts dotting the United States, Central America and the Caribbean, Edward Villafane joins the Tides Inn as Managing Director as of December 2024.

“I have dedicated my entire career to the hospitality industry and have been rewarded with working alongside individuals who also have the same genuine dedication to service,” says Edward. “I see life as a book of many chapters and look forward to writing a new one at the Tides Inn.” 

For the past five years Edward has served as Managing Director of Silver Collection Hotel and Lodge at Moss Neck, both in Fredericksburg, Virginia where he has come to enjoy small town living. Born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens, he started his career in New York City, most notably at the iconic Plaza Hotel, where he honed his management skills in food and beverage, sales and conference services for nearly eight years.   

From there, Edward globetrotted for sales and marketing positions in British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Bahamas and Nevis, working for renowned luxury hotel brands including Four Seasons and Rosewood. 

At Rhode Island’s historic Ocean House as Resort Manager, he helped the team secure many accolades, notably attaining the status of being one of only fifteen Forbes Triple Five-Star properties in the world. Following this, he was named General Manager of The Inn at Windmill Lane, an exclusive Hamptons retreat, before arriving in Virginia. 

When speaking of elevating service at a hotel or resort, Edward believes as a leader, it is his responsibility to remove obstacles and create a culture of like-minded individuals who are focused on achieving success.  

“It takes a special kind of individual to be successful in our industry—one who anticipates the needs of guests and is focused on creating ‘beyond compare’ experiences,” he said. 

With a bachelor’s degree in business administration, he majored in operations management at Baruch College in New York. In addition, Edward holds leadership and finance certificates from Cornell University’s hospitality program.