Lifelong Northern Californian Anthony X. Propps began working at his father’s hotel at the end of his sophomore year of high school to earn money to play in Nike’s youth basketball league. He started out as a housekeeper, making up rooms, folding laundry, and taking inventory. Propps, 38, climbed his way up the ranks and learned all the various aspects of his father’s business.
However, after years with this brand, the family believed the company had an identity issue, he explains.
“We didn’t want to be part of the continued consumer confusion any longer,” says Propps, who’s now director of operations for the Bonanza Inn Magnuson Grand Hotel and Convention Center, in Yuba City, Calif. “We searched for an independent hotel group that would work with our hotel experience.”
What has been most rewarding about working with the Magnuson brand? We’re able to own, manage, and operate our hotel without the high cost of franchise fees and unwanted design cycles.
In short, we get our hotel back.
What lessons did you learn from your previous jobs that you still use today? I taught martial arts to children and adults for about 3.5 years, and my favorite phrase from then was “constant and never-ending improvement.” I still quote that 20 years later.
What advice do you have for someone looking to get into the industry? Educate yourself by working in all aspects of the hospitality industry. You have to know what you are going to be expecting of your employees, and you should genuinely like meeting new people, welcoming each individual into your “home.”
