McLemore Golf Club Opens Cloudland Hotel and Adds Over 200 Employees
Photo courtesy of Cloudland Hotel – McLemore’s new Cloudland Hotel officially opened on Leap Day, furthering the golf resort’s brand of scenic views and excellent service.
By LYDIA BERGLAR
News Editor
Continuing to prove that it is more than just a golf club, McLemore Resort’s new luxury hotel, called Cloudland Lookout Mountain and shortened to Cloudland Hotel, opened on February 29th and will further McLemore’s impact on tourism and employment options in Dade County, Walker County, and other nearby areas.
Perched on a Lookout Mountain bluff in Walker County, just across the county line from Dade, the hotel boasts 245 rooms (including 19 suites), a 20,000 square foot conference center, a spa, a fitness center, two golf courses, a six-hole short course, four dining options, and a cliff-edge infinity pool.
Mike Burton, general manager of Cloudland Hotel, reported that the dining options are in addition to McLemore’s existing restaurant (The Creag) and open to non-hotel guests, meaning that golfers, day travelers, and locals can enjoy the dining options without staying overnight at the hotel.
Photo by Lydia Berglar – The hotel’s main doors open to a dining area to the left, a study/library to the right, and a staircase and lower level lobby.
To support the many new features of the resort, McLemore has already hired 200 new employees and plans to continue expanding its staff. Burton said, “Additional positions remain open, and we look forward to continuing to attract local and national talent for these positions. We anticipate growing our community and our offerings to meet current and future needs.”
The resort hosted two job fairs which resulted in numerous hires for positions and departments such as front desk clerks, housekeeping, accounting, spa estheticians, groundskeepers, and sous chefs.
When asked about salaries, Burton reported, “McLemore and Cloudland are committed to becoming an ‘employer of choice’ for the region. We are working to build a culture and a company that will attract the brightest professionals wanting to make a difference in providing an outstanding experience for our guests. While salary levels vary from position to position, we are committed to providing market-rate salaries and attractive benefits for our employees.
The Sentinel spoke with two McLemore employees (one seasonal and one full-time) who work as servers and bartenders. Both had very positive things to say about working at the resort, and the full-time employee offered helpful insight.
Megan Pittman began working at McLemore in June 2022, and she said, “Like any job in the restaurant industry, especially with business revolving around an outdoor sport, we get pretty slow in the winter. Spring/summer/fall is always extremely busy. I would say pay is pretty amazing for this area, but it’s definitely based on menu and alcohol knowledge and being extremely personable with members (such as knowing things about their lives, remembering their favorite place to sit, favorite drinks, pace of service, food preferences).”
Pittman also spoke highly of the culture among staff members. “The environment between coworkers is amazing! I have never worked somewhere where everyone is so bonded and has such a great relationship with each other. Of course there are a few exceptions, but overall, we work together as a team and the main goal is to make sure that guests have an exceptional experience whether they come in once or once a week.”
She added that upper management employees are kind to her and her coworkers and know the staff by name. Lastly, Pittman said the club members are delightful and are her favorite part of the job.
Cloudland Hotel is part of the Curio Collection by Hilton and is managed by Valor Hospitality, both of which are global names in the hospitality industry. Burton said, “[Valor Hospitality was] selected for their vision and expertise in training and managing a team of hospitality professionals with a common goal: extending southern hospitality and the highest level of experiences to our guests.”
Burton also explained that hotels selected by Hilton for the Curio Collection are part of a “soft brand.” These hotels are supported by Hilton, but they retain their individual branding and style.
Burton believes that working for these two global brands offers Cloudland Hotel employees professional training and experience and networking opportunities. He said, “The exposure to these global brands will inspire our team members to always seek to better themselves and their skills and take advantage of the ‘family’ of professionals in the Valor and Hilton networks.”
McLemore certainly has its own individual branding because of its location and scenic views. Burton said, “McLemore is the first mountaintop resort in Georgia and is in close proximity to outdoor attractions and historic sites. Lookout Mountain, Cloudland Canyon State Park, and the Chickamauga Battlefield are a few attractions and bring visitors to the area each day. However, McLemore’s Highlands course is designed to maximize the experience for golfers with stunning views of McLemore Cove and Pigeon Mountain in the distance.”
Photo by Lydia Berglar – Early March fog floats over the Cloudland Hotel entrance.
In addition to the natural beauty created by the mountains, Burton believes that the staff at McLemore further create a memorable, luxurious experience for guests.
Adding to the overall attraction of the resort, Burton listed several special events at McLemore that have proved successful including the annual Songwriter’s Series concerts featuring Nashville songwriters and golf tournaments for members and non-members.
With room for more guests and with more amenities to attract these guests, Dade, Walker, Dekalb, Ala.,Chattanooga, and other nearby areas can anticipate benefitting from tourists. During their stay at the peaceful resort, guests at Cloudland Hotel may wish to explore Lookout Mountain and the valleys on either side.
