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By Lookout Staff
June 10 -- Paul Hortobagyi, the general manager of a luxury
beachfront hotel, is replacing attorney Tom Larmore as chair of
the Chamber of Commerce as the business group heads into a heated
election battle in November.
Hortobagyi, who is general manager of Le Merigot Beach Hotel and Spa, takes
the reins as the chamber prepares to lead the opposition to a ballot initiative
that would cap commercial development at 75,000-square-feet a year for the next
15 years.
He also takes over as Santa Monica’s economy shows signs of flattening
out, reflecting a nationwide economic slump.
“Where ever you look, people fell it,” Hortobagyi said. “I
see it in my business. We are not living hog high like 2007.”
Santa Monica’s tourism industry -- bolstered by the low value
of the dollar -- was a bright spot in a booming local economy that
by and large began skidding last year. (“City
Sales Flat,” June 6)
Hortobagyi took the helm last week during an Installation Dinner at the Fairmont
Miramar Hotel that also saw the swearing in of new board members, including
Brian Hepp of AG Edwards and Jeff Jarow of Par Commercial.
A prominent local land use attorney, Larmore stepped down as chair after a
year that saw him help the chamber increase communication between the business
community and City Hall through the group’s new Business Roundtable and
numerous advocacy efforts.
Under Larmore’s leadership, the Chamber pushed for finding was to encourage
workforce housing and took an active role in updating the City’s draft
Land Use and Circulation Element, chamber officials said.
The chamber also helped to simplify implementation of the polystyrene and no-smoking
bans and to promote sustainable business practices, chamber officials said.
It also helped bring businesses and non-profits together to discuss solutions
to end homelessness.
Before being hired as general manager of Le Merigot, Hortobagyi held the same
post at The Georgian Hotel in Santa Monica for eight years.
“I really want to give back to the city,” he said. “I really
feel this is the place where we live, work and play and breathe and eat. We
should give back.”
Also honored at the Installation Dinner Thursday were Richard Lawrence of the
First Private Bank and Trust for the Roy E. Naylor Lifetime Achievement Award
and UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital for the first ever Bob Gabriel
Community Service Business Award.
Chairman Awards went to Megan Sheehy of Locanda del Lago; Michael Farzam of
Ocean Avenue Management; Sharon O’Rourke of Sempre Utilities; Tish Starbuck
of Saint John’s Health Center and Kevin McVearry, formerly of Rusty’s
Surf Ranch.
“We are excited to kick off the year under Paul Hortobagyi’s leadership,
along with that of a very strong and active board of directors,” said
Laurel Rosen, the chamber’s president and CEO.
“Each of our volunteer board members has been active in the community
for many years and we look forward to the energy and commitment
they will bring to the Chamber,” Rosen said.
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