Kohler Hospitality Taps Ron Vlasic for Lodging Role as its Wisconsin Destination Portfolio Evolves

Written By: Tuhin Sarkar

Tuhin Sarkar

Tuhin Sarkar is a Senior Journalist at Travel and Tour World with more than 10 years of experience in travel and tourism journalism. A post-graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication from Jadavpur University, he combines strong research, industry knowledge and storytelling expertise to produce engaging, insightful and impactful travel news and fascinating feature stories.

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August 27, 2026 6:37 PM |

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Kohler Hospitality has appointed Ron Vlasic as Vice President of Lodging, adding more than 25 years of luxury, lifestyle and hotel leadership as the Wisconsin destination continues to develop its tourism and hospitality offering. Vlasic will oversee lodging operations across The American Club, Carriage House, Inn on Woodlake and other Kohler properties, with responsibility for guest experience, operational excellence and the long-term development of the portfolio.

The appointment comes at a significant moment for Kohler Hospitality, which continues to invest in its destination proposition across lodging, golf, wellness, dining and experiential tourism. Kohler’s own hospitality information identifies The American Club, Whistling Straits, Blackwolf Run and LODGE KOHLER among its major assets, while its 2026 announcements show continued investment in the wider destination.

An experienced hospitality operator

Vlasic arrives with a career spanning luxury hotels, lifestyle brands, lodging, travel organisations and complex hospitality operations, giving him experience across both strategic leadership and day-to-day hotel performance. According to the appointment announcement, he has also served as Chair of the American Hotel & Lodging Association and advised the US Secretary of Commerce on travel and tourism policy, adding a national industry perspective to his operational background.

Most recently, Vlasic was Executive Vice President at Invited Clubs, where he led operations for 30 luxury lifestyle business clubs and six university stadium clubs across the United States, overseeing areas including member experience, culinary development, strategic planning and business growth. Before that, he served as Chief Operating Officer at Hostmark Hospitality Group, managing a portfolio of hotels and restaurants while taking responsibility for operations, marketing, capital planning, revenue growth and people strategy.

Kimpton experience adds lifestyle expertise

One of the defining chapters of Vlasic’s career came during almost two decades with Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, where he helped support the company’s expansion from 12 to 63 upper-upscale lifestyle hotels across the US and Canada. That experience is particularly relevant to Kohler because modern tourism increasingly combines the service standards of luxury hotels with the individuality, storytelling and personalisation associated with lifestyle hospitality.

His background also includes leadership roles with Choose Chicago, the National Restaurant Association and hospitality foundations, giving him exposure to destination marketing, travel policy, food and beverage and broader industry development. The combination provides Kohler with an executive who understands that successful tourism is built not only around accommodation, but also around the complete journey and the emotional connection guests develop with a destination.

Guest experience remains central

Kohler Hospitality says Vlasic will focus on strengthening operational excellence while preserving the character and traditions that distinguish its individual properties, a balance that will be increasingly important as luxury travel becomes more experience-led. The strategy aligns with Kohler’s established positioning around heritage, craftsmanship and service, while creating room for continued innovation across its tourism offering.

The timing also coincides with the upcoming reopening of Inn on Woodlake, making the lodging leadership appointment particularly relevant as Kohler prepares to welcome guests into an evolving part of its accommodation portfolio. Kohler’s current destination offering already combines lodging with golf, spa, dining and other leisure experiences, creating a tourism model in which operational consistency across multiple touchpoints can significantly influence guest satisfaction.

Kohler invests in the next phase

The appointment follows Kohler Hospitality’s wider leadership activity in 2026, including the appointment of Sara Harper as Head of Marketing, signalling continued investment in experienced executives as the business develops its destinations and guest proposition. Harper’s appointment was positioned around growth, brand storytelling and guest engagement across Kohler destinations in Wisconsin, Green Bay, Chicago and St Andrews, Scotland.

For Kohler, Vlasic’s arrival therefore represents more than a senior personnel change; it adds an operator whose career connects luxury lodging, lifestyle tourism, strategic growth and guest experience. His immediate challenge will be to help protect the heritage that attracts travellers to Kohler while ensuring its hotels and tourism experiences continue to meet changing expectations for personalisation, service quality and distinctive destination stays.

Industry perspective

“Ron Vlasic’s appointment is a strong and timely move for Kohler Hospitality, particularly as destination tourism depends on exceptional service, distinctive lodging and consistent guest experiences. His leadership across luxury, lifestyle and hotel operations gives Kohler an experienced voice at a pivotal stage of growth. What stands out is the balance between operational discipline and an appreciation for hospitality as an experience, not simply a room or stay. His background should help Kohler protect its heritage while responding to changing traveller expectations. We welcome Ron to Kohler Hospitality and look forward to seeing how his leadership strengthens this remarkable destination.”

— Anup Kumar Keshan, Editor-in-Chief, Travel And Tour World

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Ron Vlasic?

Ron Vlasic is a hospitality executive with more than 25 years of leadership experience across luxury hotels, lifestyle hospitality, lodging, travel and complex guest-service businesses. His career includes senior roles at Invited Clubs, Hostmark Hospitality Group and Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants.

What is Ron Vlasic’s new role at Kohler?

Vlasic is joining Kohler Hospitality as Vice President of Lodging, overseeing lodging operations across properties including The American Club, Carriage House and Inn on Woodlake.

Why is the appointment important for tourism?

The appointment brings extensive luxury and lifestyle operating experience to a destination where lodging, golf, wellness, dining and tourism are closely connected. His expertise could help Kohler strengthen guest experiences while maintaining the heritage and character of its properties.

What is happening at Inn on Woodlake?

Kohler Hospitality says the appointment comes as Inn on Woodlake approaches its reopening, adding further importance to the lodging leadership role and the next stage of the property’s guest offering.

What does this mean for Kohler Hospitality?

The move signals continued investment in experienced leadership, operational excellence and destination tourism, while positioning Kohler to evolve its lodging portfolio without losing the heritage that has helped define its hospitality identity.