Steve Higgins, CEO of Canoe Hospitality, passed away on December 25, 2014.
Higgins entered the hospitality industry after attending the Fritz Knoebel School of Hospitality Management at the University of Denver. He first worked as a hospitality analyst for accounting firm Laventhol & Horwath, then joined Hyatt Hotels and Resorts in operations management. He was quickly promoted and tasked with operational upgrades and transformations of underperforming properties in the U.S.
After a role with Carver & Associates in San Francisco, Higgins founded Higgins Purchasing Group (HPG) in 1988. HPG became an industry powerhouse with offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Atlanta, and Hong Kong. Some of his prestigious international projects include: the Grand Hyatt Wailea, La Costa Hotel & Resort, Ihilani Resort Hotel, Stouffer’s Wailea hotel, the Hyatt Mexico City, the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay, Hotel Nikko Tokyo, the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco, the Inn at National Hall, W New York – Times Square, W Seoul, the Wynn Macau, and the Sheraton Kuan Tah Malaysia. Starwood Hotels also tapped Higgins to roll out its branded products, including the Westin Heavenly Bed, the Sheraton Suite Sleeper, and the entire development of OS&E for W Hotels.
After expanding the hospitality industry throughout the Pacific Rim and Asia, Higgins turned his focus to establishing the first client-focused, service-driven boutique purchasing company, which he named Canoe Hospitality, in 2006.
Canoe Hospitality has recently completed such prestigious projects as: Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles; SLS hotels in Beverly Hills, Miami, and Las Vegas; Ace Hotels; the Beverly Hills Hotel Bungalows; and projects with Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Marriott Hotels & Resorts, the Kor Group, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Renaissance Hotels & Resorts, Belmond Hotels, and numerous Starwood Luxury Collection hotels.
Higgins’ true gift was his ability to find and mentor talent throughout the hotel industry. His innovative brilliance is reflected in Canoe’s executive board and Canoe’s project management team. His legacy and spirit lives on in his employees, family, and friends.
Higgins is survived by his sister, Debbie Higgins; his nephew, Ryan Shera; and his niece, Sydney Shera.
