Matthew Mackenzie is being welcomed back as general manager of Keltic Lodge at the Highlands and Cape Breton Highlands Links Golf Club. He will oversee daily operations, taking over from Michael Young, who resigned to pursue other opportunities.
Mackenzie’s previous role was general manager — hotel brand advisor at Muskoka Bay Resort, Gravenhurst, Ont — where he worked for nearly two years. Mackenzie has returned to the Keltic Lodge after working nearly three years there over 10 years ago.
Before that, he worked at Atlantica Hotel Halifax, N.S., Cabot Cape Breton, Inverness, N.S., New Castle Hotels & Resorts, Halifax, N.S., The Westin Nova Scotian, Halifax, N.S., The Algonquin Resort — Marriott Autograph Collection, St. Andrews, N.B., The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Alta., Sooke Harbour Resort & Marina, Vancouver Island, B.C. and Fairmont Château Whistler, B.C.
Doug Breen (Regional VP & Chief Agronomist for GolfNorth Properties) is looking forward to the future of the Keltic Lodge at the Highlands, “I feel that Matthew Mackenzie is the right person, at the right time, to pilot the resort into the next phase of service and development. We have renovated all the areas presently in use and look forward to partnering with Parks Canada to finish the job. In the meantime, the hospitality, golf, culinary, and tourism experiences offered to the travelling and golfing public, will be the best that Cape Breton has to offer.”
With 20 years of experience as a general manager in luxury and destination properties, he brings a strategic, results-driven approach to leading operations, focusing on guest satisfaction, employee engagement, and financial performance.
“This place holds deep personal significance. In 2011, after relocating from British Columbia, it was here that I first experienced the warmth and generosity of Cape Bretoners’ genuine hospitality. That moment helped shape my service philosophy and sparked a lasting connection to this region. I am thrilled to once again be surrounded by the awe-inspiring landscapes, cultural richness, and community pride that make Cape Breton so unforgettable,” said Mackenzie.
