Whether it’s the people or restaurants he’s been associated with — Debbie Reynolds, Jimmy Buffett, Planet Hollywood — David Crabtree has had a star-studded executive career in the hospitality field.
The 1989 UW-Stout graduate isn’t slowing down, either. Starting in 2016 he became CEO of IMCMV Holdings, an Orlando company that’s developing Margaritaville, Landshark and other tropical-style casual restaurants in tourist areas of the U.S. In two years, Crabtree has expanded the Buffett-licensed business from 14 to 22 restaurants. More are on the board, including three in a 29-story Margaritaville hotel set to open in 2020 in New York’s Times Square.
IMCMV Holdings is a subsidiary of International Meal Company of Brazil. Crabtree was sought out by IMC because of his management success:
- President/CEO of Planet Hollywood restaurants from 2010-2014
- COO of sales and marketing with Westgate Resorts from 1998 to 2010
- Manager of Debbie Reynolds Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas from 1993-1998, the latter while working on his MBA at University of Nevada-Las Vegas and after he left Ruby Tuesday’s management program.
Under Crabtree, Westgate Resorts, owned by timeshare king David Siegel, grew from five to 28 resorts and from $16 million to $250 million annual earnings before taxes. The company had more than $1 billion in revenue and 12,000 employees before the 2008 financial crisis hit, when Crabtree had to lay off 6,000 workers in one week.
With his people-centered business philosophy, Crabtree is back doing what he loves — managing employees and regularly visiting his restaurants to meet them. “I try to run it like a team or family. I love to see other people succeed and achieve whatever career goals they have. Someone gave me the opportunity and I seized it, and I’m very grateful for that.”
Crabtree started at UW-Stout in the applied mathematics and computer science program after being recruited to play baseball by Coach Terry Petrie. He soon switched to hospitality.
“I wasn’t sure what I would do with a math degree, and I always loved people. I have nothing but fond memories of Stout. It helped make me who I am today, and I built many close, lifelong friendships,” he said.
UW-Stout’s School of Hospitality Leadership is ranked No. 8 in the world by CEOWorld magazine.
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Photo
David Crabtree, a 1989 UW-Stout graduate, visits a Landshark Bar & Grill, one of the restaurant brands he is expanding as CEO of Orlando-based IMCMV Holdings.
