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Krug Hotels is a family-owned hotel development and management company located in Northern California’s Wine Country with more than five decades of experience in the hospitality industry.
Since the early 1970’s, founder Norman Krug has operated hotels in San Francisco, Phoenix, Healdsburg, Sonoma, and Little Rock, Arkansas with one simple philosophy: “Make guests feel as comfortable as they feel in their own homes”.
Our focus now is growing our portfolio in the Northern California Wine Country towns of Sonoma and Healdsburg and bringing new, exciting hotels to the market.
The Krug Hotels team has a wealth of experience in the hotel industry, from limited service to full-service luxury properties, with many of the team having worked together for decades.
Norman Krug – Founder & CEO
Norman has been in the hotel business for more than 45 years including owning several successful hotels throughout the United States prior to building the Dry Creek Inn in Healdsburg in 1983 in his home County of Sonoma. Two years later he identified another great opportunity in the City of Sonoma and built the Sonoma Valley Inn. Norman is a well-respected community leader who is passionate about his businesses, taking care of his employees, and is always looking for ways to give back and support the local community through contributions to local non-profits and donating meeting space to local organizations. Norman is the President of the Sonoma Tourism Improvement District, a position he has held for many years, and is a past President of the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau.
Aaron Krug – President & COO
Aaron grew up in the hotel industry and was General Manager at the Dry Creek Inn in Healdsburg for more than 30 years prior to taking the role as President and COO of the Company. Aaron is a leader in Sonoma County and through his decades of work with the local tourism bureau and as a Board Member of the Tourism Improvement District and Russian River Wine Road, Aaron has been instrumental in helping transform the City of Healdsburg into the world-class destination it is today.
Sarah Stroud – Asset/Operations Manager and Corporate Secretary
Granddaughter to Norman Krug and daughter to Aaron Krug, Sarah represents the third generation of the family with Krug Development. She also serves as Corporate Secretary. Sarah began working at the Family’s hotels in 2006 in various departments. Sarah is overseeing the renovation of the Sonoma Valley Inn in Sonoma and worked together with Bill Blum on the conversion of the Lodge at Healdsburg from Best Western to Tapestry Collection by Hilton. As Asset Manager, she will also be working closely with Dillon Penprase on development of the new Verano Hotel Sonoma Valley.
Bill Blum – VP of Development and Operations
Bill oversaw the conversion of The Lodge at Healdsburg in Healdsburg from Best Western to Tapestry Collection by Hilton and has been involved in the development of the new Verano Hotel Sonoma since 2018. He has been in the hotel industry for more than 40 years. Prior to working with Krug Development, he was General Manager and Partner for 20 years at MacArthur Place Hotel in Sonoma, where it was consistently rated the number one hotel in Sonoma. Prior to MacArthur Place, Bill worked with Jack Burkam, the General Manager at Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa at the time, as Director of Marketing and Revenue Management and also at their sister property Ventana Big Sur where he assisted in the renovation, expansion and rebranding of both properties. He also served with Norman as President of the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau and on the Board of the Sonoma Tourism Improvement District.
Dillon Penprase – Assistant VP of Development / Opening Verano GM
Dillon joined Krug Hotels August 2023 and brings with him 12 years of Marriott Hospitality experience. He began his career at the renowned Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel working at the Pool and Beach Club becoming Recreation Supervisor, then moving on the Guest Services Supervisor, Guest Services Manager, Housekeeping Manager, and Asst. Director of Housekeeping. In 2021 he joined The Lodge at Sonoma, Autograph Collection by Marriott as Director of Rooms and oversaw the rebranding of the Resort from Renaissance to Autograph Collection. Dillon will be overseeing the development of the Verano Hotel Sonoma Valley working with Sarah Stroud and will be taking the role as GM of the new property when it opens in 2025.
Jack Burkam – Chief Revenue Officer
Jack has worked in the airline and hospitality business for more than 45 years and helped to develop one of the first frequent flyer programs. He is a master at marketing, sales and revenue management as well as high service, cost efficient operations. He has served as General Manager of a number of luxury hotels including the Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa in Sonoma Valley where he was also Director of Sales & Marketing prior to being promoted to General Manager. Jack and Bill Blum developed the marketing and business plan that made Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa the number one hotel in service ratings in Sonoma, and the most profitable hotel in the Wine Country.
Kip Zook – Director of Sales
With thirty years of experience in Sonoma County focusing on the Corporate Transient Market and Group Sales, Kip is well known in the Corporate Market for her success in cultivating relationships and setting up high volume accounts while working with Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn and Suites, and Marriott Courtyard. She has been a Board Member with the Windsor Chamber of Commerce and a member of CSAE, MPI, as well as the Sonoma County Tourism Bureau.
Annette Barker – Corporate Controller and HR Director
Annette has worked with Norman for the past 11 years as Corporate Controller and HR Director for Krug Development. Prior to joining Krug Development, she was VP/CFO of Barker Pizza Inc, a multi-unit nationally branded franchise, serving the Wine Country and San Francisco Bay Area. She brings over 30 years of experience in corporate accounting and human resources to the leadership team.
Krug Hotels is a subsidiary of Krug Development Corporation
