Kendall Clancy is Cabot Cape Breton’s new general manager. Why it is a good sign?


By: February 27, 2023


Let’s face it! We do not often hear about the appointment of female general managers or managing directors in the golf club industry.

The Golf Club Managers Association said that only 20% of golf club managers were women in the UK in 2015 (I will update this as soon as I get the latest data).

In a World Economic Forum study, I found

  • In 2022, global gender parity for this category – women’s share of senior and leadership roles – reached 42.7%, the highest gender parity score yet.
  • In the leisure & travel industry: 32%.
Hole 18 Cabot Links_Cabot Cape Breton

A McKinsey study found in 2020

  • The most diverse companies are now more likely than ever to outperform less diverse peers on profitability.
  • Companies with more than 30% women executives were more likely to outperform companies where this percentage ranged from 10 to 30, and in turn, these companies were more likely to outperform those with even fewer women executives or none at all.

We should not forget the effect such an appointment can have on recruitment and golf club membership. Chris Lewis, CEO of LEWIS (global marketing agency) said

It’s clear that Gen Z prioritize values above all else – companies that don’t understand or reflect that will find themselves struggling to attract and retain the best talent.”

Kendall Clancy Cabot Cape Breton_resized

Kendall Clancy – Cabot Cape Breton – new general manager

As General Manager of Cabot Cape Breton, Clancy will be responsible for overseeing the management and operations of the premier Canadian golf destination.

Clancy brings more than 12 years of experience within the luxury hospitality industry from various operations roles with Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Accor Hotels. Most recently, she served as the Director of Rooms at Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver.

After completing her diploma in Tourism and Hospitality Management at Nova Scotia Community College, Clancy was selected to join Fairmont’s Leadership Development program in 2012 accelerating young talent.

Through the program, Clancy gained experience across multiple properties. She has also continued her education and is currently completing her degree in tourism at Thompson Rivers University

Cabot Bar Patio at Cabot Cape Breton
(C) Jacob Sjöman. jacob@sjomanart.com

As a champion of equity, inclusion, and diversity, Clancy has served as a co-chair of Accor North America’s RiiSE Committee (Accor’s international network to promote diversity) and as Vice President of WORTH Association (Women of Recreation, Tourism & Hospitality).  

Ben Cowan-Dewar, CEO and co-founder of The Cabot Collection said

“We recognized Kendall’s passion for curating incredible guest experiences and developing strong cultures, along with her stellar operational track record, making her the ideal fit for Cabot Cape Breton. Her warm hospitality is undeniable and I know she will be a wonderful leader for our team at Cabot Cape Breton.”

The Residences at Cabot Cliffs 5_Cabot Cape Breton