Welcome to ‘Travel Talks’, where the world’s foremost explorers, hospitality experts, and wanderlust aficionados share their stories, tips, and insider perspectives, guiding you through the destinations they know best. Did you miss our last one with GM of the Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach.
This week we are headed to Nantucket to chat with Garison Beale, the General Manager of Greydon Hotel Group. He has overseen Greydon House and a series of guest houses on the island of Nantucket for over four years. Prior to his current role, Garison worked at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts for over a decade.
Name the main reason why you love Greydon House?
Visually, Greydon House has always been stunning in my eyes. Being able to work in an environment where there are Julian Schnabel and Terry Winters paintings on the walls makes the day-to-day room walks so much better. Having started my career working at larger luxury properties, it’s so nice to be in a place where we can pay attention to each guest, and offer the kind of service anticipated at a high-end hotel.
What is a hidden gem at the Greydon House?
We recently opened a garden area behind Greydon House where there are Adirondack chairs, tables, umbrellas, and bocce. As it’s a fairly new addition, a lot of our repeat guests aren’t even aware of it, and it’s great to be able to offer a quiet place outside for guests to relax and have a glass of wine.
What is your favorite restaurant or bar nearby?
If I’m not at the cozy bar at Via Mare in the hotel, you can usually find me at Ventuno with a gin martini and one of the best pasta dishes on the island, the Strozzapreti.
What is your favorite thing to do on Nantucket during the peak season?
When I’m not bouncing between properties, I’ll usually pick up a nice bottle of wine from Nantucket Wine & Spirits and spend time with my family on Nobadeer Beach enjoying the sunset and watching my two boys swim and surf.
What is your favorite thing to do on Nantucket during the off-season?
The off-season is all about walking trails, visiting the Nantucket Atheneum, and getting out on the Miacomet Golf Course when the temperature is high enough. On property, we are busy preparing rooms and upgrading guest spaces. We only close Greydon House for a few weeks, so it’s nice to meet the winter visitors and be able to offer local suggestions so that even during the slower times everyone can find something unique to do on Nantucket.
Tell us something new going on right now.
Our sister property, The Martin House, is getting a substantial upgrade right now in conjunction with Nantucket Looms, so we are looking forward to re-opening in May as The Martin by Greydon House as we continue to enhance our options for guests. We all are happy to continue our partnerships with Lavender Farm Wellness for both wellness retreats and a new running package this spring.
For more Nantucket inspiration check out the top 10 reasons to visit Nantucket this summer.