Before he was drawn to the world of hospitality, Jakub Skyvara was a professional skier in the Czech Republic.
While few would immediately draw a connection between those two professions, Skyvara says his persistence and ability to adjust equipped him well for the work he does now — especially when he’s faced with situations that deviate from his day-to-day routine.
“If I compare it to sports, and even to skiing and biking, I compare it to a moment where all of a sudden there is a bump that throws you off your competitive balance and it’s only up to you and your instincts how you go back on track and get the best out of it,” Skyvara said.
His instincts and globe-trotting experience recently helped land him the role as general manager at The Lodge at Torrey Pines, a AAA Five Diamond-rated resort in La Jolla owned by Evans Hotels. He will take over for the recently retired Bill Gross, who had managed the property since 2006.
Skyvara’s hiring at The Lodge was preceded by more than 20 years in the hospitality industry. Most recently, Skyvara was director of food and beverage and executive assistant manager at The Resort at Pelican Hill in Orange County.
Before that, his work took him to Prague, Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Santa Fe, N.M., where he became familiar with many different aspects of the hospitality industry.
“I do have a frequent flier number,” Skyvara said.
Skyvara speaks four languages — English, Czech, Italian and German — and he says his multilingual, global perspective enables him to craft a more personalized, detailed luxury experience for customers.
He said he encourages everybody to experience different cultures, as it “enriches you to be a better person.”
His time as general manager of Michelin-starred restaurants in Hong Kong’s Mandarin Oriental Hotel taught him to pay close attention to customers and their needs, he said.
His advice for hoteliers and food service workers: “Have fun with what you do and enjoy it. In that case, you really pay attention to those small details that make a difference. That’s what luxury and … Michelin star really means … making meaningful differences through the service to our customers.”
Outside of work, Skyvara enjoys outdoor activities such as golfing, biking and, of course, skiing. Above all, he said, he values time with his family. He was with his wife, Atiko, and their 9-year-old daughter at a golf course in Orange County when he received news that he would be hired at The Lodge.
“I truly enjoy … the time I spend with my family, as being a hotelier does not allow you so many of those moments,” Skyvara said. “As we always say, we spend a little more time here with our employees and our guests than with our families.”
As general manager, Skyvara said he plans to position The Lodge for the future with renovations to the kitchen and courtyard, among other enhancements. He also emphasized his desire to draw new customers, particularly young families.
“It was always a dream of managing an established hotel or lodge that has a meaningful impact on the local communities as well as our clients,” Skyvara said. “I think The Lodge, and especially the Evans family and its company, are exactly the example of the culture that I wanted to be connected with.”
La Jollan Anne Evans, who co-founded the Evans Hotels group in 1953 with her now-late husband, William, and was chairwoman from 1984 to 2014, was inducted in April into the San Diego County Women’s Hall of Fame. ♦
