After acting as a consultant for nearly 27 years, Henry Wheatley has ended his contract with Marriott Frenchman's Reef. The news was made public Saturday night at a dinner at the hotel honoring long-time employees, when General Manager Andrew HeLal made a special presentation to Wheatley.
Wheatley has acted as public affairs officer for the hotel since before it opened in 1974 and has remained active with it through several changes in ownership. However, in his remarks to management and staff Saturday, Wheatley noted that most of his tenure was spent with Nick Pourzal at the helm of the hotel.
Pourzal was fired last summer after 25 years with the Reef. Pourzal contends the action came because of tough negotiations over his contract in preparation for a sale of the hotel by Prime Motor Inns to the hotel's franchise-holder, Marriott. The sale is expected to close soon.
Wheatley did not elaborate on the reference after the function. He noted that he is 68 years old and said he feels it is time to retire.
The Reef was not his only client but it may have been his biggest. He is also a businessman whose interests include the Wheatley Shopping Center, Wheatley Realty Co. and Coral World.
