General Manager, Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa As Vice President and General Manager of the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa since October of 1993, John Narigi has drawn on over 37 years in the hospitality industry to develop and expand the hotel’s luxury profile and reputation. A native of Gig Harbor, Washington, Mr. Narigi is a graduate of Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. After career opportunities in Portland, Oregon and the San Francisco Bay Area he returned to the Pacific Northwest. In 1989, he opened the luxurious Mobil Four-Star Woodmark Hotel at Carrillon Point in Kirkland, Washington, where he remained until moving to the Monterey Peninsula. Since relocating to the Monterey Peninsula, Mr. Narigi has served on numerous boards, both civic and hospitality related. Mr. Narigi first served on the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau board of directors. He became the first president of the Monterey Peninsula Convention and Visitors Bureau after initiating and working with the board to separate the Visitors Bureau from the Chamber.
He also continues to serve as a board member of the Monterey Commercial Property Owners Association and the Cannery Row Business Association. Since 1996, he has been active as a board member and past president of the Monterey County Hospitality Association. He also has served as a board member for United Way Monterey County and the Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau, intimately involved with the creation of the TID funding mechanism to expand the Bureau’s budget, as well as serving on the committee to establish an industry funding source for the renovation of the Monterey Conference Center. Currently he sits on the board of the Monterey County Business Political Action Committee and Monterey Bay Issues and Candidates Political Action Committee.
Mr. Narigi has served as co-chair of the Coalition of Peninsula Businesses since its creation in 2010, a business coalition with members representing chambers, trade associations, property owners, residents and private businesses. Its focus, to secure a long-term water solution at a reasonable cost for the Peninsula, working with local and state agencies as a true representative of our community. In 2010, he joined the board of Rancho Cielo, inspired by its mission and the vision of Retired Judge John Phillips, to work with “at-risk youth” throughout Monterey County. He served as board chair for two years and currently sits on the Executive Committee. As co-chair of the annual Culinary Round-Up, it has become one of the most profitable nonprofit events in the county, achieving tremendous support and financial results. Annual proceeds are dedicated to Rancho Cielo’s Drummond Culinary Academy. The funds support annual operations to educate and inspire youths in the career of hospitality or those just simply following a dream.
Mr. Narigi also has numerous awards and accolades under his belt including: Monterey County Hospitality Association’s “Hospitality Professional of the Year” (2001), California Hotel & Lodging Association’s “Outstanding General Manager of the Year” (2006), the 2011 Monterey Business Hall of Fame by Junior Achievement of Northern California, and Citizen of the Year for the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce in 2017. If asked what he has truly enjoyed over the years were his days of past, coaching his two sons, Anthony and Dominick, in their various sporting endeavors and co-chairing high school renovation projects such as Palma High School’s baseball field and Monterey High’s football field and track renovation. Working with and coaching youth and young adults was always an enjoyable break from the daily routine of a hotelier.
Family time has always created special memories. Mr. Narigi, his wife Roxane and Dominick, along with a group of special people have continued to give back to those who are less privileged with the creation of the Anthony Nicholas Narigi Scholarship Funds in memory of his son, Anthony, supporting youth and young adults through two funds. One being baseball, Anthony’s beloved sport, and the other hospitality, the career path he had chosen. Recreationally, Mr. Narigi enjoys his two dogs, Cope and Griffey, water sports, golf, racquetball, the “Zags” and the Seattle Seahawks. Proud father of his two sons, Anthony and Dominick, he and his wife of 35 years, Roxane, live in Corral de Tierra.