August Decker

Golf General Manager, Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes

Executive of the Year

August Decker, Golf General Manager, with the Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes is the
Inaugural Honoree for the Distinguished Leaders in Hospitality Awards in the Executive of the
Year category. August has instilled a focus on creating excellence within his team and a commitment
to providing top-tier experiences for members and guests.

In just two years, under his management, the golf club’s revenue has now soared to more than $10
million, reflecting significant growth driven by innovative initiatives and exceptional service quality.
Plus, his efforts in membership development have also paid off with an impressive membership
increase of over 450 members, showcasing his strong ability to attract and retain golf enthusiasts.

Furthermore, his team was recognized as the Marriott Golf Property of the Year for 2024 and once
again in 2025, highlighting his outstanding leadership and superior quality. To receive this prestigious
award back-to-back, there must be a balance between employee engagement, financial performance,
the guest experience, and unique events. This includes August playing a significant role in the
successful execution of the PNC golf tournament, ensuring that every aspect of the event was
meticulously planned, including coordinating with various stakeholders, managing logistics, and
delivering an outstanding experience for participants and spectators alike.

In addition, August has promoted two leaders out as Directors of Golf, which speaks to his ability to
recruit and grow talent. Outside the golf club, August is also very involved in the property’s
sustainability team and through his leadership the team has grown to 32 individuals. The team has
increased the trash diversion rate from 3.8% in 2023 to over 20% in the first four months of 2025.
Additionally, he worked with other property leaders to replace all single-use plastic with cans or paper
water vessels. Moreover, August has worked with the culinary team to create a new composting
project at the resort’s working farm, that has composted over 65 tons of wet waste since the
beginning of 2025.