Wine + Food chairman works, plays hard

Rick Widman begins a definition of hospitality as "the ability to satisfy and give a guest a wonderful experience," then pauses. He seems to be struck by how textbook the words sound.

"And," he says emphatically, "create a special memory. I'm all about memories."

Widman is a lifelong traveler who knows what good memories are made of. From summers in Europe as a teen to his first mountain bike trip on the rim of the Grand Canyon last May, he's passionate about new places to explore.

"Very adventurous, over the top," says his wife and business partner, Linn Lesesne. "He's always trying to drive a little faster than anybody else."

It's only natural, then, that Widman is in the hospitality business. Since 1982, he has been at the wheel of a hotel company that develops and manages historic inns. Charming Inns Inc. includes four luxury, award-winning properties in Charleston: Wentworth Mansion and Circa 1886 restaurant, the John Rutledge House Inn, Kings Courtyard Inn and Fulton Lane Inn.

Additionally, he's consulted on projects from Florida to New York.

As if he doesn't have a full plate already, he also is the chairman of the 2010 BB&T Charleston Wine + Food Festival, which is celebrating its fifth year.

There were skeptics when the festival made its debut in 2006, but not Widman. He saw the festival as the perfect fit for the city.

The doubters, he says, "didn't give credit to the youth and vitality of the people who wanted to pull this off."

Widman, 62, also knows a lot about vitality. He is in the midst of training for a Half Iron Man Triathalon and has competed in a Sprint Triathalon every summer for nearly 15 years.

Coast to coast

When Holiday Inns Inc. decided to enter the luxury market in the late 1970s, the first hotel acquired was the Mills House Hotel in Charleston. The company brought Widman from California to supervise the renovation and run it.

When Widman arrived in 1979, he was surprised by all the hoopla -- live TV crews and newspaper stories. "I was taken aback about the importance of this position," he recalls. "The Mills was Charleston's pride and joy."

Holiday Inns made Widman a district director in Michigan and Ohio in 1980. But 18 months later, he returned to Charleston, ready to work for himself.

"I'd seen the inns become a more prominent choice in lodging in Charleston and Savannah," Widman says.

The city of Charleston, meanwhile, was promoting the redevelopment of old buildings downtown.

Widman and a partner found an opportunity at 198 King St. The 130-year-old Greek Revival structure had seen many uses, including a hotel in antebellum times. They renovated the buildings and opened the 41-room Kings Courtyard Inn in 1983.

At the same time, Widman founded Lowcountry Hospitality Inc., the predecessor of Charming Inns Inc. The company would go on to specialize in historic properties that have won numerous preservation awards.

Widman thinks he may have been destined to be doing what he is. His father, an engineer, was a project manager in the Midwest whose job necessitated moving the family 20 times before Widman was in the fifth grade. But most of his childhood was spent in Cleveland.

His father's work provided many opportunities for the family to travel. One of the most memorable was a summer in Europe when he was in high school.

"Those experiences, seeing different cultures, tasting different foods, probably formed the subconscious thoughts that I would be in this business," he says.

Widman did a stint in the Army and got a bachelor's degree from Purdue University in industrial management. At one point, he thought he wanted to be an engineer like his father and grandfather, then decided he wasn't very good at it.

Instead, he pursued an MBA in hotel and restaurant management from Michigan State University, graduating in 1974. "I've always believed you're a businessman first and specialize in hospitality."

But Widman understands what it takes to be the consummate host, the details that will make an impression on his guests. He's seen that even the smallest of gestures can have a big impact.

One day, Widman noticed two couples waiting for a taxi outside Kings Courtyard Inn. They were worried about missing the tour boat to Fort Sumter.

"Hop in my car, I'll take you there," he told them, and they did.

The conversation ultimately led to an investment in Widman's next hotel project, the John Rutledge House Inn.

On one hand, Lesesne says, her husband fits the image of a "cut-and-dried" businessman. On the other, "he's got a very soft, emotional side. He's not afraid to cry or show his emotions, like when you talk about his father, who passed away a year ago in November."

Widman's proudest day includes his dad. His parents were at the ceremony when Wentworth Mansion received its first AAA Five-Diamond Award.

'Recognition' for city

Thirty years in Charleston have afforded Widman a rich perspective about the local hospitality industry. He says the biggest change is not the number of hotels and restaurants, but their quality level. "The national recognition of those places has grown astronomically."

On top of history and architecture, Charleston continues to sell itself as a very walkable, livable city, Widman says.

"I have lost more guests than I can count because they have come here and bought a house. It's important to keep that balance because that's what makes us unique."

The Wine + Food Festival is a feather in Charleston's cap and more.

The festival brings tremendous and well-deserved recognition to the city's restaurants and chefs, says Widman. It also gives people the chance to interact with them as well as celebrity chefs and authors. He's seen the festival increasingly involve other members of the community, too, such as Art Institute students.

For the person who's not a "foodie," he says it can ignite a spark.

"I think the festival is there for somebody to come in and say, 'Oh, I didn't know there was such a vast difference in wines.' Or, 'What is this Sustainable Seafood thing about? What is Certified South Carolina grown?'

"I think there's something that can pique someone's interest to learn more about food, wine, produce, meats. And it's here, in our backyard."

Work hard, play hard

It would be easy to assume Widman is a workaholic, but he says he plays as hard as he works, be it athletic pursuits or travel. "All my friends give me a hard time -- 'Oh, where are you now? You're in the Dominican Republic?' I can turn off work and go into play. ... If you can't turn off work, you're gonna drive yourself crazy."

He's also deeply appreciative of his family. He and Linn, together for 10 years, have a blended family of five daughters, a son and two grandchildren.

"We take vacations together. I get to take them to experience other places in the world and they get along. We're blessed with a loving family. I'm a stepdad and she's a stepmom, and that's all worked out very well."

Longtime friend and fellow runner Mike Sheppa of Chapel Hill, N.C., says Widman has a spirit of adventure that makes traveling with him a blast, and it doesn't have to be an exotic place.

"He has a great sense of humor and makes great observations about things. One thing we do, we always try to get together a selection of local food and wine and do our own tastings. He's funny, and our visits doing that are really something special.

"He's always willing to get into something that strikes his fancy."

Teresa Taylor is the food editor. Reach her at food@postandcourier.com.