Richard Delany Leads Old Edwards

If you blend kindness, empathy, integrity, fun and a heart for service in a bowl, you just might mix up something akin to good ol’ Southern hospitality. And when you meet Richard Delany, it doesn’t take long to realize that hospitality seems to be deeply rooted in his DNA. A well-known and highly respected leader in the industry, he has been at the helm of Old Edwards Hospitality Group for 17 years, transforming The Old Edwards Inn and Spa into the world-class premiere vacation destination that it is today.

Delany’s path to the plateau was about as curvy as Highway 64 snaking its way along the Cullasaja River. He was born in London and grew up in Southampton before his family relocated to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, when he was 8 years old. After graduating high school, Delany attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill intent on majoring in business. However, after two years, he left to pursue a career in the hospitality industry and never looked back. In 2008, while working at Sea Island Resorts in Georgia, he received a call that would change the trajectory of his life, asking him to consider managing a “magical property that needed some leadership and guidance” in the picturesque mountains of western North Carolina.

Richard and his wife Melissa have since built a life together in Highlands and feel incredibly blessed to have their two daughters and their husbands, and grandchildren, living nearby. When he is not working or doting on the grandkids, he enjoys swimming, golf, photography and listening to local live music with Melissa. Delany says that the initial move to the plateau required a leap of faith because tourism in Highlands was so seasonal.

When he and Melissa first visited in 2008, they instantly fell in love with Highlands. At the time, however, Old Edwards was not doing well operationally. There were a lot of empty nights. “But we admired then owners Art and Angela Williams, we were enchanted by Highlands and we felt it was our opportunity to really make a difference,” recalls Delany. “I have always loved small towns. We enjoy the strong sense of community and the opportunity to wave to friends driving by and say hello to everyone. We love the proximity to downtown and the incredible collection of shops, bars, and restaurants. The amazing climate, the charm of the town … it feels like Mayberry in a way.”

For Delany, being in the hospitality industry is much more than a career. It’s a way of life that seems to reflect what he values most — gathering with friends and family, building personal relationships and celebrating the beauty and simplicity of community. While he appreciates the day-to-day ebb and flow the hospitality industry offers, with ever-changing trends and no day being quite the same, what he really enjoys is making a difference in guests’ and employees’ lives. “We help them make memories that last a lifetime,” he explains. “Whether it is watching a young couple marry and start their lives together or watching a young intern grow into a seasoned leader, it is all so rewarding.”

Visitors to Old Edwards Inn and Spa, Half-Mile Farm and 200 Main will experience the attention to detail, integrity and kindness Delany personifies. His recipe for success is a simple one. He remains passionate about consistently doing his best, working hard and following this “golden rule”: If you put your mind to it and work hard, you can get anywhere. “You can start as a dishwasher, like I did, and make it to senior leadership,” says Delany. “You treat people how you want to be treated, and I believe you must lead by example. Both are true in hospitality. There is no job here that Delany and his leadership team would not do. “It is all about attention to detail, not only with our employees but with our guests,” he adds. “We don’t settle for fine, good, nice or okay. I call those the ‘bad four-letter words,’ and there is way too much of that in the world today. No matter what you do in life, push for amazing, great, fabulous and unbelievable, and you will be successful.”

Delany has parlayed his work ethic and appreciation of small-town values into a career, welcoming guests to Highlands as if personally inviting them into his own home. The three properties of Old Edwards Hospitality Group share a common thread: A sincere invitation for visitors to enjoy a “relaxed space where they can be themselves and have their experience tailored to their preferences by a friendly, accommodating service team that makes them feel like part of the family.” According to Delany, wellness, recreation, fitness, fun and rejuvenation are all part of what we want every guest to experience at Old Edwards Inn and Spa, Half-Mile Farm and 200 Main.

Delany looks forward to sharing a stellar 2025 season with locals and guests alike. The Orchard Sessions live concert series kicks off on April 23 at The Farm at Old Edwards. On May 29, the Disco Pig Party with Pitmaster Carey Bringle will launch the wildly popular Old Edwards Chef Dinner series. With its Relais and Châteaux designation, and sustainable luxury programs, Old Edwards Inn and its sister properties continue to reflect the values and culture of the area.

Regardless of the season, the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau is one of the most beautiful places on earth, and has unsurprisingly become a destination for over 200,000 people annually from around the globe. Having immersed himself in the Highlands community for the past 17 years, Richard Delany is an ambassador for Old Edwards and Highlands.