CEO and President, Jamie Tatge, Now Retains Sole Ownership of Growing Hospitality Management Company
Baxter, MN (June 8, 2026) Leisure Hotels & Resorts has announced a major leadership transition. Founder Steve Olson has handed ownership of the company over to industry veteran Jamie Tatge who has served as President and CEO or “Team Captain” as he prefers, because it reflects his hands-on, highly energized, and motivating leadership style. Tatge is a Minnesota native and accomplished hospitality management executive with more than 25 years in both independent lodging and restaurant leadership, and 19 of those years with Leisure Hotels & Resorts.
Founded in 1985, Leisure Hotels & Resorts is a premier third-party hospitality management and development firm that focuses on independent resorts, boutique hotels, and distinct outdoor hospitality destinations. Leisure has built its success on a high-infrastructure corporate model positioned to blend operational excellence with authentic, community-driven destination experiences. When Leisure takes over a property, it seamlessly and effectively integrates the asset into a centralized system designed to drive revenue and guest satisfaction.
While Leisure’s primary focus early on was hotel operations, Olson established a strong niche in third-party management for distressed and bankrupt properties, successfully managing between 40 and 50 hotels at its peak.
However, when the market shifted—with many hotels opting to manage properties themselves—Olson and Leisure strategically pivoted to resort management. The turning point came when Olson came upon the historic Chase on the Lake property following a devastating fire in 1997. “I drove by it and, like a dummy, I bought it,” Olson recalled, laughing. “We virtually tore it down and rebuilt it.” Chase on the Lake is now a historic and highly successful Minnesota resort destination drawing 60,000 guests annually. In 2011, Chase on the Lake garnered national attention when it hosted a crew from The Tonight Show with Jay Leno to highlight the annual Eelpout Festival headquartered at the resort.
This successful endeavor propelled Olson and Leisure into the resort management business, a core competency the company continues to excel at today. Leisure’s current portfolio in Minnesota includes historic, thriving and innovative properties, including Cragun’s in Brainerd, Quarterdeck Resort in Nisswa, Pier B Resort Hotel in Duluth, Cove Point Lodge, and North Shore Camping Co. in Beaver Bay among several others.
“More than 40 years of doing this and hundreds of properties, we focus on those properties where we know we can be successful for the investor,” Olson explained.
In 2016, Olson, along with Tatge proved the power of their property management prowess after Leisure was brought in as an outside, court-appointed management company to take over Jay Peak and Burke Mountain, two resorts in Vermont at the center of a $200 million EB-5 visa fraud scheme.
“We had a total of 850 rooms, two ski resorts, and 4,000 employees,” Olson recalled. “Our company didn’t even have 4,000 employees at the time.” Leisure had the resorts profitable again in the second year, a feat Olson and Tatge were heavily involved in.
Olson says Tatge is the only choice to take over ownership of Leisure Hotels & Resorts, as he has been a key part of its growing success and the hard work it took to get there. “He’s been through it, he gets it,” Olson added.
Financial and/or transaction details are not available at this time.
For interview opportunities, photos, or additional information, please contact Michael Deering at 612-360-7789 or
About Leisure Hotels & Resorts
Founded in 1985, Leisure Hotels & Resorts is a premier third-party hospitality management and development firm specializing in independent resorts, boutique hotels, and distinct outdoor hospitality destinations. With more than 40 years of operational history and a combined 175 years of team experience, the company manages a diverse nationwide portfolio that spans from luxury fly-fishing lodges and ski resorts to full-service hotels, spas, and upscale glamping sites. Known for its entrepreneurial culture and hands-on operational model, Leisure Hotels & Resorts delivers comprehensive corporate infrastructure, advanced property technology, and specialized expertise in receivership, asset turnarounds, and distressed property management. For more information, visit www.leisurehotel.com.
