“It only works if you use it,” Ricky Payne declares in reference to The Journey culture and its principles. “If you do, you will always know the right thing to do.” Ricky also shares that he believes it is his responsibility and honor to teach others The Journey way of working and living so they can enjoy each day to its fullest.
It is important to Ricky to enjoy the moments. He has made a career out of it. But it wasn’t always that way. Ricky was working in the banking business nearly twenty years ago and doing fine but he was often restless and anxious to find more passion in his work. He shared these feelings with his mentor and father, Reggie. The words of a father resonated in Ricky’s heart, “Son, come to work with me and I will show you a job you will love forever.” So Ricky followed his father to work at the Four Seasons Hotel. It was a magical day that grew into magical weeks. Reggie taught his son everything he knew about the hospitality business and Ricky was hooked. He followed his father’s footsteps to happiness.
Ricky also followed in the footsteps of fatherhood. He and his wife, Luaretta, have five children. He has watched four of them walk across the college graduation stage and will soon see his youngest walk onto the campus of Penn State as a Freshman. They are his inspiration and proof that The Journey principles have a place in the home as well as the workplace.
One coach at the Sheraton University City summed it up, “I never learned so much from one individual than I did when I was Ricky’s coach. I thought it was my role to teach him, but he taught me and I owe my coaching abilities and guest service skills to Ricky.”
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