The Mars Family

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The Mars Family David and Sarah Mars instilled a passion for family, travel and following your dreams in their children at a young age. If one were to add up the days spent traveling Europe by each member of the Mars family, it would be enough to span a lifetime. As a result, each member of the Mars family has contributed a part of themselves and their European experiences into the creation of the Les Mars Hotel.

David and Sarah Mars 4 A native of the Midwest, David left home at the age of 18 to attend the University of Colorado. Eager to see the world following graduation, David skated in Norway where he was a national champion. He later worked as a manager and coach assisting the U.S.

Men 9s team (Oslo, Norway, 1972), The Men 9s and Women 9s World Sprint Team (Inzell, Germany, 1971) and the Olympic team (Innsbruck, Austria, 1964). David developed an import business and lived and worked in Norway, Germany, Switzerland and France for nearly ten years. His travels allowed him the chance to visit classic European hotels and he quickly became accustomed to the Old World style of hospitality.

In late 1969, David returned to the ... more. less.

U.S. for a brief business visit. A week before returning to Europe, David met Sarah, who was working at a couture fashion house at the time. Four months later they were engaged. In July of 1970, they were married, and David sold his import business and began a real estate company. The company thrived, and the couple traveled extensively for both business and pleasure across Europe, absorbing the family-oriented lifestyle. Back home, Sarah used her design expertise to work on numerous commercial building projects and volunteered full time for community services. Married for more than 35 years, David and Sarah have spent the last three decades committed to one another and their family. On a family vacation in 2001, they traveled to Sonoma and decided to invest in the hotel project that would be work and enjoyment for the entire family 4Les Mars Hotel. Gretchen Ann Mars 4 Youngest daughter, Gretchen Mars, was born with the same soft spot for the European lifestyle as the rest of her family. Gretchen spent two months in Venice painting while pursuing her Masters Degree in Fine Arts at the Pratt Institute in New York. After graduating, Gretchen moved to Spain to live, work and paint. Her experiences living in Spain ultimately helped lead her back to open Les Mars Hotel with her family as the resident artist. She has graciously provided 122 unique paintings which adorn the rooms of the hotel and also designed the logo, architectural details and the hotel 9s keystone. Currently a teacher at La Jolla Country Day School, Gretchen serves as Creative Consultant for Les Mars Hotel. Christina Elenore Mars Sharp 4 Following in her family 9s footsteps, Christina has traveled extensively throughout the world working and studying. Her first taste of the European lifestyle began in her freshman year of high school on a class trip and continued with a family trip a few years later. At the age of 27, Christina traveled alone to Europe to work on an organic farm in Portier, France, where she prepared meals for local people and took part in the renovation of a historic chateau. Having already dabbled in the culinary and hospitality world, Christina expanded her culinary experience by attending cooking school at the National Gourmet Cookery School in Chelsea, New York. Following school, Christina worked as a private chef in Manhattan. The plans for the Les Mars Hotel began in 2001 and Christina moved west to begin research on the family project and attend the Culinary Institute of America. She serves as the Director of Finance for Les Mars Hotel. She recently wed her sweetheart Grant Inman Sharp, who is the project manager for Les Mars Hotel. They live together just outside of Aspen, Colorado, with their newborn son, Asher. Grant Inman Sharp 4 It did not take long for Grant to fall in love with Christina or the ideals of her family. The Mars family quickly accepted him as one of their own, and he was a part of the hotel from the earliest days. A resident of Aspen, Colorado, Grant honed his construction experience long before Les Mars Hotel. He worked with hospitality and historic renovations on some of Aspen 9s most prominent properties. In 1998, he managed the construction and operation of a $22 million estate in Snowmass, Colorado. Shortly thereafter, he signed on as the project manager at Les Mars Hotel. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT FOLSOM & ASSOCIATES 3 415.978.9909.

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