Meet Lonnie Lillie.  Lonnie Manages The Arroyo Pinon Hotel in Sedona.

Q: Tell us a little bit about what you do in Sedona?
A: “I’m in the hotel business now, and have been since 2001.

I hopped in a Winnebago with a 10 speed and a duffel bag and came out to Sedona to visit my aunt and uncle. That day, my aunt took me up to the Hideaway restaurant — the original Hideaway restaurant. The second day I started as a busboy and worked my way into the kitchen. I ended up being the general manager there for 18 and a half years. 

 I joined the volunteer fire department for 1989 to 2001. 

The  owners of the Best Western Arroyo Roble Hotel asked if I would run their hotel, and I told them that I don’t know anything. They said, “Well, we know your personality, we know your management.” So I worked under my father-in-law for a year. He retired and I took over and I worked there for 17 years at The Best Western. 

Now I’m at Arroyo Pinion Hotel in West Sedona. 

I met some amazing people. I’ve been blessed in this town. I’ve always said, “If you treat Sedona well, she’ll treat you well.” I’ve just been blessed, to know so many different people and to get to know people throughout the years — it has been 38 years now.

Q: So at your current position what do you do there?
A: “I’m a General Manager at the Arroyo Pinion, a small old property in West Sedona. I was a General Manager at Arroyo Roble Resort. I can’t get Arroyo out of my job description.”

Q: Tell us about the property?
A: “So it is a small 45-room boutique property.  The ownership owns five properties in town.  We’re remodeling the pool now, and they put money back into their properties. They understand the business. It takes money to make money.

Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met while you’ve lived here all these years?
A: “I’ve met so many. Honestly, I guess he was such a big influence at the time and still is — Doug Andrews and he’s an artist.  He’s very interesting. I’ve met so many different, interesting people from celebrities to just people passing by especially in the restaurant. It was such a great local following at the Hideaway back in the day. I had the chance to get to know the locals that came in weekly and watching their kids grow up. In the hotel business, just meeting so many different, interesting people.

Q: What one piece of advice that someone gave you along the way changed your life?
A: “Another amazing character that I’ve met is the owner of the Hideaway Restaurant, Mark Specter. He’s still in town. I was an 18-year-old punk out of Iowa that started as a busboy. He took me under his wing and really showed me how to manage people, manage restaurants, and just how to be a good manager. He told me, “Lonnie, as a manager, it’s your job to make their job as easy as possible.” And I live by that. I work harder to make my team members’ job easier. Some people don’t believe in that philosophy. He taught me that and I do believe in that. It’s my job to make their job as easy as possible, and make them happy. It all comes full circle, in my opinion.”

Q: What would your best friend describe you as??
A: Always smiling, happy, friendly, do anything for you that I can, and just a nice guy.

Q: What’s something interesting about you that people don’t know?
A: That I’ve always prided myself in being able to get along with people. Whether it’s the Governor of Arizona or a laborer that’s digging ditches, I get along with them both equally, and I respect them both equally. No one is better than the other, in my opinion. I’m proud of myself for that. I try to respect and get along with everybody and understand that we’re all equal. We all get up in the morning and go to sleep at night.

Q: What three words come to mind when you think of the word home?
A: Family, Sedona, and relaxation from home.

Q: Anything I haven’t asked you that you’d like someone to know about you?
A: Not really. I’ve been here 38 years. I absolutely love this community. I’ve seen it grow. I tell people, “Come see my town, our town.” It’s not my town… Come see our town, its beauty and respect her. I’m very proud of her and very proud to say that I live here. I just wish more people would have that feeling of just how beautiful she is. She’s absolutely stunning. If you treat her right and she’ll treat you right.