Management Team

Joe Poulin has been the President and CEO of Luxury Retreats since he founded the company ten years ago. Mr. Poulin has taken his start-up – which originally listed just four properties, had no employees and was located in his bedroom – and turned it into one of the world’s largest villa rental specialists. His entrepreneurial rise and achievements have been chronicled in the media and his vision and success have made him one of the most respected leaders in the industry.

Benoît Côté joined Luxury Retreats in 2006 as its Chief Operating Officer and was initially responsible for the implementation of structural and procedural changes to improve company efficiency. In 2010, he accepted the new role of Chief Integration Officer, assuming responsibility for all acquisition integrations while retaining responsibility for all financial operations. Mr Côté came to the company with over 20 years' experience in the service industry, most notably as part of senior management at Bell Canada, wherein he headed several key functions in service and strategy. Mr Côté holds an MBA from the Université de Québec à Montréal.

Mark Paterson has been with Luxury Retreats since September 2006. Prior to joining Luxury Retreats, Mr. Paterson practiced within the corporate law department of Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP. Mr. Paterson received his B.C.L. and LL.B. law degrees from McGill University and his Bachelor's degree from Bishop’s University.

Darlene George joined Luxury Retreats in 2008 as head of Human Resources, and thereafter assumed the role of VP, Product Management & Market Development. In this capacity, Ms. George is also responsible for Luxury Retreats’ overall product strategy and management, market development, and corporate branding and standards. Ms. George brings 20 years of leadership experience spanning five industries; including hospitality, retail, aerospace, cable and telecommunications. Her experience has involved building local and international companies while also having operated her own consulting practice. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Nick Guezen joined Luxury Retreats in 2000. Since that time, he’s held several managerial positions and has overseen the growth of multiple departments. Most recently, as Director of Product Development, he was responsible for destination development and owner relationships. In this capacity, he traveled extensively and visited most of Luxury Retreats' top properties and destinations, including Necker Island and Hawaii. In 2010, Mr. Guezen assumed the role of Director of Real Estate. As an affiliated Real Estate Agent, he is responsible for building and maintaining Luxury Retreats’ global real estate network.

Ben Tuff joined Luxury Retreats in 2000, and is the second-longest serving member of the Luxury Retreats team. Prior to his current role as Director of Marketing, he has served as Director of Sales & Service, Sales Manager and Villa Specialist. In his current capacity, Mr. Tuff is responsible for the development and implementation of Luxury Retreats' database marketing strategies, with the objective of maximizing customer acquisition and ROI. Additionally, he plays an integral role in developing our brand as the company grows.