A New Hampshire historic estate known for its hilltop restaurant and event venues has tapped a seasoned hospitality operator to lead its revenue-generating businesses. Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough has named Kate Armenio as Director of Business Operations, a newly prominent role that spans the property's foodservice, wedding, and private event operations.
Armenio brings more than 25 years in the restaurant industry, the last decade in hospitality management. Most recently she served as General Manager of the North Conway location of Sap House Meadery and the Public House on Page Hill in Tamworth, N.H. — roles that demanded close coordination between culinary programming, guest experience, and venue operations.
What the Role Covers
As Director of Business Operations, Armenio will oversee day-to-day operations across Castle in the Clouds' revenue lines, with a mandate to maximize profitability while maintaining the quality of the visitor experience. The estate's income streams include the Carriage House Restaurant, the Café in the Clouds, and a wedding and private event rental business that draws clients to the 6,300-acre Lucknow Estate, which was designated a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior in 2024.
Executive Director Charles Clark framed the hire in explicitly financial terms, noting that strong foodservice and event revenue directly funds the nonprofit's preservation mission. "Kate will bring her infectious enthusiasm and a depth of experience to help us ensure that the Castle's food service, wedding and event rentals, and other revenue generating lines of business are strong, bringing in important resources in service of our mission to preserve this special estate and share it with the visiting public," Clark said.
Heritage Site as Hospitality Business
The appointment reflects a broader pattern in heritage tourism, where historic properties increasingly operate with the discipline of full-service hospitality businesses rather than relying solely on admission revenue. For operators in the restaurant and hospitality space, cultural venues like Castle in the Clouds represent a growing competitive segment for event and dining dollars, particularly in leisure travel markets.
Armenio's background at a meadery — a beverage-forward hospitality concept with strong experiential appeal — aligns well with the estate's positioning as a destination. Her hire signals that Castle in the Clouds is treating its food and beverage programming and event business as professional hospitality operations rather than ancillary amenities. "It is meaningful to me to honor and preserve history by making it resonate with today's guests," Armenio said.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
