John Royce

Born and raised in New York, construction and an entrepreneurial drive have been part of John’s life from the very start. One of his first jobs was working as a pipe welder alongside his uncle who owned a commercial construction company. John left the world of construction to build a successful 30-year career in the world of international bulk shipping. He and his longtime partner, Tom Montague, formed Westport Navigation, which at its peak managed hundreds of millions of dollars of freight to ports around the world.

In 1986, after an opportune real estate purchase, John and Tom opened what would become Fairfield Catering Group’s first venue, Fox Hill Inn, and launched a second great career in construction and hospitality.

More than thirty years later, the company has grown to include five venues, including Fox Hill Inn and Candlewood Inn in Brookfield, CT, Waterview in Monroe, CT, Riverview in Simsbury, CT and most recently Le Chateau in South Salem, NY. These venues represent some of the area’s most recognized and beloved wedding destinations, and all boast outstanding reputations for the quality of service offered.

What has been consistent across all of these projects is John’s vision for what constitutes a successful banquet facility. It is this singular focus on a proprietary combination of demographics, design, location, price, and the wedding market that has served as the foundation for the company’s success. Under his leadership, Fairfield Catering Group has grown from a single venue to a complex organization with over $15M of annual revenue and a multi-million-dollar real estate portfolio.

John has been generously recognized for his business achievements and humanitarianism, including receiving the 2014 Ancell School of Business Macricostas Entrepreneur of the Year award, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation 2006 Appreciation Award, The Connecticut Knight of the Blind Award for distinguished service, and the 2019 “Service Above Self” Award from the Danbury Women’s Center.

He serves as Chairman of the Board for Danbury Regional Hospice, as a Board Member for Danbury Women’s Center and is an active member of Men Make a Difference – Men Against Domestic Violence.

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