Local People: Lisa Beam, Orient Express Sierra Vista

sierravistalive
6 days ago
2 min read

Updated: 4 days ago

*Photo: Lisa-Marie Beam (L) and Sunshine McGillis (R) by Mia Trevino/SVL*

Managing the Orient Express restaurant inside Sierra Vista’s Sierra Suites Hotel isn’t just a job, it’s been a journey of resilience, community, and friendship for Lisa-Marie Beam. She first joined the hotel staff as a housekeeper, where she quickly became known for her dedication and commitment to her job. In 2022, when hotel owners Xiaofen Wen and her husband David began renovating the kitchen and restaurant, Lisa had stepped away to care for her husband. But she wasn’t forgotten.

“When Xiaofen was ready to open the restaurant, she called me and asked if I could come back,” Lisa recalled. “I said yes, and I’ve been here since day one.”

Xiaofen and her husband celebrated the grand opening of Orient Express in 2023 with Lisa and the team leading the way for the new restaurant. In its earliest days, the restaurant operated out of the hotel’s breakfast area, a daily task that involved transforming the space back and forth for lunch service and breakfast.

“We had to flip the breakfast area every day and set up for lunch and dinner,” Lisa said. “It was hard. We wanted people to have a great experience, but we were also learning and trying to make things better.” At the end of the night, they would get it ready for breakfast service.

Recognizing the need for a dedicated dining space, Lisa proposed expanding into the larger room within the hotel. That vision became reality, and the full-service restaurant now welcomes guests from across the region and the world, including visitors from Canada, Mexico, and Germany who come to Sierra Vista for birdwatching, wine tours, and nearby attractions like Tombstone and Bisbee.

Orient Express hosted its first Mother’s Day lunch last month—a buffet-style celebration that drew an overwhelming response. While Xiaofen anticipated around 100 guests, over 350 people showed up to enjoy the special event. “They did a great job, and I’m so happy to have them here,” Xiaofen said of Lisa and the team. “There were challenges, but we always learn and improve to make it better.”

She credits Lisa's leadership and energy for the restaurant’s growing popularity and positive feedback from guests.

Lisa has called Sierra Vista home since the mid-1980s, when her father retired from military service with Fort Huachuca as his last duty assignment. She’s proud to play a part in the success of Orient Express and the hotel, which has proudly earned an affiliation with Clarion Hotels.

Lisa and her team are preparing for another celebration this Sunday, with a special Father’s Day buffet and invites everyone to come in and enjoy lunch.