Sponsored Content
Deal or No Deal ? The Nice Guys of Victory Hotel Partners + Hay Creek Hotels and Restaurants
Popular sentiment says greed is good , cash in king and nice guys finish last , but do they really ? The success of these companies ’ rests on the reputations of its leaders . Ego takes a back seat , and the spirit of hospitality is embraced at every single touchpoint . With decades of experience between them , we spoke with Greg Mount , CEO of Victory Hotel Partners , Gary Sims , CEO of Hay Creek Hotels and Dan Mahoney , SVP of Development of Hay Creek Hotels about their point of view on this matter .
Nice guys support and empower others . Nice guys speak softly but don ’ t carry a big stick .
You will not find another individual in this industry as dedicated to mentoring and developing the industry leaders of today as Greg Mount . His active role in empowering women began well before it was in vogue and extended beyond just women ’ s month in March . He started important initiatives as a leader that allowed women to have a voice and position in a very male dominated industry . Tiffany Copper , Head of Development , NA and Caribbean for Kimpton Hotels , credits Greg for being a major contributor to catapulting her career . She stated in a recent interview , “ Greg overlooked my inexperience and saw the qualities in me you hire for , my sales skills , and ability to learn .” Greg believes firmly in building healthy self-esteem , confidence and a comfort in one ’ s own skin to help empower others and allow them to see their part in the bigger picture .
“ The nature of what we do is hospitality- all else is secondary .” - Gary Sims
The first thought of a “ deal guy ” is that of an individual that is overbearing , loud and pushy . If you ’ ve ever spoken to Dan Mahoney , you would have to admit he is the polar opposite of that stereotype . He has been through many industry cycles throughout his 35-year career and has always valued the character and integrity of personal culture . He has gotten feedback from many partners throughout his career that the reason they decided to a deal with him was not because the price was right , or the terms were favorable , it was because of the kind of person he is . His character speaks volumes . Jim Berry , Executive Director , Hospitality and Gaming at Cushman and Wakefield said , “ Dan always returns calls on the same day and is amendable to offering his knowledge and experience relating to development , operations as well as his insights on independent hotel trends . He is really one of the hotel ’ s industry good guys .”
Nice guys understand hospitality is practiced on and off the field .
Some may call Gary Sims an impatient leader , but that impatience derives from his incessant drive to ensure the needs of guests are at the forefront of everything he and his team does . That hospitality is always the focus and the end goal . His time as a GM at some of the biggest hotels and resorts in the country taught him that no matter the size of the property , the thing that matters is that you are a nice , hospitable , and accommodating person in and outside of the hotel . He credits his mentor Michael Hardesty , the first GM that took him under his wing early in his career , for leaving that lasting impression on him . Gary states is simply , “ The nature of what we do is hospitality- all else is secondary .”
Nice guys are leaders that lead by example .
Nice guys are leaders that lead by example . They show the way , not just point the way . You will often find all three of these individuals rolling up their sleeves and working shoulder to shoulder . All in their own different ways they are contributing immensely to this industry and in the nicest way you can imagine . That sounds like a team to partner with .
70 hotelsmag . com June 2023