Hay Creek Hotels and Restaurants, a leading hospitality manager and owner, renowned for its exceptional service and unparalleled guest experiences, is proud to announce the appointment of Tommy Pho as the VP of Development for Western US operations. With an impressive background in hotel development and a proven track record in driving growth, Tommy joins Hay Creek at an exciting time of expansion and opportunity.
Rick Blackburn s career in hospitality started at an early age washing dishes in a local hometown restaurant and by age 15 he had learned how to cook in a commercial kitchen. Thirty five years later, with his career shifting from the kitchen to corporate, Rick has demonstrated an innate ability to uncover the greatest opportunities within a business to ensure optimization of revenue, profitability and market share. Rick Blackburn held previous leadership roles with preeminent companies including Waldorf Astoria Hotels and Resorts, Marriott International, and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company where he developed and executed highly-successful sales and marketing strategies. Mr. Blackburn has served as guest speaker for numerous organizations, including the College of Hotel Administration at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and The Hospitality College of Johnson & Wales, as well as, certified speaker for the Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center.
An industry veteran with over 30+ years of experience in operations and development in a variety of hospitality segments, Gary Sims served as COO of RLH Corp with 1,000+ franchise properties. Gary has operated several iconic resorts in the United States including La Costa Resort and Spa, La Quinta Resort and Spa, Westin Diplomat Resort and Spa and HGV properties in Las Vegas. As President/CEO of Nikki Beach Resorts, he was responsible for luxury property development and operations in the Caribbean, South America, Europe and Middle East. Gary has operated branded properties including Westin, Sheraton, Hilton, Marriott, Red Lion and Omni. As CEO of Hay Creek Hotels & Restaurants, Gary will be focused on the acquisition, renovation, repositioning and management of upper- upscale and luxury independent and boutique hotels and restaurants. Norman MacLeod, who remains as the Chairman, will continue to support the development efforts, owner relations and special projects for Hay Creek Hot
Hay Creek Hotels is pleased to announce Michael Bonasia as director of sales and marketing of Hotel Hartness in Greenville, South Carolina. In this role, Bonasia will be responsible for driving business development and leading the sales and marketing team for the 73-room hotel, that features the only premier spa suites in Greenville. Hotel Hartness world class amenities include the fine-dining restaurant Patterson, the intimate Captain s Bar, and the full-service Spa H. Uniquely located within the 449-acre award-winning Hartness community, the boutique hotel will offer a luxurious and idyllic retreat in proximity to downtown Greenville. Hotel Hartness is set to open this December and the property s debut will mark Hay Creek Hotel s first property in upstate South Carolina.
Hay Creek Hotels is pleased to announce the appointment of Albert Mertz as general manager of Hotel Hartness in Greenville, South Carolina. With more than 30 years of international luxury hospitality experience, Mertz brings invaluable expertise to his new role. A boutique hotel uniquely located within the 449-acre award-winning Hartness community, Hotel Hartness will offer a luxurious and idyllic retreat in proximity to downtown Greenville. Managed by Hay Creek Hotels, Hotel Hartness is set to open this fall and introduce incredible amenities and a level of service currently not offered in the market.