The company’s co-founder and partner Greg Mount has become the first CEO of Victory Hotel Partners, while the other co-founder and chief operating officer, Gary Sims, is now CEO of Hay Creek.
Development leader
Mount began his career at Marriott International, Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Starwood Hotels & Resorts. As a president and CEO in the global hospitality industry, he steered significant business transformation and expansion to position companies for greater relevance, market leadership and sustained success.
Victory feels he has a combination of strategic, financial, operational, and real estate leadership agility. As CEO, Mount will be focused on leveraging Victory’s vertically integrated platform, execution on mergers and acquisition, development, and management of independent and boutique hotel properties.
Renovation focus
Sims is an industry veteran with over 30+ years of experience in operations and development in a variety of hospitality segments. He served as COO of Red Lion Hotels Corp with 1,000+ franchise properties.
He has operated several major 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. Sims has also operated branded properties including Westin, Sheraton, Hilton, Marriott, Red Lion and Omni.
As CEO of Hay Creek, he 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 the brand.
Purposeful and strategic
Mount said: “Coming on board full- time as CEO of the company I formed with long-term partner, Gary Sims, has been a life-long dream come to fruition. Forming this under the direst of circumstances, I am beyond grateful to this team that pressed on during the pandemic, helping us achieve enormous growth in such a short time. Our approach from the beginning has been purposeful and strategic and we will continue that approach into this new year.”
Sims added: “It’s been my great fortune to have worked with the Hay Creek team for over two years as their COO and I am proud to continue the great legacy that Norman MacLeod has built in the independent and boutique hotel space as the new CEO.”
Coming for Creek
Hay Creek’s upcoming developments include Harwin Hotel in Charleston, South Carolina, which is due to deliver 30 keys in Q2 this year, while 36-key full service boutique site Embers Hotel in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, will follow in Q3.
Plus McEntire River Runner Hotel in Decatur, Alabama, is planned for Q1 2024. The 65-room property will house several dining options and bars, 5,000 sq ft of meeting and event space, a standalone spa and the restoration of the historic McEntire home, circa 1835, to be used as a museum.
