Officials of Pyramid Hotel Group have announced Gary L. Sims has joined the company as senior vice president of Pyramid’s Resort Group. He will be responsible for overseeing the company’s resort properties under management.
“Resort management is one of our core strengths, and Gary’s joining our senior management team reflects our continued commitment to be a leader in this specialized segment,” said Richard M. Kelleher, Pyramid’s principal and chief executive officer. “Our management team worked with Gary earlier in his career, and we have great confidence in his resort management abilities. He brings unmatched experience in resorts from big-box to boutique, as well as a proven track record working with time-share properties. His award-winning background includes some of America’s top branded and independent, five- and four-star resorts, as well as in-depth expertise in the Caribbean, Mexico and Central and South America.”
Sims previously was area managing director for Hilton Worldwide’s Las Vegas properties that generated $250 million in annual revenues, including four that were part of the Hilton Grand Vacation Division. He is the former managing director of the 5-Star La Quinta Resort & PGA West—A Waldorf Astoria Resort. He oversaw the 800-room resort, 25,000 square-foot spa, 42 court tennis center and nine world-class golf courses, as well as some 650 annual transactions in condo and single family home sales. During his tenure there, the resort was awarded Hilton’s Hotel of the Year, and Sims was named GM of the Year for Hilton.
Prior to that, he was executive vice president and partner in Trust Hospitality, a third-party management company specializing in 4-Star luxury, boutique/lifestyle hotels, working on projects in Belize, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Columbia, Honduras, Montenegro and Portugal. He previously was president and CEO of Nikki Beach Hotels & Resorts, a global brand that also included beach clubs, restaurants and night clubs. He spent a decade with Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc., rising through a number of area and resort management positions, culminating in being named vice president of development. Sims also was a key manager during the rapid growth of Doubletree Hotel Company.
Sims attended the University of Central Florida. He is a Certified Hotel Administrator and is a member of the Board of Directors of Here’s Help Miami and the Board of Directors of the Palm Spring CVB.
