 Mark D. Davis serves on both the VICA Executive Committee and the VICA Board of Directors.
Mark Davis is the President & CEO of
Sun Hill Properties, which includes the
Hilton Universal. Mark has over 40 year of experience in the hospitality industry, with over 57 trips to China (equivalent to three one-way trips to the Moon), and has 12 grandchildren. He is a dedicated business and family man.
Tell us about your experience with VICA, how has VICA been valuable for you?
VICA provides the opportunity to engage with some of the smartest minds in business. There is always someone that has experienced or studied most any challenge facing modern economics in a highly politicized environment. The diversity and perspective available to any member engaging to understand the dynamics for making a decision is invaluable. There is simply no other single resource greater due to the vast coverage of business minds in the Valley with a broad spectrum of valuable insight.
If you were to tell a peer or friend about VICA, what would be your sales pitch?
If you are a business enterprise, profit or non-profit alike, and not involved in VICA you are simply not fulfilling the potential of your professional impact to your company as well as what you can give back to the community. VICA is both a Pay it Forward and Get Paid beneficial organization. Get involved, get engaged, participate. You owe it to yourself, your team members and your community. Together we make it a better place for everyone.
What is your favorite experience or memory with VICA?
There are many faves, but to name a couple: the annual fire side chats, luncheons with Stuart to discuss our business and how VICA can make things better. Stuart is a listener and he makes you feel comfortable and vital. Secondly, the after hours are a great time to just get to know the movers and shakers of the Valley. To engage in friendly discussions and sometimes exchange political view points, however yet to convert a Democrat!
Has your company made commitments or taken action to support employees and/or the community during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Upon return from my January trip to China, last week of the month, the early announcement came warning us of the inevitable movie that was about to play out globally. From my past experience managing potential infectious threats in the industry, I implemented immediate high focused sanitation protocol on all touch points front and back of house, hand washing, etc.
Thankfully, to date we remain healthy with no reported impact to our team or guests. Of course like many, we reduced operating and leadership staff as the occupancy numbers declined rapidly with the closing of
Universal Studios Theme Park and later City Walk. In lieu of just cutting hours, we reduced full days so the team members would qualify for UI benefits. Additionally, we are covering health care for our participating team members that are on lay off during this time, so they don't have to worry about health care coverage.
At our flag ship property,
Hilton Universal, we support 3 other hotels and need to keep payroll and bills paid as well as general management support to all. Last Friday we sponsored a Care Package "drive-by pick up" at
Hilton with hygiene products and some basic food pantry items to help our families. Our HR team has provided continued support and guidance to assist laid off team members apply for the Federal and State assistance available.
I am so proud and honored to work with such a great team of professionals in the industry who are well trained and responsive to the needs of our team members and guests. It is always in challenging moments that you find who the loyal leaders and team members are who put others first and own it. Thankfully, I am not surprised at all to find that our leadership team answered the call as well as our capable and loyal team mates. I am thankful as well that our ownership provides the support and understanding of their important role while we all look forward to better times and they will come. This too shall pass is our hope and prayer with confidence that we will all look back on this as exactly what it was, an unprecedented event in our lifetime. We will persevere together and be stronger on the other side of this valley, no pun intended.
|
