ORLANDO, FLA. (May 19, 2016) – Spire Hospitality is very excited to announce the appointment of Jim Gross as general manager of DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld. Gross will oversee the operations of the 1,004-room, 28-acre hotel while overseeing a multi-million dollar renovation and convention center addition.
As a seasoned hospitality executive, Gross brings more than 20 years of progressive industry experience that has come full circle. Gross led a number of Spire Hospitality hotels as general manager and is returning to the company to lead DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld. Gross will build on the current success of the hotel helping to drive revenues, strengthen the operating performance, reposition the hotel as a result of the coming conference center addition while building on the strong culture that assures excellent guest service and experiences at DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld.
“We are very proud to welcome Jim back to Spire Hospitality as our new general manager of DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld,” says Spire Hospitality President and CEO, Bill DeForrest. “His extensive knowledge, outstanding leadership skills and experience working with the financial aspect of operations will ensure growth and continued excellent performance of the hotel during and following our renovation and convention center addition.”
Most recently, Gross served as the general manager for Embassy Suites by Hilton San Diego on the Bay where he created a service culture at the property that improved overall guest experience. Prior to, Gross increased revenue and repositioned the sales culture as general manager of the Sir Francis Drake Hotel in San Francisco, Calif., after a dramatic renovation. Gross was later promoted to area director of operations in 2014, where he was responsible for four Kimpton hotels in San Francisco. Gross has also worked as general manager for the Sheraton Mahwah in Mahwah, N.J., Crowne Plaza Hotel in Somerset, N.J., New Jersey and Hotel Solamar in San Diego, Calif. among others.
“Success is based on collaborative leadership style, and the ability to create clear goals and drive hard towards achievement,” says Jim Gross, general manager at DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld. “I look forward to leading a strong team of individuals whose primary goal is attentive service and genuine hospitality to guests of DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld.”
Spanning 28 lush acres, DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld, an Official Hotel of SeaWorld and nestled in the heart of International Drive adjacent to SeaWorld® and Aquatica, SeaWorld’s Waterpark and The Orange County Convention Center, is Orlando’s largest DoubleTree and most inviting hotel delivering a resort-like experience to meeting attendees, business travelers and leisure visitors alike. For more information on meetings and events at DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld, call (407) 352-1100 or visit DoubleTreeOrlandoSeaWorld.com. Follow Facebook.com/DoubleTreeResortOrlando or twitter.com/DTResortOrlando for special offers.
