Gemstone Hotels and Resorts, a full-service hotel management company that specializes in operating luxury and upscale urban hotels and resorts, today announced that William Parris has joined the company as national sales director. In his new position, Parris will open a NYC sales office, with a focus on group and national accounts, as well as the social, entertainment and travel industry markets. With 16 operating hotels, and several others either opening or coming under management over the next year, Parris’ impact will be felt immediately throughout the national portfolio.
Parris brings more than 25 years of experience in hotel sales. He has held various management positions with independent, boutique properties, brands, destination tourism organizations and lifestyle services companies on both national and global levels and has worked across group, corporate transient and wholesale market segments. His career includes opening five major hotels, transitioning two Starwood properties to independent brands and generating millions in revenue for individual properties such as The Milford Plaza and three other iconic NYC hotels, as well as for the 500 hotel portfolio of WorldHotels, a group of independent hotels around the world. Sales & Marketing USA & Canada United States New York New York