Gerard C. “Jerry” Gibson, general manager of the Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort & Spa, earlier this month was named general manager of the year for all Hyatt Hotels and Resorts worldwide. He immediately gave all the credit for his winning
Gerard C. “Jerry” Gibson, general manager of the Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort & Spa, earlier this month was named general manager of the year for all Hyatt Hotels and Resorts worldwide.
He immediately gave all the credit for his winning the award to the employees he manages.
“It is the employees who truly deserve this award for making Hyatt Regency Kauai a very special place,” he said in his acceptance speech.
“The 982 Hyatt employees on Kaua’i are some of the best staff I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with. They are the spirit, the face and pride of the Hyatt Regency Kauai,” said Gibson.
The award came when Gibson attended the annual president’s meeting of Hyatt Hotels and Resorts at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort in New Mexico. He received the Donald N. Pritzker Award of Excellence over 16 other general managers nominated for the honor.
“You always prepare a speech, but you never really expect to deliver it,” Gibson said. “I was honored to have been selected, but as I said in my acceptance speech, it is the employees who truly deserve this award,” he said.
Gibson thanked the Pritzker family that owns and operates Hyatt Hotels and Resorts worldwide; Scott Miller, Hyatt president; Victor Lopez, division vice president; Hyatt’s corporate vice presidents; and all Hyatt general managers for their collective leadership.
A Hyatt Hotels and Resorts veteran with over 22 years of service, Gibson has been general manager of the Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort & Spa since June of 1999.
He opened both the Kaua’i and Hyatt Regency Waikoloa properties as food and beverage director, and served as regional food and beverage director for properties in Waikiki, and on Maui and Kaua’i.
“Jerry is known for his attention to detail, and for building solid customer relations,” said Victor Lopez, division vice president, who further praised Gibson for his Kaua’i community involvement.
“The Visitor Industry Charity Walk, local school programs, the Hawaii Hotel Association, the Kaua’i Island Utility Cooperative and other local organizations greatly benefited from the support of Jerry and his team,” Lopez said.
“He also has outstanding owner relations, and this has given the resort the opportunity to do many major capital improvements,” said Lopez.
A native of Boston, Mass., Gibson graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He has been married for 17 years to Sandra Gibson.
The Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort & Spa, near Keoneloa Bay (Shipwreck Beach) in Po’ipu, has 602 rooms, six restaurants, six lounges, swimming pool with waterfalls and 150-foot water slide, five-acre saltwater lagoon, tennis courts, ANARA Spa, and golf at adjacent Poipu Bay Resort Golf Course.