Benchmark, a global hospitality company, appointed Jerry Gibson as VP and managing director for Turtle Bay Resort, a Benchmark Resorts & Hotels property located on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii. Greg Champion, president, made the announcement.
“It is with great pleasure that I welcome Jerry to Benchmark and to Turtle Bay Resort,” Champion said in a statement. “I can’t think of anyone more qualified to lead this magnificent property to even greater levels of success, and to continue the resort’s active involvement with Oahu’s North Shore community. He is a terrific addition to Turtle Bay Resort’s senior management team and to Benchmark.”
Jerry Gibson brings 38 years of hospitality leadership experience to his new position with Turtle Bay Resort, including 25 invested in the Hawaii market. He most recently was the area VP for Hilton Hawaii, overseeing the operations of Hilton-managed properties throughout the Hawaiian Islands, including two of Hilton’s largest campuses, Hilton Hawaiian Village and Hilton Waikoloa Village. On the mainland, Gibson was also responsible for properties in the Northwest, Arizona and Las Vegas.
Gibson’s hospitality experience spans the Continental United States, offshore and also includes positions in Europe. He served in leadership roles in operations and food-and-beverage with brands such as Hyatt and Marriott, in addition to his tenure with Hilton. Upon returning to Hawaii in 2008, Gibson immersed himself within the community, serving on boards for the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association, where he was elected president, the Hawaii Hotel Owners Roundtable, the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau, Honolulu Festival Foundation, Japanese-American Society of Hawaii and the Waikiki Beach Special Improvement District Association, among others. He is the recipient of the Pineapple Award that honors the Best of the Best in Hawaii’s Tourism and Hospitality, and will be honored this April by the University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Travel Industry Management’s Celebrate a Legacy in Tourism event.
Jerry Gibson is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts where he earned his degree in business administration. He resides in Honolulu with his wife, Sandra.
Following the recent completion of a $52-million, multiphased renovation, the resort now showcases 410 updated, ocean-view guestrooms and suites plus 42 newly-designed oceanfront beach cottages, as well as an upgraded lobby and cultural gallery, seven restaurants and bars, an 11,000-square-foot spa and expanded fitness center with new wellness programming, a beach and two swimming pools. The beach resort provides ocean and land adventures through its on-property helicopter pad, horse stables, tennis courts, two golf courses, 12 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, daily fitness and wellness classes, off-road Segway tours, surf school, water adventures including eco-kayaking and more.