Chris Mayer

Chris Mayer has nearly a quarter of a century of experience in the hospitality industry focusing in both the fields of Sales/Marketing and Food and Beverage. After graduating from the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with Omni International, he joined their Food and Beverage Department, and quickly rose through the ranks. In 1989 he joined a small Midwest=based hospitality management company, and spent the next 13 years combining his passion for food and beverage and his experience and enthusiasm sales and marketing. Serving as Director of Catering Sales, Director of Sales for multiple units, General Manager of the company's flagship property, regional vice president of operations and eventually ascending to Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the company.

While simultaneously driving record revenues and profits, Chris was able to create and foster a culture in which team member morale increased, associate turnover decreased thus driving guest satisfaction, which resulted in repeat Quality Excellence awards. In addition, under his leadership and direction, Mayer created, nurtured and grew a chain of award winning steakhouses eventually being named as "North America's Best Dining Experience." In 2001, Chris took his experience into the private sector and opened his own restaurant and catering operation, running it successfully for the next 6 years. Coming back to his first love, he was offered an opportunity work with Meridian Hospitality in December of 2006 to assist in the management and strategic positioning their Manitowoc, WI property. After a rapid turnaround of that property, he joined their parent company, Sun Development and Management Corporation as the Sr. VP of Sales and Marketing April of 2007. Under his expertise and guidance, Chris crafted strategies and tactics to drive a 33% revenue increase for the portfolio of same properties in less than three years.

Proving himself a leader with Sun, Chris was promoted to the position of President in October of 2009 and has worked tirelessly since that time to develop and drive a company that has seen phenomenal growth and expansion. Under his leadership, Sun successfully opened five properties in five months during 2010, including the award winning Embassy Suites and Holiday Inn full service hotels as well as Springhill Suites, Hampton Inn and Suites and Fairfield Inn and Suites, bringing to 31 the number of properties under management, open and operating. While awards and accolades are small milestones of past success, the perpetuity of an ethos of internal and external customer-centric initiatives, ensures the continuous success of the organization. Chris continues to build and strengthen the operating culture and organization through continuously developing a team of talented individuals who share his passion, vision and desire to set a standard of excellence, mutual respect and profitability.