Bringing experience that spans branded hotels to experiential and outdoor lodging.
Forgemark Advisory helps strengthen the operation, develop leaders, and build teams that stay, and remains involved throughout. Engagements flex from a single scoped project to embedded leadership over time.
I've spent 26 years leading hospitality operations, from branded hotels to some of the best-known names in experiential and outdoor lodging. Along the way, I've learned that strong businesses come down to a few things: sound operations, leadership that people trust, and teams that want to stay. That's the perspective I bring to every engagement. It's grounded in years of actually running businesses and working through the challenges operators face every day.
I started at Marriott, spending eleven years there and eventually launching the 348-room Renaissance New York Midtown as its opening general manager. From there I moved into senior operational leadership, first as Chief Operating Officer of Under Canvas, the largest glamping company in the country, then as Regional Vice President at Great Wolf Resorts, where I oversaw six resorts, roughly $500 million in revenue, and more than 5,000 people. Most recently I served as President and COO of AutoCamp, leading an eight-location outdoor hospitality portfolio. That range, from big branded hotels to boutique outdoor concepts, is why I can walk into almost any operation and understand quickly how it really works.
Forgemark Advisory partners with hospitality owners and operators to strengthen the operation and develop its leaders. Success is measured by the lasting health of the business and the people inside it.
A hospitality industry that grows the good in every business, where better leaders build better teams and stronger teams create lasting results.
David doesn't just give you an answer and move on. He takes the time to really understand the business, ask the right questions, and genuinely cares about helping you succeed.
While Dave has deep experience with some of the biggest players in the industry, he's incredibly practical about what can actually be done with the resources you have today. He's realistic, thoughtful, and a rare talent.
Every good engagement starts with a conversation. Tell me a bit about your business and what you're working through, and we'll go from there.