WASHINGTON, D.C.
Tracy Marks has been appointed general manager of the 1,070-room landmark Hilton Washington, according to Ted Ratcliff, senior vice president of operation, Eastern U.S. Marks will assume his new post effective immediately; at the very hotel where he began his hospitality career as beverage manager in 1982.
"It is great to be back where my hospitality career began," Marks said. "This hotel has a very special meaning to me."
Marks will oversee the day-to-day operations of the hotel located in the nation's capital and celebrating its 50th anniversary. He most recently held the position of general manager of Hilton Portland and Executive Towers in Portland, Ore.
Marks brings over 30 years of leadership experience in hotel management with a primary focus on food and beverage and is familiar with the D.C. area where his career was launched. After a year as beverage director at Washington Hilton, he moved to Capital Hilton as assistant food and beverage director before his elevation to food and beverage director at Hilton Greenbelt in Maryland and then at Hilton McLean, Washington Hilton and Hilton San Francisco. In 2003, he became hotel manager of Hilton Portland & Executive Tower and in 2006 was promoted to general manager.
His leadership skills and experience in motivating associates has won him many accolades and awards including Hilton Worldwide's Best Shop Call award in 2013; Hilton Worldwide's Genius of the "AND" award in 2012; 2011 Most Improved Guest Satisfaction award and Sustainability awards in 2010 and 2008. American Hotel & Lodging honored Marks with 2007 Most Valuable Volunteer award.
Marks graduated from University of Maryland with a B.S in Business Administration. He has attended numerous classes at Culinary Institute of America and Cornell University and has sat on boards of many organizations including Oregon Restaurant and Lodging, past president; Travel Oregon, board member; Portland Jazz Festival, board member and Portland Water Coalition, member.
Situated on nearly six acres, Washington Hilton is set on the fashionable upper Connecticut Avenue near Dupont Circle, Adams Morgan, Georgetown, Embassy Row and the National Zoo. The hotel boasts 1,070 guest rooms, on-site dining, a lobby lounge, sports bar, complete health club and business center. The property has been the site of prestigious gatherings hosted by U.S. presidents, world leaders and other prominent figures since opening in 1965, with more than 110,000 square feet of event space, including the massive 36,000-square-foot International Ballroom complex.
