Mary Cross
Corporate Director of Sales
Mary comes to Gibson Hotel Management Inc. with more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry. She has led talented teams and delivered exceptional guest experiences across brands such as Marriott, IHG, Hilton, and Choice Hotels. Her background spans luxury resorts, full-service, limited-service, extended-stay, and multi-property operations, which gives her a well-rounded perspective on hospitality leadership and operational excellence.
Mary is passionate about developing people, building strong teams, exceeding guest expectations, and driving business growth. She believes that lasting success is built on integrity, servant leadership, operational excellence, and a genuine commitment to caring for both guests and employees. In her Director of Sales role, she will foster accountability and collaboration in sales with the teams.
During her professional career she also has senior living experience that focused on building meaningful relationships, driving occupancy, and leading high-performing sales teams. Additionally, she owned and operated an Italian restaurant successfully using her family's authentic Italian recipes creating memorable dining experiences.
Mary is from Florida and attended the University of Florida earning a Bachelor of Business Administration. She makes her home in Knoxville with her three pets: Oliver, a 5-year-old Boxer; Sophia, a 9-year-old Mini Schnauzer; and Olivia, an 8-year-old Mini Schnauzer. She enjoys being outdoors, hiking, kayaking, and exploring the mountains on weekends. She has a few special places where she finds peace with God. She also enjoys cooking, reading, riding her horse, and loves to go off-roading in her Bronco!