A hospitality journey worth recognizing.
Sargis began his hospitality career as a bellman at the Ani Plaza Hotel in the heart of Yerevan, Armenia. After moving to the United States in 2007, he rebuilt his career and joined the Hilton brand in 2009, gaining experience across extended-stay, focused-service, full-service, and convention center hotels. In 2018, Sargis joined McNeill Hotel Company, where he led the full renovation of the Homewood Suites by Hilton Boise, Idaho. In 2019, he and his team received Hilton’s Award of Excellence for outstanding performance. During his tenure with McNeill, he received multiple recognitions, including the MHC Culture and Humanitarian Award, a company-wide honor recognizing his commitment to people, culture, and community. Sargis is an alumnus of Yerevan State University, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in History and Cultural Diversity. He also holds the Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) and Certified Revenue Management Executive (CRME) credentials, along with eCornell hospitality and revenue management certifications. Outside of hospitality, Sargis enjoys spending time with his family and traveling the world, exploring different cultures and experiences.
Making a meaningful difference.
Throughout his career, Sargis has measured success not only by hotel performance, but by the people and teams he has helped develop. His leadership approach centers on accountability, trust, and giving people the tools and support they need to succeed. A significant part of his leadership impact has been developing future leaders within hotel operations. He has coached general managers, department heads, and emerging hospitality professionals, helping them strengthen their operational knowledge, financial understanding, leadership skills, and confidence. He believes one of the most important responsibilities of a leader is creating opportunities for others to grow. Sargis also recognizes the important role mentors have played in his own development. During his time with McNeill Hotel Company, Mark Ricketts became an important mentor and influence in his leadership journey. Mark’s guidance, experience, and perspective helped Sargis further develop his approach to leadership, business decisions, and working with people. This experience reinforced his belief that great leaders should invest in developing others. Sargis has continuously invested in his professional development. His credentials include the Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) and Certified Revenue Management Executive (CRME) from Cornell University. These have strengthened his expertise in leadership, hotel operations, commercial strategy, revenue management, and owners' relationship. Throughout his career, Sargis has received multiple recognitions for operational excellence, team performance, and leadership. The award most meaningful to him is the MHC Culture and Humanitarian Award, a national company-wide recognition reflecting his commitment to people, culture, and community. For Sargis, the most meaningful measure of leadership is seeing people he has mentored become stronger leaders and knowing his contribution continues through the teams and individuals he has helped develop.
What hospitality means to Sargis.
“Hospitality, to me, is much more than providing a room or delivering a service—it comes from the heart and from an inner talent to care for others. From my first days as a bellman in Armenia to leading hotel teams in the United States, I have learned that genuine hospitality cannot simply be taught from a manual. It comes from how we treat people, how we make them feel, and the sincere desire to make a difference. A philosophy that has always resonated with me is J.W. Marriott’s belief: “Take care of associates, and they’ll take care of your customers.” I believe this is at the heart of great hospitality. When associates feel respected, valued, supported, and empowered, they naturally pass that care on to our guests. Hospitality is about creating a sense of belonging. Every guest should feel welcomed, every associate should feel that they matter, and every team member should understand that their contribution makes a difference. For me, hospitality means leading with purpose, serving with genuine care, developing people, and creating memorable experiences. Most importantly, it has taught me that when hospitality comes from the heart, people feel the difference—and that is what makes it truly special.”