Gordon Gurnik, An Example of Leadership
Gordon Gurnik is the Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Hilton Grand Vacations (HGV). He has served as the Chairman of the ARDA Board since April 2024.
Gordon has spent over 30 years in the timeshare industry, but he describes his career beginnings as a “happy accident.”
“I was in college looking for a part-time job and saw an ad for a call center role,” Gordon said. “That call center happened to be at RCI.”
After moving through the ranks in various staffing and revenue management positions at RCI, Gordon was eventually named president of the company in 2012.
“I’m proof that, once you get into this industry, people rarely leave it,” said Gordon.
Following an illustrious career with RCI, Gordon joined HGV as Chief Operating Officer in 2018. In his role, he leads Business Operations, Global Marketing and Digital, Resort Operations and Club, Program Management, and Hilton Ultimate Access.
“When Mark Wang [CEO at Hilton Grand Vacations] asked me to join the company, I was worried about leaving the great culture at RCI,” said Gordon. “When I started at HGV, however, I quickly realized I had nothing to worry about. The culture here is truly outstanding.”
Gordon says his favorite part of his job is getting to be involved in all aspects of the company’s operations, from weighing in on what a suite at a new property should look like, to helping oversee strategic mergers and acquisitions. “I also love the timeshare industry because I love the travel industry,” he adds. “We’re sending people on vacation and helping them make memories. That makes you feel good when you go home every day.”
I’ve had the pleasure of being part of ARDA’s VIP membership program for several years. Reflecting on my experience with this program, I can share that the greatest benefits it provides are extensive and include valuable insights on the timeshare industry, access to the VIP lounge at conferences for networking with industry executives, and exclusive events designed to connect with other industry leaders to discuss the future of the timeshare industry. It’s a fantastic way to stay connected with thought leaders and help drive the future of the business.
A Welcome to Newcomers
Gordon’s advice for industry newcomers, and for those looking to progress their careers in timeshare, is to be versatile and always volunteer for new opportunities. “Go out and try to understand the broader scope of what the company does and what’s going on,” Gordon said. “Don’t just wait for your leaders to ask you to do you something.” He adds that companies often talk about who is a good fit for different projects or teams within an organization, and those willing to try new things might open new doors with leadership.
“The great thing about this industry is there are so many different career paths in one organization – real estate, financing, operations, and so on. Most companies will give you the chance to explore career opportunities in different facets, so take advantage of that. Being open and willing to try new things has worked well for me in my career and has taken me to place I never would have guessed I’d get to.”
Gordon also advises young professionals to ask as many questions as possible, and to always anticipate that inspiration can strike at any moment. “Some of the best ideas I’ve ever had for HGV came from something a company in a completely different industry was doing,” said Gordon, “It’s important to stay curious, even about things that don’t seem connected initially.”
When he’s not at work, Gordon enjoys vacationing with his family. A top destination for Gordon and his family is Colorado, where they enjoy annual ski trips. While Gordon is a big fan of outdoor activities, however, he also enjoys some of the city destinations that HGV has properties in. “If you’re looking to visit a city, one of my favorite places to go is New York,” said Gordon. “The HGV properties there are beautiful, and the city is really vibrant.”
Although his children are now adults, they still enjoy the many benefits of a timeshare vacation. “My kids have always stayed at timeshare resorts. I don’t think they’d know how to vacation in a standard hotel room, even now!”
Report from the American Resort Development Association, Reprinted with Permission (https://www.arda.org/gordon-gurnik-0)
