Glenn Vergara, BBA ’84 Vice President and General Manager, Waikiki Resort Hotel
Born and raised on the island of Molokai, Glenn Vergara, BBA ’84, is a proud graduate of the School of Travel Industry Management (TIM School). He is currently the vice president and general manager of Waikiki Resort Hotel, an independently managed property of 275 rooms, two restaurants and 125 associates. Glenn’s career in hospitality management spans 30 years and includes more than 22 years in a leadership or general management capacity.
Glenn started his career at the then 5-diamond Mauna Kea Beach Hotel as part of the Westin Hotels & Resorts’ Management Trainee, where he was promoted to hotel assistant manager. He then joined Ritz Carlton Hotels when it opened its first Hawai‘i property (Ritz-Carlton Mauna Lani, now Fairmont Orchid). He then took part in the opening of Executive Centre Hotel where, after two years, he was promoted to general manager. During his tenure with Aston Hotels, he received multiple general manager recognition awards. His career continued with the Makaha Resort & Golf Club as general manager and Outrigger Reef Waikiki as assistant general manager.
Glenn is active in community and hospitality industry affairs. He is past chairman of the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association (2018-19) and has served on its board for 13 years. He is two-time past chairperson for the Visitor Industry Charity Walk (2018, 2019) and served as chair on various HLTA committees (Membership, Oahu Chapter and Hawaii Hotel Industry Foundation) for a number of years. Glenn is also a member of the Hawaii Hotel Operators Roundtable, serves a chair role with Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii and sits on the boards of the TIM Alumni Association, the Waikiki Improvement Association and Blood Bank of Hawaii.
Glenn’s commitment to the future generation of leaders is demonstrated by years of strong support of the TIM School’s internship and scholarship programs. He is also involved with Generational Mentoring, a program sponsored by HLTA in which senior executives in the hospitality industry volunteer their time and provide mentorship to TIM students who aspire to take on leadership roles.
Glenn has two grown sons and a grandson and in his free time, he enjoys golfing, photography, cinematography, traveling and spending time with his lovely wife, Tammy.