maRK WIlson.

General Manager, Hotel arts

Mark Wilson is the Vice President of the Hotel Arts Hospitality Group, as well as a limited partner in the Hi Hotel Limited Partnership. This dynamic hospitality group has in its current portfolio the Hotel Arts, a 185-room designer boutique-style hotel in downtown Calgary that boasts two award winning restaurants (Raw Bar and Yellow Door Bistro) as well as a bustling catering and banquet business.  In the portfolio is also Hotel Arts Kensington, a 19-room boutique property in the trendy Kensington area, which also operates Oxbow Restaurant and Lounge. Mark is the General Manager of both properties.

Through a long and varied career in hospitality, Mark developed an invaluable experience base in a variety of local and international hotels and restaurants. Mark spent 6 years with the Hyatt Regency Calgary, and was part of the opening team as the Director of Catering and Conference Services and created an immediate presence in the marketplace. While at Hyatt Regency Calgary, Mark also worked as the Executive Assistant Manager, overseeing both the Rooms and Food and Beverage divisions.  Mark has also spent time opening international hotels with Hyatt Hotels and Resorts. 

Prior to the Hyatt, Mark added to his portfolio of hospitality experience spending 15 years with Starwood Hotels and Resorts in a variety of leadership capacities in operations, catering, and conference services.  Other experience included tenures with Cara Air Terminal Restaurants, Red Robin Restaurants of Canada, and gaining key experience in his family owned restaurants.

Mark maintains a close affiliation with his alma mater SAIT Polytechnic as a member of the advisory board for the Hospitality Management Program.  He currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Calgary Prostate Cancer Centre, and the Calgary Hotel Association. Mark is also a founding member of the Gala Committee for the Women for Men’s Health Initiative.  Mark is currently the Provincial Bailli of the Prairies for the Chaîne des Rotisseurs.  Mark is a former member of the Board of Directors for Tourism Calgary, the Regional Bailli of the Calgary chapter of the Chaîne des Rotisseurs, and a founding committee member for the Bill Brooks Prostate Cancer Fundraiser that helped raise over $9M in 19 years for the Calgary Prostate Cancer Centre.