In this inquisitive Q&A series, we get personal with Mark Sherwin, general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. In his new role, Sherwin oversees operations for all facets of the resort, including its award-winning dining venues, exclusive beach club and golf club, and newly renovated spa, ensuring the highest standards of service and hospitality. His strategic vision and innovative approach further elevate the hotel’s reputation as a pinnacle of luxury and sophistication. Sit back and pretend it’s a spa day as you learn about the newest GM at the Ritz.
A recent day in your life. This resort has been the social and gathering center of the community for over 20 years, so it is a privilege to be able to build upon that legacy by creating unique experiences for our guests, clients and locals. It all starts with our ladies and gentlemen, and it is impressive to have so many long-tenured employees at this resort in an industry that is known for high turnover. The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota has many moving parts, and it is not just providing leadership to a resort that includes room accommodations, food and beverage, retail shops, spa, and all of the support functions that support those departments (engineering, human resources, finance, sales and marketing, etc.). As part of our entire operation, we also manage the Ritz-Carlton Residences, a Ritz-Carlton Membership Club, and both a private beach club and a golf club. Plenty to keep me busy.
Your favorite virtue is. . . Integrity. My mother always said, “If you tell the truth, you will never have to remember what you said.”
When you were a kid you dreamed of . . . I wanted to be a sports agent like Jerry Maguire. But law school wasn’t in the cards for me.
Your guilty pleasure . . . I have a wicked sweet tooth. As I walk the resort, a trip to our pastry kitchen is always part of my journey
My last supper would include . . .Lasagna and a New York strip steak.
Words you use too often . . . I often talk about the Three-Legged Stool, which is our balanced scorecard approach to running our business. I also use words like awesome, amazing and outstanding to encourage and inspire our team.
Your favorite music artists . . . Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel. Can you tell I am from the Northeast?
With two more hours in the day, I would . . . spend it with my family. I already don’t spend enough time with them!
If not yourself, who would you be?A professional golfer.
What was the funniest thing you remember doing as a kid? I grew up on Long Island and we had sand dunes behind our house. I remember “sledding” down the sand dunes on garbage can lids.
Would you rather have a rewind button or a pause button in your life? I have loved each phase of my life, but maybe I’d rewind so I can correct some of the lessons learned along the way.
If you had your own talk show, who would your first three guests be? Warren Buffett, Bono and Sharon Stone.
What is the scariest thing you’ve ever done? Probably ziplining across the Pecos River in Santa Fe (100 feet of freefall, then ziplining across the river). That got my blood pressure up!
Your favorite food of the moment is . . . I love steamers/soft-shell clams. I was introduced to them while growing up on Long Island and enjoyed them during my seven years living in Boston.
If you had to wear a T-shirt with one word on it, what would it be? Inspiration.
If you could snap your fingers and appear somewhere else, where would you be? My wife and I love to travel —Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East. One place I have never been is the Polynesian Islands, so Fiji or Bali.
Which cartoon character best represents your personal philosophy? Maybe a Marvel character. You can achieve whatever you set out to achieve. And I love the saying that if you love your job, you will never work a day in your life! I guess that’s why I am still in the hospitality business after all these years.
