Hotel Axiom's Garry Cox on what Silicon Valley guests really want
Garry's love for the hotel industry started with a trip to Orlando when he was just 12 years old. "Everyone there was so happy," he recalls. Since then, Garry has managed some of the country's biggest and brightest resorts, including Grand Cypress and the The Hard Rock Hotel in Orlando.
Most recently, Garry moved to San Francisco to help take The Axiom Hotel to the next level. Within just a few years, Garry has put The Axiom at the leading edge of technology and hospitality.
Can I Speak to the Manager met up with Garry at The Axiom to talk SF dive bars, tech in hotels, and trips to Santa Cruz.
ON HIS SAN FRANCISCO FAVORITES:
My favorite pizza is in North Beach at Golden Boy. I always get the meat lover. Bellini's has good pizza too. Also in SF, you can't go wrong with Scoma's for seafood.
ON SPORTS:
Being from the Boston area, I'm a big Patriots and Red Sox fan. If I'm watching a game, I usually watch it at home with my friends and I'm pretty relaxed about it. I respect passion for any sport.
ON TECHNOLOGY IN HOSPITALITY:
I think what we're doing at The Axiom is pretty cool. It's annoying when you visit a hotel and things just aren't easy. In Silicon Valley, that's more important than ever - our clients expect it. We've put plugs next to the bed, installed fiber optic wifi, and provide streaming TV services with no password. We're also all about the music. Today is Johnny Cash Day, so we all dressed like Cash and we're playing Cash all day long outside on the drive.
ON HIS NEXT VACATION:
For my next vacation, I'm going to Las Vegas and staying at The Tropicana with my brother. We're going to watch football and play blackjack. I'm always into a Vegas buffet. There's also a great buffet in Reno called The Pepper Mill with excellent crab and unlimited mimosas. It's out of the way but much better than anything on the strip.
ON HIS FAVORITE SPOT TO UNWIND:
My go-to is Union Square Sports Bar. It's a dive, but I love it. My drink is a Jameson and 7.
ON SERVICE PET PEEVES:
When no one asks how my stay was. It's so simple to do, and it means a lot. That, and rigid, stiff hospitality.
ON HIS IDEAL DAY OFF:
On my ideal day off, I'd go to Santa Cruz with my brother. We love the Giant Dipper at the Beach Boardwalk. It's one of the oldest wooden roller coasters in the country. We'll go for a ride, turn around, get back in line, and do the whole thing again.
