David Berger '98—winner of the Lynn University 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award—is the chief operating officer of Hospitality America, a hotel management and consulting services company that oversees more than $500 million in assets from Miami, Florida to Greenville, South Carolina. He earned the award in recognition of his successful career, charitable endeavors and mentorship of the next generation of business leaders.
Berger's achievements are all the more remarkable given his start. "I come from zero dollars. My family didn't have anything," he said. "I was the first in my family to graduate from college."
Berger came to Lynn as a baseball team recruit, but quickly found another calling—the hospitality program. He credits much of his success to a combination of the discipline, loyalty and commitment learned in sports and real-world-based classroom lessons.
"The university was perfect for me because of the small classes and interactive environment," he said. "If you're learning what you like, you become captivated by it and I did. My Lynn experience was tremendous."
After graduating, Berger held a series of hotel-based positions at Turnberry Associates, Thayer Lodging and Hospitality America. Each job showcased his natural gifts—keen business acumen and dynamic people skills.
Asked about the latter early in 2020, Berger said, "Relationships are the most important thing in life. And they're the most important thing in business. I work hard at them."
When the world turned upside down a few months later, his perspective was the same: Relationships are more important than ever.
Berger has a genuine interest in his co-workers, customers and vendors. He used to stay in-touch via in-person site visits. Today, he uses Zoom calls delivered with a sense of humor and focus on virtual etiquette. Hundreds of miles apart, Berger and his team still rely on real connections—to cater to guests, inspire staff, connect with furloughed employees and renegotiate with vendors ranging from bankers to pest control specialists.
Previously, Berger described the hotel business as a balancing act, "Our job is to protect and increase the value of the asset. About 50,000 decisions go into making that possible. Numbers show success or failure," he said. "But I also have a responsibility to create a great work environment and a great culture."
These days, the act is more complex: building a road from survival to recovery. So Berger focuses on daily strategy, efficiency and team-building.
"Right now, success is measured by minimizing losses," he said. "When travel comes back, we will be stronger, with assets we're proud of, assets that are set up for moving forward."
Resilience also powers Berger's volunteer work. He plays ongoing leadership roles in the local Artisphere arts festival, VisitGreenvilleSC and the Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee.
And he continues to support Lynn. In a recent webinar, he inspired hospitality students.
"Our business is always looking for people who have the spirit to serve," he said. "If you truly have passion, there will always be a spot for you."
