Phillip J. Davis

Phil Davis, a Lynchburg College Graduate in 1973, did not set out to be in the hospitality industry but in Education. He took a temporary job in the restaurant Marriott in their restaurant division, he was soon asked to join the Hotel Division as a Director of Food & Beverage at their Key Bridge property. In those days, he moved quite often - Washington DC, Dallas, and Boston in 10 years. He moved to Lynchburg, Virginia in 1986 without a job, but proceeded to buy 10 rental properties and settled down to be a landlord. Shortly thereafter, a call for help went out by the Radisson Hotel in Lynchburg, VA, and he was convinced to return to his old job in Food & Beverage.

In 1994, he was asked to be an opening Director for The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center. With this job he would be given the opportunity to take a piece of history and restore it using modern technology. The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center has been the social center for the Roanoke Valley & surrounding areas since it first opened its doors in 1882. The Grand Old Lady and her revitalization became a labor of love involving the business community, the City of Roanoke, ordinary citizens and Virginia Tech. Had it not been for the keen interest in saving the hotel from demolition, this landmark would now be a parking lot.

Married for 32 years and the proud father of 2 ladies that are currently working on their masters, Mr. Davis is happy to be associated with Virginia Tech and the City of Roanoke. This is a partnership that looks to the future and has embraced this property not as a business but as an icon of history. It is their goal to have advanced technology married to history with no seams.

Phillip J. Davis
Director of Operations
The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center
pdavis@hotelroanoke.com
(540) 853-8207 (Direct line)