Q: How does the convention bureau plan to spend the extra $4.2 million from the lodgers’ tax increase?
A: Marketing and direct sales are really the two main focuses, so we’re going to hire some more sales folks. And we’re going to be able to bring more meeting planners out to Denver, to give the decision-makers for these huge citywide conventions a chance to really experience our city.
Q: What does Denver need to do to raise its profile as a leisure destination?
A: The trend is that leisure travelers are more interested now in going to cities than to remote destinations, which works to our favor.
What we need to do is better communicate the benefits of Denver. Based on my experience, the leisure traveler that we appeal to right now is regional, the drive-in traffic. We have to get out there and expound on our restaurants, our cultural attractions, our sporting events, our shopping.
I think we’ve got a great story to tell, and now we have the money, so we can get the message out in the right way.
Q: You’ve been working for Marriott for more than 25 years. What made you initially get into the hospitality industry?
A: Marriott actually hired me right out of college. I had majored in accounting, but as I was going through all the interviews, I was looking for a fun and interesting company to work for, not an accounting firm. Marriott happened to come to my school to recruit. I must admit, I had never thought of it before that, but it seemed like the perfect fit.
Q: What is it like to be a high-ranking female in hotel management, a field traditionally dominated by men?
A: The majority of general managers are men, but the industry itself is dominated by women serving in various different roles. For me, being a woman trying to move my way up through management, it always worked to my advantage because I always stood out.
Q: What is the biggest challenge in running a 615-room hotel?
A: In my role, I’m very future-focused. So I am very much engaged in mapping out strategies to ensure that we’re successful in the long run.
I have an incredible team that deals with more of the day-to-day operations of the hotel, but I also spend 50 percent of my time walking this hotel, interacting with the customer and associates alike. If something happens like the power going out, I pitch in and help. That’s the greatest thing about our industry – every day is different.
Q: Are the downtown hotels feeling a ripple effect from the opening of the new Hyatt Regency Denver at the Colorado Convention Center?
A: Absolutely. Everybody wants to go try it out, see what the service is like. Any brand-new product that invested that amount of money darn well should get a lift.
But as for the high-quality hotels in town, I am a firm believer that, under the current economic conditions, there is more than enough business for all of us.
Q: What is your favorite hotel amenity when you travel?
A: My favorite amenity is room service; I just love it.
As for in the room, I’m pretty simple. Probably the most important thing is having a really comfy bed and a shower head with good water pressure. It’s all about the basics: a good night’s sleep and a great shower.
Edited for space and clarity from an interview by staff writer Julie Dunn.
