For the first time, Visit Irving is marking National Hotel Employee Day, celebrated nationally on September 1.
But with so many outstanding hotel employees in Irving, one day didn’t seem like enough. We turned it into a week-long celebration, spotlighting local hotel employees and their stories on social media.
This year’s American Hotel & Lodging Association theme, “A Place to Start. A Place to Grow,” reflects the opportunities available in an industry where people can start in an entry-level position and build a rewarding career.
You can see that happening right here in Irving.
Fatima Reyes-Rojas started as a front desk agent and has worked her way to Sales Coordinator at NYLO Las Colinas. She’s already looking ahead to future roles in catering and sales management.
“There is space for you as long as you have a dream and are willing to do the hard work,” Reyes-Rojas said. “There is room for professional and personal growth and meaningful connections you get to make every day.”
Bess Coleman’s career has taken her even farther. She got her start working banquets while in college, then worked in hospitality in Germany and Seattle before eventually coming to Irving. After serving on the Irving Convention Center sales team, she is now Director of Sales at the Marriott Dallas Las Colinas.
“It’s a career where hard work opens doors, and there’s always an opportunity to learn, grow and make an impact,” Coleman said.
Kim Johnson, Sales & Events Coordinator at the Westin Dallas Fort Worth Airport, shows just how far a hospitality career can go. She entered the industry in 1984 and has now spent more than 40 years in hotel sales.
“The best thing about being in hospitality is the opportunity to meet people and make a human connection,” Johnson said. “It just feels good.”
Her General Manager, Braden Skelton, says Johnson’s “dedication, knowledge and commitment are unmatched,” noting that her decades of experience make her a resource for the entire hotel.
At Home2 Suites by Hilton Irving/DFW Airport North, Front Office Manager Kayla Bacon has her sights set on the future. Her goal is “to climb the hospitality ladder and be the best that I can in my career!”
Of course, a successful hospitality career isn’t measured only in promotions or years of service. It’s also about the impression hotel employees make on the people who visit Irving.
Oscar Sanchez, Banquet Captain at Omni Las Colinas, knows the importance of those connections.
“When clients come back—even years later—and remember me, that means a lot,” Sanchez said. “It tells me I made an impression and helped create a memory for them.”
Visit Irving National Sales Manager Lori Mansell has seen it firsthand. When she brings clients to the Omni Las Colinas, she says they always look for Oscar because of the impression he makes. She calls him “a wonderful ambassador for Irving.”
More than 2 million people work in America’s hotel industry. We’re proud to put the spotlight on some of the people who have chosen to start, grow and build their careers in Irving—and who help make our city a welcoming place to visit.
