Why I Enjoyed My 40-Year Career in Hotel Sales & Marketing

This year marks the end of my 40-year journey in hotel sales and marketing. I started in the mid-1980s with typewriters, Telex machines, and slide presentations.

I still smile remembering a colleague in 1985 asking, “How are we ever going to keep up with the fax machine?”

I retired in November 2025 after watching the industry evolve through AI tools, digital campaigns, and virtual tours, yet I never stopped enjoying the work.

Here’s what made it so fulfilling:

•  Every day was different — Closing major corporate conferences, securing citywide room blocks, or handling last-minute VIP requests.
•  The people — From corporate events, rock bands and celebrities to young couples and global business travelers
•  Creativity & impact — Seeing hotels fill up and RevPAR grow from the campaigns we created.
•  The camaraderie — Working with sales and operations teams was the best fun. We made things happen together and built friendships that last to this day.

Now retired, I’m focused on mentoring the next generation and helping people build strong careers in hospitality.

Advice to those starting out: Master your product, build real relationships, embrace technology, but never lose the human touch.

Grateful for every one of those 40 years.

Here’s to the next generation of hospitality leaders.