SALES TEAM READY TO BOOK MULTIPLE MARRIOTT PROPERTIES
Owners of the new Residence Inn by Marriott opening in January 2001 have pulled together an enthusiastic sales team to help meet the area’s growing conference needs.

Catherine Buck of Springfield, and Elizabeth Wilson of Eugene have both crossed over from the Eugene Hilton to Marriott. They are busy ramping up to book both the new Residence Inn at the north edge of the Ferry Street Bridge, and the Courtyard by Marriott in the Gateway area of Springfield.

Elizabeth Wilson says her new position will be a great opportunity to create a sales office from the ground up. She adds that being able to work for a brand new hotel is a rare treat, and she sees a lot of potential for the new Residence Inn because the Eugene/Springfield market doesn’t currently have an “extended stay” property. Wilson comes to Eugene from New York where she worked in television production for 10 years. Wilson says her hotel sales career is a change, but many skills she developed in TV work are the same. “Building relationships with clients is critical,” she says, “I’m looking forward to meeting and working with customers here for years to come.”

Catherine Buck brings experience as a property manager with her to the new sales team. She points out that the bottom line in both businesses is making sure the customer always comes first. Buck has already made one phrase of the Residence Inn’s Mission Statement her personal mantra – doing whatever it takes to satisfy every guest, every day, every stay. “I just love that,” Buck says. “Everyone knows the solitude of staying in a hotel room. But, at Residence Inn, we will make every attempt to make our guests feel comfortable – like they have a home away from home. I think that’s an awesome goal, and we’re looking forward to meeting it again and again for our guests.”

Catherine and Elizabeth’s offices will be at the Residence Inn when it opens in January. The hotel’s prime location will make it an excellent spot for conferences needing to be near downtown Eugene. The team will organize meetings and conferences for both the Residence Inn, and the Courtyard by Marriott in Springfield under the umbrella of Exeter Hospitality Associates. “When folks call us looking for conference and meeting space, they will get to consider the benefits of two locations at the same time,” says Exeter Executive VP Patrick McShane. “That’s a higher level of service for the Eugene/Springfield market, and these two ladies are well prepared for the task.”

Both hotels cater to business travelers, with the Residence Inn focussing on guests who will stay for a week or longer in the area.

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