Courtesy of Melanie D.
Name: Melanie D.
Position: Senior Revenue Manager
Location: New Hyde Park, NY
Dream destination: Iceland to see the northern lights
Drink or treat of choice: In the summer, I opt for a double chip Frappuccino, and when it’s cooler outside, I go for an oat milk latte. A coffee shop is a place where I find comfort and joy; I love to visit new coffee shops and see what they have to offer.
Melanie had no idea that her job at a pizzeria during college would eventually lead her to a 17-year career (and counting) with Marriott.
“I started college with the goal of becoming a chef,” says Melanie, who was majoring in culinary studies at the time. “As I progressed through school, I was working at a local pizzeria and my manager was always studying hospitality management in between customers. When I asked why he chose that career, he explained that he was in the business of serving others and thoroughly enjoyed it. I knew we shared that passion, and after my freshman year, I changed my major to hospitality management.”
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Melanie’s first job immediately after graduation was the assistant front desk manager of a Marriott in New York City, where she moved up through Operations then over to Reservation Sales.
“I found my passion within revenue management,” says Melanie, who’s had various roles and experiences in that area over the last six years.
Melanie’s current position as a Senior Revenue Manager allows her to work with a variety of Marriott brands and locations, all from her home in Hyde Park, New York. Melanie is a part of Marriott’s Shared Services organization, which serves as the bridge between individual hotels and corporate headquarters across multiple disciplines. Because they typically support multiple hotels, many Shared Services team members work remotely and travel as necessary. While there are definite perks to working in-person at HQ or in a hotel, Melanie has come to embrace remote work, and all the benefits that come with it.
Courtesy of Melanie D.
“My biggest concern, initially, on working from home would be the potential disconnect from the real world. That is the farthest from the truth.” says Melanie, who has adopted technology to communicate with her team. “I am connected with hundreds of my colleagues each day to ask questions and bounce ideas off of. My remote role also allows me to support hotels in destinations far from my home.”
Learn more about Melanie’s career, in her own words, below.
What’s your favorite part about working at Marriott?
The continued opportunity for growth within the company. Senior leadership and peers alike provide constant support that allows me to follow my passion, learn new things and connect with people from all areas within the company. Every person that I have met along the way has been supportive and provided their expertise. Marriott also allows me to be me. Marriott is a company of inclusivity and allows each of their associates the opportunity to grow and gain the most out of their career.
What’s one surprising thing about your role that most people might not know?
One exciting and surprising fact about my role is that we handle all brands of hotels in the US, Canada and even some hotels in CALA [Caribbean and Latin America]. While I am home based in New York, I have hotels ranging from New England to the Southeast to the British Virgin Islands. This role allows you the opportunity to learn about our different brands and markets and what factors help contribute to the success of the property. My previous role only focused on New York and New Jersey and my current role casts a wider net.
What does a good day at work look like for you?
Every day is a great day at work! A really great day for me looks like all systems waking up by 8 a.m. I’m an early riser and most productive in the morning. I typically workout on my Peloton first then get ready for my day! Followed by an amazing cup of coffee, I organize my day by running all of my reports and checking my inventory. If I have strategy meetings that day, I prep the packets and analyze trends and my notes for my calls. I am following up on emails, building rate offers, changing rates, answering team chats and holding strategy meetings. I always make time for lunch to refuel and prep for the second half of my day. At the end of an amazing day, my calls went well, my notes typed and sent, and inventory checked before I sign off.
Courtesy of Melanie D.
What was your Marriott interview process like?
One of the best growth experiences that you can have within Marriott is the interview process. It is a structured process that allows the interviewer to learn about you as an individual and to see how you relate your past experiences to your future role. The interview process has always been extremely well guided, and my interviewers have always made me feel at ease.
Any interview or application advice for candidates who might want a role like yours?
Be prepared. Show up to the interview with examples of your past accomplishments and think about how those accomplishments relate to the role that you are interviewing for. For example, if you are interviewing for a revenue manager position, your past experiences could include an idea that you had, how you created buy in for that idea and how you executed your idea to move forward.
How have you used the Marriott Explore Rate?
I take full advantage of utilizing the Marriott Explore Rate and have used the discount across the United States, from Hawaii to Connecticut. Some of my favorite hotels in the US include: the Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa in Connecticut, The Saint Hotel French Quarter, Autograph Collection in New Orleans, and the Orlando World Center Marriott. I have travelled with soccer tournaments throughout the last 15 years with my husband and boys and the Explore Rate has been an amazing benefit. I have also used the discount in Italy, the Caribbean, Costa Rica and at my absolute favorite hotel in the Cayman Islands, the Grand Cayman Marriott Resort.
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