Courtesy of Laura P.
Name: Laura P.
Position: Regional Vice President Sales & Distribution for the Canada Region
Dream destination: Italy!
Drink or treat of choice: A cold glass of California Chardonnay. When I enjoy a glass of Chardonnay from those regions, I am transported back to a trip I took to Napa Valley and Sonoma every time!
When Laura was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019, she understood the true meaning of Marriott’s renowned motto and core value, Put People First.
“The compassion and understanding that I experienced during such a challenging time has solidified my loyalty to this company,” she recalls. “My boss and members of my leadership team insisted I put my health first through that time of treatments and bouncing back. They were there every step of the way to jump in if I needed it or just to check on me and my family.”
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Today, in her role as Regional Vice President Sales and Distribution for the Canada Region, Laura makes sure she pays it forward by being there for her colleagues in times of need and embodying a culture of support, camaraderie and recognition.
“We are a people-powered business, and I am so proud of how much our company values, grows and recognizes our talent both internally and externally. I have seen so many examples of ways our company goes above and beyond to engage our talent and help build rewarding careers for our people,” she says.
Courtesy of Laura P.
Laura is also a Co-Chair of Marriott’s diversity, equity, and inclusion group in Canada where she focuses on young women building their path to leadership. “[We] partner with them to build their confidence, address concerns they may have about being able to manage both a rewarding career at the same time as having a family as well as get them ready for bigger roles within our organization. Our company values the time leaders take to support, mentor and sponsor young women so they can achieve the success they aim for,” she explains.
Learn more about Laura’s journey in her own words below.
How would you describe your experience as a Marriott associate?
Becoming part of the Marriott team in 2015 has been the honor and joy of my career. I have always felt supported, encouraged, recognized and valued for my work and effort. I have had the opportunity to meet and work with amazing leaders across the globe and I have also been able to visit some incredible destinations and hotels, both for business and for pleasure.
Courtesy of Laura P.
What’s been an unexpected learning from your time at Marriott?
What I have been impressed with most is that there are so many career opportunities in so many facets of our industry that I could pursue.
What has been the proudest moment of your career so far?
The moment that stands out most to me was when we built a brand-new sales team and integrated Marriott with Delta and Starwood Hotels. Through that transformation, which involved more than 350 Sales associates across Canada, we created many more career opportunities for our talent and a much better way of doing business for our customers. Other stakeholders, like our owners and our partners, also told me they had enormous respect for how we went about that transformation. This experience taught me the importance of strong leadership, effective communication, and the power of collaboration.
What is your favorite part of the job?
My favorite part of my job is watching the careers of so many of our sales associates grow and flourish. There are so many stories of team members who have grown up from Sales Coordinator or another junior role to Director of Sales and Marketing or above property leaders. One example is a young man who worked in my team in Catering Sales when he was early on in his career. Over the years, through his enormous work and effort, he progressed through various positions and then eventually to Leadership roles. Today he is the Director of Sales and Marketing at our large MI Hotel in Canada. He did it himself! Our team just made sure he built confidence, and he had the support he needed to grow his career through regular support, guidance and feedback. This is the most rewarding part of my job, seeing the potential in our team members and helping them to develop and reach their career goals.
Courtesy of Laura P.
What is a moment when you felt like a part of a community at Marriott?
Recently there were terrible wildfires in Kelowna, British Columbia. Our above property leadership team were in constant contact with our teams in the marketplace helping them to navigate the emergency services, housing and the eventual assistance to get our associates back on their feet. We made sure that our people, our guests and our stakeholders all felt our support and we went above and beyond to help them. We organized fundraisers, collected donations, and helped those affected by the wildfires. It was a true testament to the sense of community and support that exists within the Marriott family. I felt proud to be part of an organization that prioritizes the well-being of its employees and extends that care and support to the larger community. It was a humbling experience that truly showcased the strength of the Marriott community.
How would you describe the Marriott culture?
Strong and so much of the reason why it would be very hard for me to leave this company. Putting people first and respecting all is so important to me. These are not just words, but our core values guide how we make business decisions and grow our business. We not only value individuality but we are welcoming to all. In these difficult and uncertain times this is very important to me as a Canadian, a mom and a mentor of our future talent. We have a diverse and inclusive culture that celebrates different perspectives and experiences. Marriott also promotes a strong sense of community and teamwork, where everyone is encouraged to contribute and collaborate towards our common goals.
Courtesy of Laura P.
How have you used the Marriott Explore Rate?
My husband, daughters and I have had many incredible trips using the Marriott Explore rate. Weekend getaways to NYC and Los Angeles as well as our trip to Italy last year are among our favorites. We also spent a week in Grand Cayman a few years ago that spoiled us for all future Caribbean vacations. My friends and family have also benefited from our Explore program. I just love sending the Marriott Friends and Family code so that those I love and care about can explore great destinations and share their travel stories with me.
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