Christine Klase has been named director of sales for the Residence Inn by Marriott of Newport/Middletown. She has more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry and has held management positions at Radisson Hotels, Holiday Inns and SpringHill Suites by Marriott. Klase has a bachelor’s in hotel and restaurant management from New Hampshire College.
PBN: What are looking forward to in your new position?
KLASE: Residence Inn by Marriott Newport/Middletown gives me the opportunity to expand my hospitality knowledge into the extended-stay portion of the hotel industry. The Residence Inn is an award-winning hotel with a history of being a market leader in the area, which just makes the experience that much more exciting.
Rhode Island's Market Has Changed. Developers, Builders, Investors and Sellers Must Change With It.
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PBN: How have your responsibilities changed over the course of your 20 years in the hospitality industry?
KLASE: My career began in hospitality sales and progressed into hotel operations, but my core responsibilities have always stayed the same: provide the best service possible. At the Residence Inn our mantra, is “Our passion is to provide service so memorable,” and that sums up my belief of what my responsibilities are as a hospitality professional.
PBN: How has the dynamic of scheduling meetings and conventions changed in the industry?
KLASE: The dynamic in all hotel sales has changed drastically, technology has streamlined the sales effort. With the advent of e-mail and the Internet everything moves quicker. You can create, send and receive a signed contract in a matter of hours which used to take weeks. Also, the Internet gives you many inexpensive sales opportunities as well as a convenient ways to attain leads.
Convention and meetings [planners] are really looking for value more than ever. With the recent economic crisis every line item is scrutinized. The Residence Inn offers many value-added amenities such as complimentary full-breakfast buffet, free high-speed wireless and wired Internet, meeting amenities such as flip charts, whiteboards, screens, TV/DVD player at no additional cost. These amenities appeal to meeting planners that are looking for the best value they can find without sacrificing great service. •
