In late February, Marie Menard returned to the Hotel Valencia Santana Row In San Jose, Calif., as the property’s director of sales and marketing, a position she had held for more than eight years previously before transitioning to another hotel.
Interested in hospitality from an early age, Menard attended what is now the Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership at the University of Houston. The school, she said, “has an amazing hands-on hospitality program with the teaching facility located within a full-service hotel.” While there, she read What Color Is Your Parachute by Richard Nelson Bolles, and found one quote to be particularly resonant: “Always define what you want to do with your life and what you have to offer to the world, in terms of your favorite talents/gifts/skills—not in terms of a job-title.” As she learned about the industry as a whole, she found that the sales and marketing side of the business let her think outside the box and work with different people. “I get to be creative, use my analytical skills and mentor future leaders that are passionate about the hospitality industry.”
After graduation, Menard joined the Valencia Hotel Collection team in 2006 as the group sales manager at the Hotel Valencia Santana Row. Remaining with the company, she held several positions at different properties within its portfolio, staying at the Santana Row hotel for five years before moving to the Hotel Valencia Riverwalk in San Antonio as senior sales manager. “I was able to work in different markets and environments as I grew professionally within the company, moving multiple times from between Texas and California,” she recalled.
Turning and Returning
Menard came back to California in 2013 as director of sales and marketing at the Santana Row property, remaining there for more than eight years. But when the pandemic hit and travel ground to a halt, she began thinking about other industries where she could put her experience to good use. “I decided to transition out of hospitality to explore opportunities in retail marketing,” she said. In late 2021, she became marketing director at the Westfield Valley Fair in San Jose and considers the “knowledge and experience” she gained in that role “invaluable.” Still, she said, “I couldn’t help [but] think about how I could apply the marketing knowledge I was learning to hotels.”
Deciding that “hospitality was in [her] DNA,” she returned to the Santana Row hotel after a little more than a year away.
Coming back to the hotel—and the company with which she has spent so much of her career—is like being home, Menard said. “I am excited to see how Valencia Hotel Collection will continue to grow over these next few years,” she said, noting the company is looking to expand its portfolio to new markets and broaden its property-management services. “I am returning with a renewed sense of passion, further expertise, and eagerness to contribute to the success of our hotel and the brand in 2024.”
Marie Menard’s…
Challenge: “Navigating and leading a team through the pandemic was the biggest challenge I’ve faced in my career.”
Solution: “It was crucial to remain transparent with situations while keeping a positive mindset to boost morale.”
Secrets to Success
Communication: “Being able to communicate effectively with your team, leaders and clients is key to success.”
Be “humble and hungry” (From The Power of Positive Leadership): “Always seek ways to learn, improve and grow.”
Surround yourself with the right people: “I think creating connections with individuals who uplift and align with your values and aspirations is so important.”