| | 8 HOSPITALITY BUSINESS REVIEWOCTOBER 2025IN MY OPINIONBy Dane Herrmann, Global Account Manager, Choice Hotels InternationalDane Herrmann is a seasoned hospitality professional with over 10 years of diverse experience across multiple roles in the U.S. He currently serves as Global Account Manager at Choice Hotels International in Southlake, Texas. His expertise spans sales leadership, account management, and brand property systems across Hilton, Marriott, and Choice Hotels. Herrmann holds a bachelor's degree in advertising and marketing from Texas Tech University.My Path in HospitalityOver the past decade, I have built my career in the hospitality industry, starting as a coordinator at a large Hilton property. That first role sparked my passion for hospitality and gave me an early understanding of how this business thrives on service, relationships, and teamwork. I gradually moved into sales positions at Marriott, Hilton, and Choice Hotels, eventually becoming a director of sales, where I managed small teams and learned how to lead effectively.A pivotal step came when I joined Abridge Hospitality as an Area Director of Sales. I had the responsibility of selling across four to six focus service hotels, including well-known brands such as Homewood Suites, Hampton Inns, Hilton Garden Inns, Fairfield, Courtyard, Residence Inn, and Cambria. This role gave me an in-depth understanding of brand differences, from loyalty programs to amenities and service models. I was often on the road, which further strengthened my ability to adapt and build relationships.Later, I transitioned to a Cambria Hotel in Southlake, Texas, where I was part of a rebranding and renovation process. That property rebranded from Cambria (Choice Hotels) to Tribute Portfolio (Marriott). This transformation taught me about the complexity of integrating new reservation systems, redesigning spaces, and reshaping a property into a boutique lifestyle brand. It was both challenging and rewarding, especially as we kept revenue flowing during renovation by leaning on strong client relationships.My goal was to work at the brand level. Through years of collaboration with Choice Hotels' executives, I was fortunate to be offered the opportunity to join as a global account manager, a position I proudly hold today.Industry ChallengesIn my current role, I manage partnerships with third-party organizations and tour operators. One of the biggest challenges I see is the rapid pace of change in client expectations. For instance, booking windows for meetings have become much shorter. In the past, BUILDING SUCCESS IN HOSPITALITY CAREERSDane Herrmann
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