Three Questions With Kelly Sujka, Director Of Sales At The Hampton Inn Chicago

How do you get started selling a new hotel?
Sujka: Awareness, Awareness, Awareness! Marketing a new hotel starts months prior to opening, from the preliminary announcement of the project within the city, and partnering with the Hilton/Hampton brand and our Crescent Hotels & Resorts Management Company. We created excitement by targeting communication in many different media outlets to audiences that would promote the uniqueness of the Historical Art-Deco Building in a major market like Chicago.

Being located in the Old Historic Chicago Motor Club building, dating back to 1928, allows us to tell the story of travel in days past. The lobby embraces the details, with the original 60-foot mural painted by John Warner Norton in the 1920s, and a vintage 1928 Model A Ford on the lobby’s Mezzanine level. We have original chandeliers, and silver leaf Art Deco ornamentation on the walls and winding staircase, all in the heart of Downtown Chicago’s Loop.

What role do travel agents play in the process?
Sujka: We ensure that our online presence is open and ready for business, with proper loading of our room types and descriptions that are as detailed as possible for ease of selling in the systems. We identify key businesses in the market and communicate with their preferred agents that we look forward to not only meeting the needs of our mutual clients but exceeding their expectations when they choose our new property.

What trends are you seeing in the industry?
Sujka: Meeting the needs of today’s travelers comes with a variety of amenities and services that hoteliers need to offer to stay competitive. For us, it begins with a beautiful welcoming lobby, convenient location, well-appointed guestrooms, complimentary breakfast, top-ranked customer service, and competitive pricing.  We have to be responsive to our client’s requests and in today’s time of instant everything we need to be first to the party, so to speak, in responding to those requests. There are no second chances in negotiations. Best offer is your only offer in order to secure the business and not to allow clicking around to other options/competitors.

Efficiency and functionality were the focus in the design of the guest rooms and meeting space, so we are offering a 24-hour Fitness Center and a bar in the lobby for guests’ convenience before or after a long day of meetings or touring the city.