Deborah first discovered Starwood magic at Disney. Seven years later, she’s as passionate about her career as when she started.  More

Q: When and how did you come to Starwood?

I moved to Orlando in 1999 and interviewed for the Sales Reporting Systems Analyst (SRSA) position at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, and was hired within a week of the interview.

Q: What has been your progression through Starwood?

I stayed with the Swan and Dolphin for three years; all my moments there stand out. I still say to this moment that it was my favorite place to work. . .it was indeed magical. The reason I left? I wanted to return home to Philadelphia. I made my way back north through a series of opportunities which included being part of the SRSA Taskforce focused on the Princeville Resort, Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers, Sheraton Arlington Park, and the Diplomat Club & Spa. Then I assumed the same role with Westin Times Square before becoming Director of Revenue Management for Sheraton Atlantic City, later transitioning to the position of Director of Revenue Management Sheraton Society Hill in Philadelphia in 2004.

Q: Can you describe your position?

The simple answer is that my focus is on maximizing overall hotel revenue, but it’s really a daily and weekly check-in of several factors: My team needs to understand the local market, what the pricing is of area hotels, where we fit in that scale, what our forecasted occupancy is for a given period, and then pooling that information to determine pricing. Because of these daily and weekly meetings, we have made 2006 the best year in the history of Sheraton Society Hill.

Q: What is your favorite thing about your job?

It is constantly evolving…new technology…brand culture…the cheese constantly moves and I love it.

Q: What is the most satisfying part of your job?

Making sound decisions that benefit the owners, like Brand Culture Training, and realizing we make the difference. It doesn’t matter how many times we renovate our hotel…it is the people that really matter. It is the experience that our guests go home with that keeps the memory lingering. It’s important to the guest, and it’s also important to us, creating repeat business and a cycle that benefits everyone involved—the guest, the staff, and the company.