Hotel Happiness

By Stacey Haire

For the last two years, I have worked in the hospitality industry as a guest service representative. It wasn't until recently that I decided I wanted a permanent job working as a marketing director or events coordinator at a five star resort. I would like to bring businesses, stars, and vacationers to my resort. If it were possible a resort in a foreign country would be ideal so that I could utilize my Spanish minor. A resort like Ocotal Beach Resort in Costa Rica would be a perfect fit for me.

I interviewed Darci Tucker, Marketing Director for Sooner Legends Hotel and Suites, to get a better insight at what it takes to be a marketing director for a hotel. She earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Central Oklahoma. After college, she received a job offer at Devon Energy in community relations. At Devon Energy she was in charge of all the event planning as well as working with promotional items given or seen throughout the community. She worked with non-profit organizations when they asked for donation money and made sure the money donated was being used as described by the organization. Whenever the Devon logo was asked for, she had to make sure it was being used properly. Upon leaving Devon Energy, she went on to accept a job with the University of Oklahoma College of Arts and Sciences. She worked to reach out to students to maintain future relations with them for when they would become alumni. She planned events that were targeted at students and alumni in order to raise money for the college. She continues to work with the University in order to keep clients for Sooner Legends catering and event opportunities.

Her days at Sooner Legends are filled with meeting clients at the University or around the Norman area. She meets them with goodies, such as cookies or brownies from the restaurant, in order to maintain current client relationships as well as create opportunities for future clients. Darci advised me that in her line of business it is all about finding a way to connect with people or clients. She says that anyone can make a sale, but it is the people who can make a personal relationship with the client that will create repeat business for the company.