Editorial Board   Guest Author

Ms. Smith

Jenna Smith

Vice President of Revenue Management, First Hospitality Group

Jenna Smith has been a part of First Hospitality Group for more than a decade. Starting as a guest services representative in 2004 at the Hampton Inn Ann Arbor North. Ms. Smith has been on a fast track moving up through the company ever since. Having served in a wide variety of positions from sales roles to general manager, Ms. Smith ultimately was elevated to a regional revenue management position before assuming her current position as vice president of revenue management. With a predictive index analyst certification, she is responsible for the delivery of hotel revenue management support for multiple brands and leadership of regional support team, as well as development and execution of effective strategies to achieve market share growth. Over the course of her tenure with First Hospitality Group, she has worked tirelessly on our behalf and our investors. With the state of our industry constantly changing and evolving, Ms. Smith ensures that First Hospitality Group has a voice in the growth and development of all the brands that we manage. An expert in managing high volume demand and well versed in understanding both short and long-term goals, Ms. Smith graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a bachelor's degree in business administration and previously served as a mentor at DePaul University's School of Hospitality Management. First Hospitality Group, headquartered in Chicago, operates hotels of every type and size, from historic rehabs to urban markets. Their strength lies in market knowledge and creating a training culture where one can work smart to succeed and have fun.

Please visit http://www.fhginc.com for more information.

Ms. Smith can be contacted at 214-855-6000 or jsmith@fhginc.com

Coming up in November 2019...

Architecture & Design: Biophilic Design

The hospitality industry is constantly evolving to meet and exceed guest expectations. As a result, hotels are always on the lookout for new ways to improve the guest experience, and architecture and design is an essential part of this equation. Bold design is often the most effective way to make an exceptional first impression - an impression guests use to distinguish between brands. One design trend that is being embraced worldwide has become known as “Biophilic Design.” Biophilic design is based on the concept of biophilia, which is the theory that human beings have an innate tendency to seek out nature, natural elements, and natural forms. Biophilic design is more than hotels simply adding a surplus of plants; it involves incorporating specific design elements into a hotel in order to imbue it with a sense of wellness and well-being. Some of those elements include exposure to natural lighting; views of nature and rooms with a view; natural architectural patterns; salvaged or reclaimed woods of all types; reclaimed metals; sustainably sourced stone; living green walls and vertical gardens; and direct and indirect exposure to nature. Hotels that have incorporated biophilic design into their properties are reaping the benefits associated with this trend including reduced stress responses, better air quality, lower energy costs, and more positive guest reviews. Biophilic design has also been shown to improve guest moods and to satisfy consumer demand for environmental responsibility. Savvy hotel owners and managers are aware that nature-inspired elements enhance their guests' comfort and well-being, which is why this trend is becoming so prevalent. Biophilic design is just one topic in the fields of hotel architecture and design that will be examined in the November issue of the Hotel Business Review.
Click here to Subscribe
Copyright © 1996-2019. All content on HotelExecutive.com. All Rights Reserved.