Lauren Sells Walker Named Director of Catering at Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center
A Doubletree by Hilton Hotel, in Roanoke, Virginia
ROANOKE, VA - July 26, 2011 - In demonstrating its dedication as one of the finest southwest Virginia wedding and meeting destinations, The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center, a Doubletree by Hilton Hotel, has named Lauren Sells Walker the director of catering at the historic property.
Walker will lead and oversee all facets of the catering department and its professional staff, overseeing the 63,000 square feet of conference space the historic property offers. In this vital role, she will be responsible for maintaining existing catering accounts as well as actively soliciting new business; implement a successful solicitation strategy to targeted guests in order to meet and/or exceed revenue goals and direct and manage group sales activities to maximize revenue potential, while foster relationships with meeting planners, corporate contacts, as well as contacts within the local social markets in order to meet and exceed revenue goals.
“Lauren has demonstrated an impressive ability to build, maintain and manage large-scale catering operations at high-profile properties in our area” said Gary Walton, general manager at The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center. “Our clients and guests will be immersed in first-class service, a knowledgeable staff and inspired culinary creations with Lauren as the director. We are excited to have her as part of our team.”
Walker joins the hotel after serving as a wedding and social event manager at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. In her previous role, she was responsible for negotiating contracts, generating proposals, managing budgets and strategies, and for managing an average of 50 weddings and events per year. Her career has also included roles in weddings and social events at The Homestead and Center in the Square.
About The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center
Designated as a National Historic Landmark, the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center has 331 luxuriously appointed guestrooms and a 63,000-square-foot, high-tech conference center. It is a joint project of Hotel Roanoke LLC, the City of Roanoke and Virginia Tech and is managed as a Doubletree by Hilton Hotel by the Hilton Hotels Corporation.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda,Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 50 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at 
