USA, Richmond, Virginia. August 04, 2020

Kalyan Hospitality, a Marriott Management Company, welcomes Kayla Roberts as the opening Sales Manager for the Residence Inn Short Pump at the Notch. Kayla has actively been involved in the hospitality industry for over 6 years. She is a recent Magna Cum Laude Virginia Tech graduate with a degree in Hospitality and Tourism and a minor in Professional Sales. Her previous internships include working for Carnival Cruise Lines as a Fun Squad Intern, and American Cruise Lines as a Dining Steward, and later a Cruise Director in Alaska. At Virginia Tech, she was employed as a Banquet Server at The Inn at Virginia Tech and a Bartender at 622 North.

Kayla was awarded the Rick and Jennifer Perdue Scholarship in Hospitality and Tourism in 2017 and 2019, as well as the Multicultural Academic Opportunities Program Scholarship from 2017 to 2020. She was Treasurer and Director of Tourism of Hospitality Management Association at Virginia Tech, as well as the Vice President of Membership Programming for her sorority, Alpha Chi Omega.

Kayla is a Richmond native, and has grown up near Short Pump all of her life. She enjoys biking the Capital Trail with her family and trying new foods and drinks at the many eateries Richmond has to offer.

Kayla will primarily be responsible for all segments of sales on property at the Residence Inn Short Pump at the Notch. Any meeting, training, or event held in the 2000+ sq. ft of meeting space will be planned, prepped, and put on by Kayla and the operations team at the Residence Inn. The entire meeting room is called "The Notch" and it can be divided in half to create the "Tuckahoe Room" and the "Meadows Room." There are projectors, screens, and TV's available for clients to have the most technologically advanced experience. There is an attached corridor perfect for pre-functions that includes a separate entrance to the hotel for ease, as well as an outside patio connected to the meeting room perfect for a little cocktail hour.

She will be in charge of implementing the Residence Inn Mix, which is the brands' nightly event with complimentary beer, wine, and appetizers occurring every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Kayla is excited to establish relationships between the hotel and local breweries, wineries, and eateries unique to Richmond by inviting them to participate in the RI Mix theme titled "Local Flavors." At the Local Flavors event, guests are able to try a sample of the business, in hopes that they will go visit the venue another day.

The ability to connect people with their passions and help guests make long lasting memories is one of many reasons why Kayla is so excited for the hotel to open. The Residence Inn Short Pump at the Notch will live by the motto "Free of Constraints. Free to do things your way. Free to travel like you live.", and Kayla is ready to help the hotel bring the motto to life.