Step foot inside the Courtyard Marriott Atlanta/McDonough property located on Mill Road in McDonough, Georgia and you will be greeted by a courteous staff that includes Director of Sales, Carolea Campbell. The Kingston, Jamaica native has been a metro Atlanta resident for 20 years, with seven years of that time spent at the Marriott Atlanta/McDonough property.
During our conversation with Campbell, she gave us a tour of the recently renovated space. The hotel boasts everything from newly redesigned rooms to meeting spaces with enhanced technological features. The full-scale renovation offers a cozy place for visitors to rest their heads and the conveniences that busy business travelers need. Catering to a varied clientele that includes corporate guests, social groups, leisure travelers and more, Campbell’s sales and customer service experience serves as a valuable asset. With tourism being such a huge industry in her native Jamaica, Carolea is well-acquainted with the importance and impact of travel.
Catching the Travel Bug at a Young Age
Carolea recalls a trip to Miami with her parents, at the age of 11 years old, as being the moment it occurred to her that she loved travel. Her interest in travel was deepened thanks to time spent with her sister, a public relations professional working for the tourism board in Jamaica.
She nearly chose a completely different career path due to her impressive math skills. Her father had aspirations of seeing his daughter become an accountant because of her mathematical prowess, but after signing up as an accounting major, Carolea approached her mother in tears. She had made up her mind that tourism was her passion and ultimately proceeded with what she felt was her true calling.
A graduate of the University of the West Indies, Campbell has spent most of her hotel career in sales positions, servicing both the corporate and resort sectors. During her time studying in the Bahamas, she interned at a number of major properties. She notes that the Bahamas has capitalized on its popularity, placing it ahead of other islands in the Caribbean when it comes to the tourism industry and calls her time studying and interning there a great experience. She also looks back fondly on her time as an Entertainment Coordinator at an all-inclusive couples’ resort, her first job following graduation.
“It’s all about building relationships. It’s easy to talk to strangers.”
Connecting with a Variety of People
When referring to the nature of her role and how naturally communicating with others is for her, Campbell calls it fun saying, “It’s all about building relationships. It’s easy to talk to strangers.” A self-described people person, she appreciates the variety that her career in tourism has afforded her. Prior to making the move to Georgia, she was employed by a high-end resort that brought her face-to-face with everyone from golf greats to film stars. Meeting so many people from so many parts of the world means for her that hotel life is never mundane.
She applies a do-what-you-love philosophy to her day-to-day duties which include negotiating rates, negotiating contracts, preparing bids, writing business cases, anticipating client needs and much more. It’s done all with the goal of providing an exceptional guest experience that will encourage visitors to return to Courtyard Marriott Atlanta/McDonough upon their next trip to Henry County, Georgia.
When it comes to customer service, Campbell regards certain standards to be of high importance. She believes it is imperative to have a professional front desk team, as they are the first point of contact for a visitor to the hotel. The opportunity to provide good customer service begins the moment a guest walks into the property, according to Campbell who suggests everyone be greeted and to always say “Thank you.” She mentions other methods to create a memorable customer experience including paying attention to details about each guest. For example, remembering the drink a guest usually orders.
Carolea Campbell’s knowledge and skillsets are valuable components of the overall experience visitors can look forward to during a stay at Courtyard Marriott Atlanta/McDonough. Diverse experiences and encounters have been at the core of her hospitality career. Her roles have taken her to locations around the world, and she has met many people and learned about their cultures as a result.
To learn more about Courtyard Marriott Atlanta/McDonough where Carolea serves as Director of Sales, visit the hotel listing under the Stay section of our site.