OMAHA, Neb.
Marcus Hotels & Resorts announced the hiring of three new sales personnel at Omaha’s soon to open full-service hotel, Omaha Marriott Downtown at the Capitol District. Megan Gilligan has been named director of sales and marketing and Laurie Nielsen-Singer and Kristy Phalen have been named sales account executives. The Omaha Marriott Downtown is scheduled to open in summer 2017.
“We are confident that these three women will contribute successfully to building a top sales and service organization for downtown Omaha’s newest full-service hotel,” said Steve Hilton, general manager of the Omaha Marriott Downtown at the Capitol District. “Their combined 46 years of experience in hotel sales, management and event planning is an exceptional asset for our new hotel, and we are thrilled to have them on our team.”
Serving as the Omaha Marriott Downtown’s new director of sales and marketing, Gilligan will oversee all sales efforts, marketing and public relations initiatives for the hotel. Gilligan brings more than 14 years of experience in marketing, sales, catering and hotel management to her new role.
Prior to joining the property, Gilligan served as director of event sales at the La Vista Conference Center Complex in Omaha, which includes the Embassy Suites Omaha-La Vista Hotel & Conference Center as well as the Courtyard by Marriott hotel. In this position, she managed all food and beverage revenues, corporate and association conferences, events and tradeshows and oversaw the property’s sales and event staff. Prior to this position, she served as catering sales manager for the Hilton Omaha, where she was a part of the pre-opening sales team during the construction phase of the hotel.
Gilligan received a bachelor’s degree in studio arts from the University of Nebraska Omaha, and was named a “40 Under 40” by the Midlands Business Journal in October 2016.
In her new role as sales account executive, Nielsen-Singer will manage all group sales and event planning activities and will oversee revenue and bookings at the hotel. She brings 22 years of experience in hotel management, group sales and event planning to the hotel, including previous senior sales manager positions with the Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel and Hilton Omaha Hotel. Prior to these roles, Nielsen-Singer also served as the director of group sales at the Renaissance Austin Hotel in Austin, Tex., and destination sales manager at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort in Indian Wells, Calif.
Nielsen-Singer received a bachelor of science in business administration from the University of Denver.
Bringing 10 years of hotel management and sales experience to her new role as sales account executive, Phalen will support all sales initiatives at the hotel. Prior to joining the Omaha Marriott Downtown, Phalen served as assistant general manager at the Sheraton Omaha and general manager of the TownePlace Suites by Marriott in Omaha. She has also held several account management roles with Marriott National Group Sales.
Phalen currently serves as the president of the Nebraska Hotel & Lodging Association. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Nebraska Omaha.
The 333-room Marriott Omaha Downtown hotel, will offer 20,000 square-feet of meeting space with an additional 16,000 square feet of pre-function space, outdoor event space, hospitality suites, roof-top swimming pool with bar/entertainment area, full-service restaurant and bar, Starbucks café in the lobby, attached parking garage and personalized concierge service.
The new Capitol District is located in the heart of downtown Omaha across the street from the CenturyLink Arena & Convention Center and TD Ameritrade Park, home of the NCAA College World Series and other major NCAA and regional events.
