Local industry veteran appointed director of sales for teaching facility
Kirkwood Community College has appointed a Linn County lodging veteran to direct the sales efforts for The Hotel at Kirkwood Center. Jean Rogers assumed Director of Sales duties for the new facility in early August. In this position Rogers is responsible for leading students and staff in selling guest rooms and catered events for the entire hotel and meeting spaces.
Rogers is a veteran in the hospitality and tourism industries in the area, with much of her experience in management and operations of the Five Seasons Hotel in downtown Cedar Rapids. Most recently she was a group travel coordinator for Destinations Unlimited, Inc. in Cedar Rapids. Her duties there included group travel coordination throughout the United States, Europe and other locations.
Rogers is also familiar with Kirkwood’s lodging programs, having taught the practical aspects of hotel/motel business operations as an adjunct faculty member since 2005. She has already had many opportunities to talk with local businesses and individuals about the hotel’s development and calls it a “reason for excitement” around the area.
“People have already heard some information about our new facility and many are eager to understand the concepts we will have in place for serving both our students and the public. When they understand the learning potential plus what services we offer, their eyes just light up! This will truly be a first-class operation for education and service, too. We believe The Hotel at Kirkwood Center will open a new era in educating new generations of hospitality professionals in America,” Rogers added.
The new teaching laboratory/hotel facility will offer upscale lodging, dining and meeting services to local guests and travelers while providing a real-time, comprehensive learning experience to hundreds of students each year in Kirkwood’s Culinary Arts, Restaurant Management, Hotel Management and related programs. The hotel’s 71 rooms and meeting/conference facilities will include six suites and a breakfast/lunch/dinner restaurant with banquet and meeting services.
More information on The Hotel at Kirkwood Center is available from Rogers at (319) 848-8702, or via e-mail: jrogers@kirkwood.edu. For general information go to The Hotel’s Web site: http://www.thehotelatkirkwood.com.