US: Oakwood has appointed Ryan Ahrens as vice president, sales – North America.
Ahrens, a longtime hospitality executive with more than 22 years of experience in sales and operations, brings “an outstanding track record of success in turning around properties and preparing them for fast-growth and profitability”.
In her role, Ahrens will be based in Southern California and report directly to Michelle Low, global head of sales, revenue, and distribution at Oakwood.
Prior to joining Oakwood, Ahrens served as senior director of operations at Jacaruso Enterprises, where she was responsible for managing revenue and overseeing sales operations for 396 hotels across the US and Canada.
She began her career in Houston at The Lancaster Hotel and moved around the country to take on management roles at prestigious properties, including the Omni Austin Hotel Southpark, the Mar Monte Hotel in Santa Barbara – where she was named Manager of the Year – and the Adam’s Mark Hotel in Dallas (now Sheraton).
Ahrens is also a noted authority and educator in sales training and customer service. She has developed training modules and continuing education programs to help sales professionals maximise revenues, increase client engagement, and develop successful online marketing strategies to cross-sell products and services. Earlier this year, she was appointed as an advisory board member for the prestigious CX Certificate Program at the University of California, Irvine.
“We’re delighted to welcome Ryan to Oakwood,” said Low. “She has a demonstrated record of success and numerous awards to her name for a brilliant career in helping hospitality brands achieve sustainable growth and profitability. As Oakwood continues to grow its branded hospitality portfolio in the U.S., Ryan will play a key role leading our sales & revenue efforts. We’re thrilled to have her on the team.”
