Kandee Anderson, Ep #15

Kandee Anderson has worked for Marriott since December of 1988—34 years. How many people can say that? Her accomplishments are broad and deep. She started as a Sales Manager at a Residence Inn in Southern California. She worked her way up to a GM position at that property before moving into marketing and sales as a Regional Sales Director.

Eventually, Kandee became the General Manager for several properties in Southern California. She’s the GM of the Irvine Marriott, located in Orange County. She’s led convention marketing strategies, won awards for customer service, received profitability recognition, and has facilitated leadership training within the company. Kandee has done it all.

In this episode of Upthinking Finance™ Kandee shares how she advanced in the industry, talks about the challenges she faced along the way, and shares her thoughts on the future of the hotel industry. Don’t miss it!
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LISTEN IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN…

[3:18] What drew Kandee to the hotel industry?
[5:24] Finding balance in a demanding job
[7:43] How Kandee advanced in the industry
[12:53] Defining moments in Marriott’s history
[17:41] The evolution of Marriott hotels
[21:00] The challenges of the expansion process
[24:15] How Covid has impacted the hotel industry
[29:16] Kandee’s thoughts on the future of the industry
[31:59] What Kandee is most proud of in her career
[34:23] Kandee’s favorite hotel in the world

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THE EVOLUTION OF MARRIOTT HOTELS

Marriott was actually a food and beverage company for 30 years. It wasn’t until 1957 that J.W. Marriot purchased his first full-service “motor hotel.” It was very successful for them and they continued to diversify.

In 1987, they purchased the brand Residence Inn. It was their first acquisition. Courtyard, Fairfield Inn, and Springhill suites were all built from within to cater to every possible customer.

Their portfolio also includes full-service and luxury hotels, such as the Ritz-Carlton, the Renaissance brand, and many other international brands. The first international hotel was in Acapulco Mexico in 1975. They’ve grown this amazing machine with different brands.

What challenges has the company faced during its extensive growth? Listen to learn more!

HOW NAVIGATING COVID CHANGED EVERYTHING

J.W. Marriott founded his hotels with the sole purpose of putting people first. His motto was “If you take care of your associates, they will take care of the customers.” Because of this belief, Marriott was one of the few companies that kept benefits for all of their employees during the Covid pandemic, even if they were furloughed.

Now that the world is recovering from the impact of the pandemic, there’s a lot more leisure travel. But corporate travel is in flux. Companies are looking at different ways to do meetings. So from an occupancy standpoint, the leisure side is strong. All of the business realm has room to grow.

HOW KANDEE ADVANCED IN THE INDUSTRY

Kandee was the first female General Manager at her hotel. When she first started at Marriott, women couldn’t wear pants. They were treated differently. But she’s never been passed up for a promotion or been stopped because she was a woman. She’s broken through many barriers because of her grit and determination.

She also had great mentors that encouraged her to keep pushing upward. She had always been fearless and confident, even as a young child. She is always the first person to raise her hand in meetings and is always part of the conversation. She wasn’t afraid to raise her voice and bring her knowledge and experience to the table.

Kandee is proud to do something she loves while making a good living. She accomplished her financial goals in a way where she was happy and able to spend time with her family. She chased balance and a financially rewarding life. She did what she loved and didn’t pursue things that pulled her away from her family.

What does the future of the hotel industry look like? How is Kandee pivoting at her hotel to navigate changes in the economy? Listen for a fascinating look inside the hotel industry and how it operates.

Kandee Anderson and Marriott are not affiliated with or endorsed by LPL Financial or Capital Investment Advisers.

Securities and Advisory services offered through LPL Financial. A registered investment advisor. Member FINRA & SIPC.

The financial professionals associated with LPL Financial may discuss and/or transact business only with residents of the states in which they are properly registered or licensed. No offers may be made or accepted from any resident of any other state.

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RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Marriott: https://www.marriott.com/

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CONNECT WITH KANDEE ANDERSON

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kandee-anderson-6352444/

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CONNECT WITH EMERSON:

Website: www.CIAdvisers.com