John Q. Hammons’ Renaissance® Oklahoma City’s New General Manager and Director of Sales Set Sights on “Group” Success

OKLAHOMA CITY & SPRINGFIELD, Mo. | Amidst the buzz of the more than $4 million in hotel renovations construction, Jeffrey Oliasami has signed on as general manager to lead the 311-room Renaissance® Oklahoma City Hotel & Convention Center. The luxury property is operated by Springfield, Mo.-based John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts, the nation’s leading independent builder, developer, owner and manager of upscale, full-service hotels, resorts and suites (www.jqhhotels.com).

Oliasami brings more than 25 years of hospitality experience to John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts. Most recently he was with Interstate Hotels & Resorts, where he was hotel manager of the 508-room Sawgrass Marriott Resort & Spa in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. For 14 years, he successfully directed the award-winning luxury resort situated on 64 acres and employing a staff of 525, while being an active leader in the Ponte Vedra Beach business community. His career also includes management positions with Adams Mark Hotels and Houstonian Hotel and Club.

In his new role as general manager of the Renaissance Oklahoma City Hotel & Convention Center, one of Oliasami’s first orders of business was to hire seasoned director of sales, Tracy Noller-Swibold. Noller-Swibold, a four-year veteran of John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts, joins the Oklahoma property from the company’s Embassy Suites® Hotel Des Moines on the River in Iowa. At the Des Moines hotel, Noller-Swibold led the sales and catering team that received Embassy Suites Hotels’ coveted Sales Team of the Year award in 2005. Prior, she was with Remington Hotel Corporation in sales and catering management positions on site with the Embassy Suites Hotel Las Vegas in Nevada and Embassy Suites Hotel Houston ─ Galleria in Texas.

“Group” Effort

Under his leadership, Oliasami is stepping up marketing efforts and placing an emphasis on group business and community involvement. “The Renaissance Oklahoma City has a positive reputation with diverse travelers and is the ideal hotel for group occasions, especially with having the state’s largest ballroom. Our multi-million dollar renovation slated for completion in May affords the perfect opportunity to showcase the luxury property and its central location with groups of all sizes,” Oliasami said.

Renaissance Oklahoma City Hotel & Convention Center is just a block from the popular Bricktown Canal Entertainment District in Oklahoma City, the cultural heart of the city and home to great shopping, nightlife and the Bricktown Ballpark. The Oklahoma City National Memorial, Ford Center Arena and numerous other captivating attractions are just a short distance.

“Oklahoma City is a highly competitive market and requires aggressive, strategic talent supported by an exceptional product to succeed,” said Mr. Hammons, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts. “I appreciate the collaborative approach Jeffrey and Tracy exhibit, and I anticipate great things from them and their team.”

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