Matthew Esser

Experience

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  InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®)

  Jan 1998 - Jan 2004

  - Position allowed me to gain valuable experience in supervising a staff of over 30 predominately non-English speaking employees as well as the challenge of maintaining the exceptional cleanliness of 288 guest suites, convention center and restaurants- All on-site quality assurance inspections by Holiday Inn Hotels were successfully passed throughout my tenure in housekeeping with cleanliness scores increasing year over year - Trained at our sister property, Capitol Plaza in Topeka, Kansas on converting my room attendant staff from a pay-by-hour system to a pay-by-room system and successfully implemented this system at my home property. This resulted in markedly lower labor costs and increased employee satisfaction. - Attended John Q. Hammons Region II Executive Housekeeper Training Workshop at Embassy Suites in Omaha, Nebraska-September 2000- Scored 100% on all John Q. Hammons internal audits as housekeeping department head- Performed rigorous daily room inspections and prepared weekly project cleaning checklists for room attendants as well as public area attendants- Directed all operations of the in-house laundry services for guest rooms, restaurants and convention servicesConducted accurate monthly linen par and weekly guest supply inventories- Filled in as housekeeping manager at Embassy Suites on the River in Des Moines, IA-October 1998- Assisted with opening the housekeeping department in a new John Q. Hammons Hampton Inn and Suites in Mesquite, Texas-April 1998 Show less

  • Rooms Division Manager-John Q. Hammons

    Jan 2002 - Jan 2004

  • Executive Housekeeper

    Jan 1998 - Jan 2002
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  La Quinta Inns & Suites

  Oct 2008 - Jun 2012

  General Manager

  - Directed all the daily operations of a high-occupancy, select service, hotel including: budgeting, revenue management, monitoring profit and loss statements, controlling accounts receivable and accounts payable, human resources, sourcing new talent, training new guest service agents and maintaining guest satisfaction programs- Ranked 15th out of 430 corporate La Quinta hotels in 2011 on the balanced scorecard which evaluates the property on guest satisfaction, direct expenses, overall revenue and turnover. Ranked 25th through the first quarter of 2012- Achieved highest revenue to budget (127%) for Quarter 1 in 2012- Most improved “Satisfied Intent to Return- SIR” score as ranked by our guests in 2011- Highest RevPAR as compared to our local hotel competition in 2011- Named “Hotel of the Year” for Region 9 in 2008- Scored 97% favorable in the areas of leadership, respect, integrity and fairness by all of my employees on an anonymous corporate survey in January 2012- Managed the hotel successfully though a complete property renovation and remodel with minimal guest and financial impact Show less

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  Ramada by Wyndham

  Dec 2012 - Dec 2013

  Hotel General Manager

  Assumed General Manager position of full service hotel, banquets and franchise restaurant that fell into receivership. Successfully improved financials and guest satisfaction scores with the eventual rebranding to the Wyndham hotel group and new ownership.

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  Sterling Hotel and Suites (First Gen Marriott Residence Inn)

  Dec 2013 - Nov 2016

  Hotel General Manager

  Recruited as General Manager to lead all departments of an independent, 112 unit, all-suite hotel under new local ownership.Coordinated Extended Stay, Nightly and Group segments to significantly exceed revenues year over year.Focused on improved web presence, 3rd party booking channel relationships and social media marketing campaigns.

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  Extended Stay America

  Jun 2017 - Nov 2024

  Hotel General Manager

  -Directed all operations for a long-term stay driven property. Cultivated sales relationships with local businesses requiring extended stay needs primarily for insurance,construction and trucking accounts in the central Iowa market. Successfully coordinated with OTA’s to fill open inventory with short-term transient business daily.