Hospitality Industry Welcomes Marine to Its Ranks

0

James Sheets has stormed the beach: The former Marine sergeant is now in the hospitality industry as an executive at a hotel overlooking the Pacific.

The native of Sanford, N.C., attended Barton College, where he studied communications and the arts. After graduating from the North Carolina college, he served six years in the Marines, where he achieved the rank of sergeant.

After his military stint, Sheets moved to Atlanta to pursue a degree in chiropractics. While preparing to enroll at Life University, he worked part time in the food and beverage department of the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Atlanta. In 2003, Life University temporarily lost its accreditation, and at that same time, Sheets was offered a position in the sales department at the Atlanta Ritz. He decided to make the opportunity a turning point in his career.

“I never imagined that I’d be working in the hospitality industry,” he said. “But ever since I took my first hotel position, I absolutely fell in love with the business.”

A couple of months ago, Sheets was named director of business and leisure travel sales at the Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey. In his new position, Sheets oversees the hotel’s sales team.

Every day is different, for Sheets, and that’s what he finds most exciting about the job.

“It’s never the same twice, from strategy to meetings to training to counseling, meeting with clients, negotiating and corporate travel,” he said.

That challenge includes meeting the expectations of the hotel’s guests on a daily basis.

“We consistently have to go above and beyond,” Sheets said. “It’s always challenging to come up with fresh ideas and make our guests’ experience not only pleasurable, but memorable.”

Sheets moved to Marina del Rey on Christmas Eve.

“I certainly enjoy the weather and the area I’m living in,” he said. “I think it’s a crime not to live close to the water in this city.”

Sheets is single, and he lives in the hotel. In his free time, he likes to take pictures and go to art exhibitions.

No posts to display