Name: Stan T. 
Position: Marketing Executive
Hotel: W Sydney
Dream destination: Major cities like New York, Paris, and Japan as well as the Maldives and more tropical destinations
Drink or treat of choice: Anything chocolate-related! 

Gen Zs can be many things (and TikTok extraordinaire is NOT the only one), but one thing they aren’t is settlers. According to reports from Forbes and Fortune, Gen Zs will change their careers many times throughout their lives in comparison to previous generations. Take Stan as proof. He started working in hospitality at W Brisbane while still in college and just a few years later is now a Marketing Executive at W Sydney. 

Even though Stan has just started his career, he’s already taken a big leap. And an exciting one! Over the past year, his job has been focused on the pre-opening execution and launch plans for W Hotels’ largest property in the world. 

“It has been quite exciting having been part of planning our opening day and official Premiere party along with bringing to life some cool brand activations like Perrier Refresh Weekend, Sun Chasers, and W Presents!” Stan says.   

→ Learn About the Wide Range of Career Journeys at Marriott

Stan has also joined the Next Gen Business Council and now has an opportunity to really have an impact on the direction the hotels are taking through initiatives such as Reverse Mentoring.   

Learn more about this Marketing Executive’s journey and his best advice for new and aspiring associates. 

How has your career changed while at Marriott?

I started my career with Marriott at W Brisbane on the finance team when I was a part-time university student, which truly ignited my interest and passion for hospitality. Having a dual degree in Marketing Communications, my career path led me into a handful of roles outside of Marriott before coming back for a rare opportunity to join the pre-opening team at W Sydney.  

Can you describe a moment when you felt supported at Marriott?

Earlier this year, the opportunity to take on a part-time task force role to support the Moxy Sydney Airport Hotel alongside my current role, allowed me to extend my marketing capabilities with another lifestyle brand under the Marriott portfolio. Being able to showcase my skills under a different brand pushed my creativity and provided a chance to demonstrate my leadership.

How would you describe your experience as a Marriott associate? 

My experience with Marriott has been positive and the best part is being able to reconnect with old friends and to meet new people from across the globe.  

Do you remember a moment when you felt like a part of a community at Marriott?

Coming together at events like the Next Gen Marriott Business Council helps other associates from different hotels and brands connect and pick up valuable insights. The Next Gen Marriott Business Council is a nice way of bringing together the next generation of leaders across the disciplines from sales and marketing to operations and driving a culture focused on innovation, purpose, community, and career development.  The most recent event that I attended was a cool networking session at W Sydney’s signature restaurant, BTWN, to launch the program in Sydney and introduce us to the committee and what we can expect in the future!  

Has there been a moment in your career where you felt like you made an impact on your property or local community?

As a key member of the pre-opening sales and marketing team, in particular, the marketing and communications team, we are quite fortunate to be driving ‘what’s on’ at the hotel. I’m very passionate about the hotel’s unique programming and being able to forge relationships and different partnerships is a great way of giving back to the community and the property.  .  

What has been the proudest moment of your career so far?

Moving from Brisbane to Sydney and settling into a new city, new team, and taking on a pre-opening role for a flagship property has definitely been a career highlight. W Hotels is an iconic brand under the Marriott portfolio and the people you will meet are equally as memorable!

Any advice for incoming Marriott associates?  

Be confident, be bold, and be willing to take risks. Communicating where you would like to be one day and working hard toward that goal is the advice I would give to any incoming talent. Hot tip, if you don’t ask, you will never know.   

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