Danielle Boyles’ first job in hospitality was at the front desk of the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in her hometown of Toronto, Ontario. “I lived and worked in Asia for four years and learned to speak Japanese while I was there. The Royal York hired me on the spot to work at the front desk and with the Japanese tour groups. I never looked back,” she says.
While with Fairmont, she moved around the U.S. and Canada before switching to the event planning side of the industry, working on partnership programs for HelmsBriscoe, a third-party meeting procurement firm headquartered in Arizona. In 2017, she joined the still-under-construction Hyatt Regency Seattle as its director of sales and marketing. That’s where you will find her today.
“[At HelmsBriscoe] I got to know the Hyatt brand and team better and really liked what they stood for,” she says.
Regardless of whether she is on the venue or planning side of the industry, one thing stays true for Boyles: the people. “This industry seems to draw people who genuinely care about other people and want others to be happy and comfortable. [It’s] a great group of people to hang with,” she says.
For someone interested in a career in hospitality, Boyles recommends networking as much as possible. “Get as much experience as you can and make connections [with people] who can introduce you to new opportunities. Take advantage of the travel perks that most hospitality companies, and the nature of the job, offer. Get out and see the world. Don’t be afraid to pick up and start over in a brand-new city or country, you’ll learn so much, and the rewards will be tremendous.”
She speaks from experience—her new address has plenty of rewards. “I love being able to see water and mountains every single day. Everyone is so active and takes advantage of the beautiful place we live in: hiking, biking, kayaking. It’s a very dog-friendly place; it seems like everyone has a dog—I rescue and have two,” she says. “And it’s also a very well-educated, progressive city. So many corporate headquarters are based here, which makes for great conversations at dinner parties!”
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