These interviews are part of a series that highlights new hires within the industry. Have you recently started a new role or do you know someone who has? Submit your ideas to megan.gosch@tigeroak.com.
Kristin Prindle was recently hired as the wedding specialist at The Driskill.
What are you looking forward to the most in your new role as wedding specialist?
Coming to work each day at The Driskill. Walking in here, you just get excited to be a part of Texas history. Every time I leave my office, I notice some new details around a light fixture or the detailed design in the ceiling tiles. You can spend days on end here looking at the detail in the paint and woodwork and exploring all of the art. This isn’t a standard hotel with a square ballroom. The history and ambiance is beautiful and it is a place I am truly proud to say I plan weddings at.
How do you think past experiences have prepared you for this role?
I spent the last five years of my Hyatt career in resorts and nothing will compare at The Driskill to the daily challenges that come with a resort situated on hundreds of acres. Coordinating a wedding had so many moving parts just to ensure the wedding could take place. Making sure the wedding party and guests could get from one end of the resort to another, that there was a rain contingency plan, that our animals were ready to be photo booths… I was the weatherman, longhorn wrangler, golf-cart driver and the wedding planner! Experiencing those challenges at over 300 weddings in 5 years, I am more than well prepared to take on the task of planning weddings at The Driskill.
How did you get into the industry?
I was on a vacation in Florida and on our road trip, my mom, sister and I needed to stop to stretch our legs. We pulled up to a luxury hotel (my mom insisted) and I just sat there in awe. I was amazed at every detail that went into that arrival experience. I ended up writing my college entrance essays about how I wanted to own my own hotel one day. After receiving my Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality and Restaurant Management, I secured an internship with a wedding planner in Chicago. The experience with her company taught me the back end of wedding planning, and that it all isn’t picking out flowers and linens. I was still hooked! I continued to work with her for several years planning weddings and then decided to combine my passion for hotels with my passion for wedding planning.
What are you hoping to achieve in your new role?
Personally, I want to bring a fresh perspective to weddings at The Driskill. Coming from the resort world, we hosted full weekend events for the couple and I would love to see more of that at The Driskill. Chef Apetz (Executive Chef for the Driskill) and I are working on some fun ‘morning-after’ breakfast/brunch options for the wedding party and their guests, like ‘Prosecco and Pancakes’ or ‘Tacate and Tacos.’ We’re still working out the details, but after a full night of celebrating with friends and fill each other in on the small, fun moments. We also have a phenomenal Afternoon Tea menu and I would like to see more weddings do a bridal shower or bridal luncheon here. Throw on the fancy hat and dress and enjoy an afternoon tea in one of our beautiful venues.
What do you enjoy most about the industry?
I love the wedding planners and the industry professionals. The vendors I work with are prepared to cater to a high-end clientele and offer the same great service that The Driskill extends to them. The vendors are so talented and amaze me each time a wedding we coordinate a wedding. They work so hard and together I know we can create the perfect wedding for the couple. I enjoy that the wedding industry is a big family that we can all count on each other for advice, new ideas and how to help each other out.
