SPRINGFIELD, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts (JQH) today announced Dena Soden has been promoted to corporate director of strategic accounts. An 18-year JQH veteran, Soden will be responsible for driving leads for the company’s national hotel portfolio from within all market segments, including SMERF, association, among others. Soden will report to Phill Burgess, JQH’s vice president of sales and revenue optimization. Springfield, Mo.-based JQH is a leading private, independent owner and manager of hotels in the United States, including operating more than 1 million square feet of superb meeting space.
“Dena is a natural at lead generation and team collaboration,” Burgess said. “While working at the property level for JQH, she regularly generated hotel leads, including for the JQH network as a part of the incentive-based Hammons Exchange of Leads Program (H.E.L.P.). Under her new corporate responsibilities, she can concentrate on strategic accounts full time and effectively impact performance of JQH’s national hotel portfolio.”
Soden brings 26 years in the hospitality industry to her new role as JQH’s corporate director of strategic accounts. Prior, she served as director of sales at the Capitol Plaza Hotel & Convention Center in Topeka, Kan. Her career also includes director of sales positions at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Kansas City—Overland Park in Kansas and at the Ramada Inn in Topeka. She is active in industry and community organizations, including the Kansas Society of Association Executives, Religious Conference Management Association, Washburn University Ichabod Scholarship Fund Board, and Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce Diplomat Committee. Soden is recipient of the JQH Chairman’s Award for Director of sales of the Year and the JQH Sales Team of the Year Award. She was honored with the Sales & Marketing Executive of the Year Award from the Sales & Marketing Executives of Topeka.
“I’m pleased to be able to expand my sales and marketing role at JQH and to continue contributing to the success of a company that has come to feel like family to me,” Soden said. “I look forward to collaborating with JQH teams nationwide.”
About John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts
Springfield, Mo.-based John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts (JQH) is a leading private, independent owner and manager of hotels in the United States, representing brands such as: Marriott, Hilton, Embassy Suites by Hilton, Sheraton, IHG, Chateau on the Lake Resort / Spa & Convention Center, and Plaza Hotels Collection. With a portfolio of 35 hotels representing approximately 8,500 guest rooms/suites in 16 states, JQH’s properties are dominant in their markets. Founded on the extraordinary vision of John Q. Hammons and built on his continued legacy of excellence spanning more than 50 years, JQH has become one of the most recognized and award-winning companies in the hospitality industry. Built to be the best, JQH continues to set the standard in hospitality management and hotel development. Go to www.jqhhotels.com for more information, or connect with JQH on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.
