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July's Featured Manager: Tammy Lowry Lowry says, "Build rapport with community"
Personal background: Lowry was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. She was in a University of Pittsburgh college prep program while in high school, spending six weeks on campus in the summer earning college credits and acquiring work skills. She has a degree in Hotel Management from Sawyer Business School in Pittsburgh. Professional background: “I have worked for Holiday Inn for more than 20 years, three and a half years as reservations manager in Pittsburgh at the Holiday Inn University Center,” Lowry said. She began working at the Aberdeen Holiday Inn in 1992, becoming director of sales and catering and administrative assistant to the owner, and general manager in 2006. Keys to success: “Networking and continually building a good rapport with the people and business community,” Lowry said, also noting it’s important to have a good product and to keep it consistent and up to date. “If you let a customer walk out of your business without buying that customer will go some place else and buy it,” said Pry, who also noted his efforts would not be successful without the support of his wife and friends.
Advice: Lowry recommended keeping a good relationship with the people in the community, including its business people and taking part in community events. “Word of mouth is your best advertisement,” she said. “If people like you, you will be the first person they recommend to others when your services are needed.” What could be done to make business more successful: “Lowry said 60 percent of the Holiday’s Inn business is with the government. At one time federal per diem rates were $104 per day but over the past five years have been $55, $79, $82 and $83.“It would help if per diem would be comparable to the rate in he Aberdeen area (most Aberdeen area hotels have an average rate of at least $130 a night) with BRAC coming,” she said.
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Name and title: Tammy Lowry is general manager of the Holiday Inn Chesapeake House in Aberdeen. She also is director of operations for the Blacksmith Corporation, which includes the Holiday Inn Aberdeen, the Olive Tree Restaurant, the Olive Tree Plazas I and II and a planned Holiday Inn Express.