Influential Woman · Hospitality

Amy Leach

Area Director of Sales Marketing, GF Hotels & Resorts

Orlando, FL 32836

3Awards received

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Hospitality Degree Hotel and Resort Management Degree Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality and Resort Management Degree University of Memphis Cert CHIA (Certified Hospitality Intellectual Analysis) Member ALOHA (Association of Ladies of Hospitality) Member Orlando

Her Story

About Amy

I always knew I wanted to be in hospitality. I did travel sports when I was younger, stayed at tons of hotels in different places, and my first job was at an amusement park outside of the suburbs of Chicago, which gave me a taste of hospitality. I went to school for hospitality, hotel and resort management at the Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality and Resort Management through the University of Memphis. I got an internship working at two Marriott hotels, and I've been in hotels ever since. I chose the sales route because I love sales and marketing, group sales, and revenue management, and all that good stuff. Now I have a team of about 12 people, and we cross-sell two hotels: the Courtyard by Marriott Lake Buena Vista at Vista Center and Embassy Suites Lake Buena Vista at Vista Center. My typical day involves keeping in contact with my top clients, forecasting numbers for ownership and my general managers, and pushing the team to sell and prospect, talk to clients, and close bookings. I'm really passionate about what I do, I love my hotels, I am willing to put in the extra hours, and I truly am happy with what I do. I'm happy going to work every single day. It's not just a job for me, I truly enjoy it.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Amy

01What do you attribute your success to?

I think just having the passion for it, and not being afraid to be that person to ask questions, or to think outside of the box. I've always had support in thinking outside of the box, and wanting to do things differently, and wanting to do things bigger, or just not how we have always done things. I like to change things up, I like to think outside of the box. I'm really passionate about what I do, I love my hotels, I am willing to put in the extra hours, and I truly am happy with what I do. I'm happy going to work every single day. It's not just a job for me, I truly enjoy it.

02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

I would tell them that being confident in yourself is absolutely everything, especially in a sales role. You have to be confident in what you're selling, you can't be afraid to pick up the phone and call somebody, do a cold call, go do door-to-door sales, almost. You just have to be confident and be passionate about what you're selling, because the client really feels that you're passionate about it, and that you love it. You could have a drowning hotel, you could have a super outdated hotel that needs a renovation, but if you love it, and you're confident in how you sell it, then they will book with you no matter what. It makes your job a lot easier when you're confident about what you're doing.

03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

I think for our industry here in Orlando, hospitality, it's not what it used to be pre-COVID, and every year they tell us it's back, tourism is back, people are back, and it just doesn't happen. The economy is very expensive right now. One day ticket to Walt Disney World is upwards of $200 for one person, and a family of four cannot afford a week-long vacation like they used to pre-COVID. I just think the market and the economic challenges are definitely challenging right now.

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