Elena Aprea
Elena Aprea is a seasoned hospitality professional with over three decades of experience in the hotel industry. Beginning her career in her early 20s at the front desk, she quickly advanced through roles including Front Desk Manager, Assistant General Manager, and General Manager before discovering her true passion in sales. Over the past 20 years, Elena has honed her expertise in direct sales, revenue optimization, yield management, and customer relationship building, establishing herself as a trusted advisor for extended-stay and specialty hotel clients across the Metro Detroit area.
Currently serving as Market Director of Sales at Sonesta International Hotels, Elena leads market-level sales initiatives while overseeing multiple properties. Her career highlights include successfully transitioning hotels under new management, booking large corporate and group accounts, and consistently exceeding sales targets. Elena is recognized for her hands-on leadership, dedication to client satisfaction, and ability to maintain long-term relationships with corporate partners, healthcare agencies, and local organizations.
Elena’s professional philosophy centers on giving her all to every opportunity, embracing challenges, and leveraging her extensive industry knowledge. With her son grown and family obligations lighter, she is now embracing new opportunities that allow her to travel and extend her expertise to hotels in other states. Her commitment to excellence, combined with her decades-long experience, positions her as a respected leader and mentor in the hospitality and hotel sales industry.
• Macomb Community College - AAS
• Best of the Best IHG Hotels
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a strong dedication to my field, a commitment to continuous learning, consistently giving my best every day, and treating others with kindness and respect.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is to keep moving forward and not look back, embrace change, and lead by example.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering my industry is to always be open to learning from others, speak up because your opinion matters, and stand tall and proud—know your worth.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest opportunities in my field lie in creating exceptional experiences for guests and making a meaningful impact every day. At the same time, the challenge is staying ahead in a fast-paced hospitality environment while consistently delivering personalized, memorable service.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are taking pride in making others feel happy and comfortable, being a good listener, and serving as a supportive and inspiring mentor to others.
Locations
Sonesta International Hotels
Warren, MI 48093