Hyatt Place Sales Manager Tiffany Wren says that she fell into working in hospitality by accident, and has watched it blossom into a career she loves.

“I started as a Front Desk Agent, was promoted to Front Desk Supervisor and then was given the opportunity to be the Sales Manager,” she said. “I fell into hospitality by accident — I originally saw it as a job that I’d enjoy through college. After being in the industry for 5 years, I realized this was something I wanted to continue to explore.”

The daughter of two Penn State alumni, Tiffany has lived in Happy Valley since she was two. “Becoming a Nittany Lion myself was a no brainer,” she said.

She started working as a sales manager when she was still a student, and she says that her role helped her to gain management experience much sooner than she expected. “Being able to start a career while still in school is something that I did not think would be possible,” she said. “I was able to establish financial security and nurture my new-found love for hospitality at 22-years-old, which made transitioning so much smoother.”

Tiffany says working with guests — and specifically groups — are the favorite part of her job. “I have met so many people in the three years that I have been a Sales Manager, and creating an experience with them that earns their repeat business is so rewarding,” she said. “Having guests who return to our property because they enjoyed specifically working with me is always a reminder of why I do what I do and pushes me to continue to be the best Sales Manager I can be.”

She says that she’s grateful to work for Hyatt Place because of how well it prioritizes the growth of its employees. “Knowing that I work for people who want to see me succeed has given me the confidence to take on new tasks and push myself to expand in my career,” she said.

She says that if she could tell every visitor to Happy Valley one thing, it would be to instill hope. “In a world that has been negatively impacted and has changed quite a bit in the last couple years, customer service and hospitality still exist. Ensuring a positive experience for every guest that stays with us is something our team takes great pride in. We are continuously striving for greatness.”

As her team strives to create the perfect getaway for Happy Valley visitors, she says that there’s no place she’d rather be. “The amount of love and unity this town has from the culture that Penn State has created is indescribable and I would not trade living in this town for anything.”