Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Denson.
Matt, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
The hospitality industry is something I just stumbled into while looking for a job to help with college. I found out that the rewards of the industry and the guest service skills I have were a great fit. One of the biggest joys for me is when guests choose my hotel and I help them come up with a great vacation and memories they cherish for years.
Over 25 years, I have served at a few hotels, mainly the “big box” chain hotels. While living in Springfield, Illinois and working at one such hotel, the economy collapsed.
Within 6 months, 4 hotels closed including mine. My husband (also in the hospitality industry) and I had no other opportunities in the field we both love. We made perhaps the boldest move of our lives. We packed our belongings and decided to move to Fort Lauderdale. We had never been south of Disneyworld before. All we knew is that there was a beautiful beach and a number of hotels. I’ve always felt a connection with the ocean and needed a place where I could walk from home and put my feet in the sand.
Within a week of the move, we were both serving at other chain hotels. Although chains are fine, they lack the character and charm unique to the city itself. Driving home one night, I saw a boutique hotel called “The Snooze”. I had to find out what a hotel with such a clever name was about.
After speaking with the owner, I learned the Snooze was part of old classic Fort Lauderdale. Built in 1951, it used to be the Jamaican and then the Ocean Holiday Resort.
The owner bought it and closed it, spending 6 months making over every room and the beautiful rooftop terrace. He reopened it as the Snooze, a modern yet classic oceanfront boutique hotel.
Shortly after that meeting, I was hired as the General Manager. I have served with pride ever since. My office looks directly at the beach. My guests love this hotel and our team.
I do all I can to tell them what make Fort Lauderdale and Miami worthy of their visit.
Some guests have become friends of mine. They return time after time to visit south Florida. They love the beaches, the nightlife, and the food. At day’s end, they put their feet up with a cold beverage and settle in for a great Snooze.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The biggest challenge turned out to be the biggest blessing. When the economy collapsed and the hotel at which I served closed, we knew we couldn’t last long with no job opportunities in our chosen field. Because of this, we overcame the obstacle by picking our new hometown, Fort Lauderdale.
South Florida has become my quirky home. Without the economic downturn, I would never have found the city I love.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Snooze Hotel story. Tell us more about the business.
The Snooze is by far the most unique hotel at which I have served. We have only 19 rooms. Where most hotels have a lobby and your room, we have a 2,000 square foot rooftop terrace. I have booked three weddings on the rooftop and enjoyed watching the beginning of those lifelong commitments. We also have a second floor terrace that guests love to sit in our adirondack chairs and watch the ocean as well as the characters that pass by.
We position ourselves as a budget-minded oceanfront experience. Few oceanfront hotels in my city have free parking, free wireless, and all the free beach supplies you could want.
By far what sets us apart is the guest service we provide. At a large chain hotel, guests are only known as the room number they occupy. I get to know many of my guests and can cater to what they enjoy. Our team members all provide personalized service. One regular guest keeps luggage stored here for when he returns and likes extra pillows in the room. I just need to say to our head housekeeper Gabby that Mike is coming and she leaps into action, preparing everything to be perfect for his arrival. This is what sets us apart from the large hotels. We know you work hard to earn your vacation. Now it’s our turn to work hard so you can enjoy south Florida effortlessly.
Our guests have rated us as one of the top 5 hotels in the city. It is an honor we try to never take for granted.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I’m not sure I believe in luck. I believe in fate. The “bad luck” of my hotel closing turned into the good luck of our moving to Florida. To me, this was not luck. Call it destiny, fate, or whatever you want. I believe we were meant to take the path we took. The frustration is that you can’t see the path until it’s behind you. I have faith that I am where I am meant to be doing what I was meant to do.
Contact Info:
- Address: 205 North Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 - Website: www.takeasnooze.com
- Phone: 954-761-9933
- Email: info@takeasnoze.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/SnoozeHotel
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