Matt Denson shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Matt, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first thing I do when I get on property is go to the rooftop and water the palm trees. This seems like a simple task but it’s the best way to start my day! While I am the only one up on the rooftop, I take in the amazing panoramic view. Every day, the ocean looks different, almost like it has moods. There could be no waves at all or ten foot waves coming in. I watch flocks of pelicans glide over the ocean and occasionally dive for breakfast. I get to be alone with my thoughts and plan the day ahead.
After the palm trees, I organize the rooftop to make sure it is photo ready. Then I walk each floor making notes of any issues. By the time that’s done, it’s time to officially open the office and start helping my guests.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a career hotelier who started hospitality back in 1991 in North Carolina. I’ve worked at chains, convention hotels, and midservice properties. Of all properties at which I’ve served, the Snooze is by far the most unique. My office looks directly at the ocean. I serve as the General Manager which means I do a bit of everything, sales, maintenance, cleaning, whatever is needed is my job.
We are a historic boutique oceanfront hotel, built in the 50s, we are part of ‘Old Florida” that is rapidly being replaced by crazy expensive high rises. We’re honored to be a top ten property and one of the few remaining boutique hotels from back in the day when all properties were like us. We used to be the tallest building on the oceanfront at a whooping 5 stories..
Buildings have gone up around us, all cookie-cutter national brands where you can’t tell if you are at the beach or in Alaska. Our property celebrates the ocean. Our room sound machines greet you with the sound of the ocean as you enter. We’re independent so we have more freedom to provide all of the extras our guests need without worrying about “corporate”.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I took Karate starting at age 10 and studied for years, eventually becoming an instructor and 2 from black belt by the time I was 18. I had thoughts of opening my own dojo and teaching others. Karate teaches you self-discipline and honor; two aspects I internalized at that young age.
When I went to college, I stopped Karate in favor of youthful college life. I don’t regret giving it up and I am grateful for all of the lessons I learned from it.. I found a part time job at a hotel in 1991. I discovered I had raw talent for guest service. I’ve been a hotelier since that first job.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
What my guests don’t know is that I am always in significant chronic pain. I had a spinal injury that recently was made far worse when someone ran in to me. I am very good at hiding the pain on my face. Guests don’t want to see the leader of a hotel limping or struggling or see when I have a flare up and can’t move. I block everything out of my mind ,focusing on the guest in front of me. Once they are happy and taken care of then I deal with the pain.
My team has also done a wonderful job of supporting me by doing the more physical things I can no longer do. I’m also reducing my hours so I can heal with pain medicine at home.
Everyone has something in their lives they have to deal with. This is mine. I’ve just had to learn to be ok with not being able to do all that I want to.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My word and my honor. Over the years I’ve learned that everything is ephemeral, from money to people to interests, all of it comes and goes. My favorite line from Shakespeare is “All the world’s a stage; all the players have their entrances and exits”.
The only thing I have control over is my word and my honor. No one can take those away. When I say I’ll do something, I mean it. When I say I am there for someone, that means I am always here for them. Only I can hurt my honor and the importance of my promises.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What light inside you have you been dimming?
I think a universal truth that only recently I have begun to accept is the number of doors that close as we age. Mentally and emotionally, I still feel like the college kid who loves nature and wants to explore. The older I get and the worse my spine gets, the fewer things I can do.
I want to go on all day bike rides like I used to but my body won’t let me. I used to swim in the ocean almost daily. I haven’t been able to swim in a few years. I loved to cook for my husband but now I can’t stand that long. Youth is both a state of mind and body. As we age, the mind is still eager but the body is not. It’s a hard truth but not one that can be fought, only accepted.
