Career Advancement

Honesty, Loyalty, Leadership, Respect, Teamwork & Quality are all valued and rewarded at Drury. Click below to see team member testimonials and hear why you would love to be part of the Drury Team! To read more, click on the thumbnail images for additional testimonials of career advancement with Drury!

Area Sales Manager - St. Louis, Missouri

"I found out about Drury Hotels at a career fair during my senior year of college. I graduated from Saint Louis University with a degree in Marketing and started as a National Sales Coordinator with the company only a couple days later. This position was a great place to start with the company. I really enjoyed the team I worked with in the Central Groups Department and was able to work with many people across the country as well. I knew I wanted to move up in the company and continued to work on the skills I needed. I was promoted to an Area Sales Manager a year and a half later. I love going out and telling other people about the great company I work for and everything we have to offer. I continue to learn more about the company and love building lasting relationships with both customers and other team members."

Regional Manager - Houston, Texas

"I began working for Drury in 1994 as an Assistant General Manager. I had just recently graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in Economics and had been working as an hourly employee for a couple of other hotel companies during college. I remained an Assistant General Manager at Drury for about 18 months, working in St Louis, Memphis, and Poplar Bluff, MO. In 1996, I became a General Manager with Drury running two properties in Poplar Bluff. I also opened a new hotel in Evansville, Indiana in 1998 as a GM. In 1999, I was promoted to Regional Manager with Drury and moved to Houston, Texas. As a Regional Manager, I am responsible for 11 hotels in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. In 2005, in addition to my Regional Manager responsibilities, I became part of the Strategic Planning Committee at Drury, which focuses on setting the company's long term direction and goals."

Manager of Training & Development

"I was hired as a Guest Service Agent at the Drury Inn Columbia, MO when I was a freshman in college. I worked there during my 4 years of school. When I graduated I went to work for Hyatt Hotels where I stayed for two years. When I returned to Drury Hotels I started as an Assistant General Manager Unassigned for one of the St. Louis MO regions where I worked at the Drury Plaza Hotel St. Louis for almost a full year. I was promoted to General Manager of the Drury Inn Columbia MO where I originally started with Drury. I stayed in this position for three years. I was then promoted to a Regional Manager In Training and transferred to the Drury Inn & Suites Creve Coeur as the General Manager while also maintaining my Regional Manager In Training position where I remained for eight months. I recently have been promoted to the Manager of Training and Development which is based out of the corporate office in Human Resources."

General Manager - New Orleans, Louisiana

"In 2001 I began my career with Drury Inns. My position as Executive Housekeeper was my beginning to a great journey. I was welcomed with open arms into the Drury Family. They saw potential in me and I found a new home with this new family. Drury groomed me for my next position which was Assistant General Manager in 2003. They took me under their wing and pushed me to do better. I finally found myself at a great point in my career. In 2004 I received my second promotion to General Manager. I am still the GM in New Orleans and wouldn’t trade it for the world. I am looking forward to my future years with the Drury family."

Regional Manager - Columbus, Ohio

"I began training at Drury Inn & Suites Nashville South and the Pear Tee Inn Nashville South. Everyone was so eager to help me to begin my career. I spent the first day with the GM. He gave me a tour of the property and talked to me about the company and the expectations of my new position. I spent two weeks in Nashville then went to the management training center in Fenton, MO. While "sequestered" (not as bad as you might think, it was more like being in college) I learned the "Drury way" of management and how to complete a great deal of my new responsibilities. The new property I was assigned to, New Orleans, was not quite ready yet so I was asked to help out by serving as Manager on Duty for a couple of weeks at Drury Inn Arnold, MO. I was a bit apprehensive but also proud that they (my supervisors) had so much confidence in me so early. My supervisor went on vacation and I was responsible for supporting the staff there to keep the hotel "afloat" in her absence. After that, I went to help out in Charlotte, NC for the same reason. Before New Orleans officially opened I was fortunate enough to help open the first property Drury built in Birmingham, AL. This was a blast as well as exposure to what would happen in New Orleans a few months later. I worked in New Orleans as a GMIT for a little more than two years from April 2000 until May 2002. This was a wonderful experience that taught me many life lessons both professional and personal. In May of 2002 I was given another wonderful opportunity and promotion to open Drury Inn & Suites Jackson/Ridgeland, Mississippi. It is an experience that I cherish to this day. While there I was afforded yet another opportunity. In October of 2005, I was honored to become a Regional Manager In Training. At the end of 2007, I then moved into the position of Regional Manager, which is presently the position of service that I hold. My tenure with Drury has been both challenging and rewarding and I look forward to many successful years in the future."

Recruitment Specialist

"I began my career with Drury Hotels in May, 2006 as an intern at the Drury Inn & Suites Southwest in St. Louis, Missouri. During my internship I had the opportunity to experience a variety of positions within the hotel. After completing my internship, I returned back to Springfield, Missouri to finish my last semester of college. I was able to transfer to the Drury Inn & Suites in Springfield as a Guest Service Associate. After graduating in December, 2006 from Missouri State University, with a degree in Hospitality and Restaurant Administration, I was promoted to an Assistant General Manager. In January 2008, I was promoted to Recruiting Specialist and will now be based out of the St. Louis Corporate Office. The management training and the learning opportunities that Drury has provided have helped prepare me for my positions. After having prior experience with other hotel chains, I appreciate the values and ethics that Drury Hotels uphold. I look forward to a successful career path with the Drury family."

General Manager - The Woodlands, Texas

"I started with Drury in July of 1997 as the night auditor at our Houston/Sugar Land, Texas property. I loved working nights but in order to move up in the company, I started working days and became the Guest Service Supervisor. My next promotion was to Assistant General Manager in 1999. In September of 2001 I was promoted to General Manager at our property in The Woodlands, Texas, where I remain today. I can attest that Drury offers every opportunity for advancement, regardless of what position you hold initially, if you have the desire and work hard to attain your goals. The Drury Company is dedicated to providing exceptional service to our guests and equally dedicated to providing the training necessary to all our team members so they can excel. I'm proud to work for such an excellent company!"

General Manager - Merriam/Shawnee Mission, Kansas

"I began my career with Drury hotels as a Guest Service Supervisor in August of 2005 at the Merriam, Kansas location. I was then transferred to the dual property in Overland Park, so that I could have experience with a larger property. By April, I had been promoted to Front Office Manager, and exactly one year after I started, I was promoted to General Manager of the Merriam, KS location at only 25 years old! I have worked for a franchised hotel in the past, and being a part of a family-owned and operated team has made a world of difference. If you have the sincere desire and enthusiastic attitude to treat every guest as a part of your family, then Drury is a perfect choice. I have been so amazed by Drury’s constant desire to ensure that guests are 100% satisfied. Not only do they treat their guests this way, but they also treat every single team member with the same respect and gratitude. 

The past three years have been a great experience, and I definitely see myself retiring with them as well! There are numerous advancement opportunities so that I can continue to grow with Drury for the next 40 years! Some of my future goals include:  being promoted to a larger or brand new hotel, becoming a Regional Manager one day, or even working in the Customer Service or Marketing departments for our Corporate Offices! The opportunities are endless for what I could do from here, and the same opportunities would be available for you as well."

General Manager - St. Louis, Missouri

"I started out with Drury in 1997 as a Guest Service Agent, and was then promoted to Guest Service Supervisor. During this time I was attending college to become an Elementary Teacher, however, I saw how great the company was and what they had to offer. That is when I decided to make Drury a career. The next position I had was Executive Housekeeper. From there I applied and was given a position as Assistant General Manager. After holding all of the above positions, I decided to apply for a position as General Manager. I have been a General Manager now for almost 3 years and I love it! I am not sure what position I will be in 3 years from now, but my goal is to continue to grow with Drury. This is an amazing company to work for… the opportunities are endless."

General Manager - Denver, Colorado

"I began my career with Drury Hotels in November, 1994 as a Guest Service Agent. After six months with the company, I was cross-trained for an on-property Sales position and then for the Night Audit position. This helped me with balancing the daily records and gave me a deeper understanding of other areas such as the city ledger. I was offered a position as Guest Service Supervisor, dual property Front Office Manager and then Assistant General Manager. Within another six to seven months I had the pleasure of becoming an Unassigned Traveling Manager, and a few months later was offered a position in Dallas, Texas as General Manager. In the fall of 2006, I relocated to the Drury Inn & Suites near the Tech Center in Denver, Colorado as General Manager.

Within a few months I will have been on the Drury team for fourteen years and indeed feel as if I am part of a family vs. a corporation. The cool part of working with Drury is I have met and know the Drury family. I respect this family for knowing me as a person, not an employee number. I would hope to continue my growth with the company and advance my career further by the following goals:  Opening a brand new Drury hotel.  I currently manage a 160 room hotel… maybe the new one will be as large if not larger!"

“What Can You Do To Prepare for Your Future?”

Gain experience . . .

• Within the Hospitality/Service Industry
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“How Can You Advance In a Career With Drury Hotels?”

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