Small Town News

Whittaker Oasis sales manager

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Darryl Whittaker, a 17-year hospitality veteran who has worked for meetings properties in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee, has been named a sales manager for the soon-to-open Oasis Hotel at Victory Land Greyhound Park in Shorter.

Whittaker most recently served as a corporate sales manager for the Wynfrey Hotel at Riverchase Galleria in Hoover. In his new role, he will book local, regional and national corporate meeting groups for the upscale corporate and leisure travel property.

The Oasis, which opens Nov. 1, will feature 300 luxury guest rooms and suites, a fine-dining restaurant called Whitfield's Steakhouse, O's Lobby Bar, and the O Brew cafe' offering Starbucks coffees. An 80,000-square-foot conference center for groups of all kinds will open in late 2010.

Whittaker was a sales manager for the Tutwiler Hotel in Birmingham from 2005-2008. During his tenure, the historic hotel experienced a 35 percent increase in corporate transient business and added 475 room nights per quarter.

Before that, he served as a corporate sales manager, guest services manager, and assistant guest services manager for the Wyndham Atlanta Hotel. He also assisted with the openings of several Wyndham properties in Atlanta, serving as the lead member of the Wyndham task force sales team.

Other career highlights include roles as a group billing coordinator and group reservations coordinator for the Sheraton Music City Hotel and night audit manager and front desk supervisor for the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Nashville, Tenn.

Whittaker gained national exposure in 2003 and 2004 when Wyndham Hotels & Resorts named him Manager of the Year.

The company twice named him Manager of the Quarter. Other honors include being named Volunteer of the Year by Nashville Cares in Tennessee. "Darryl is a proven leader who has helped take several meetings properties to the next level," said hotel general manager Rusti Price.

"We're delighted to welcome him to the Oasis Hotel team as a sales manager. With his expertise and dedication, the hotel will quickly become one of the top hotels in the Southeast for corporate meetings and conventions."

Whittaker is a member of Tour Connection, the Birmingham Hospitality Association, the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners, and Birmingham Event and Meeting Professionals. He earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Tennessee State University in Nashville.

"I am honored to join one of the top hotel sales teams in the nation to help open Alabama's premier corporate and leisure travel hotel," Whittaker said.

"This is a wonderful opportunity, and I plan to make the most of it. The Oasis will add a new dimension to the hospitality industry in Montgomery, Tuskegee and Auburn."

The Oasis Hotel will have 300 guest rooms, including eight luxury suites. All accommodations will include plush bedding, 32-inch LCD TV's, touch-screen phones, and 24-hour room service.

Whitfield's Steakhouse will offer signature beef and seafood, as well as fine wines from an extensive wine collection.

The hotel's conference center will be able to handle conventions, meetings, concerts and trade shows.

The adjoining VictoryLand is open every day of the year. Guests will only have to walk a few steps to watch live greyhound and simulcast races or play one of the more than 6,000 bingo games at Quincy's Triple Seven Bingo.

Owned by Milton McGregor, the Oasis Hotel is currently taking reservations for stays beginning on Nov. 1.

For more information, or to make a reservation, call (800) 688-2946 or (334) 727-0450, or visit http://www.OasisHotel.us.

Meeting planners can contact the property for future bookings by calling (334) 720-1149 or sending an e-mail to Bill.Dowling@mcgp.us.



Copyright 2009 The Tuskegee News, Tuskegee, Alabama. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2009 The Tuskegee News Tuskegee, Alabama. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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