

Today we’d like to introduce you to Liz Wagner.
Liz, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started in the hotel industry at the Front Desk in 1983, and retired as Regional VP of Sales & Marketing in 2019 to pursue my passion full time. In 1999, my then dream job as Regional Director of Sales Development, ended as a part of a reorganization plan and I began consulting for hotels, and meeting planning.
One day while on a consulting assignment at a hotel, one of my mentees and I received a call from someone on a tour bus that mentioned they were on their way to the city for a show and needed 100 rooms for that night, we chuckled for a minute, negotiated a rate and booked it. As we starting working on arrangements, my mentee said, at “100 rooms a night on this tour that has over 30 dates, there is money to be made “ (we looked up the itinerary) and started calculating the potential that we could make. She called the office and started the conversation. When she was able to talk it over, the finish line I jumped in and convinced them to let us book their rooms, That was Cash Money Records and they remained my clients until shortly after Hurricane Katrina, which changed their structure. I then started meeting tour Managers as they came into the hotel and established relationships with two, in particular. Every tour that these two guys went on, they allowed me to book and handle the hotel rooms. Outkast, Ludacris, Lil Jon, Ceelo, Ashanti, Lil Kim, Kanye, Cash Money Records, the hottest of the hot in early 2000s, many of which I still work with today. Uncle Luke and I have been together since 1999. After returning to corporate America in 2005/2006 to work for a consulting client, I handled clients but did not solicit new ones (I accepted new clients that came to me) until this year where I returned full time and have been met with nothing but love and referrals. Along with the tours I am an independent meeting planner for corporations and associations, non-profit organizations, and continue to consult. Today, I am known as The Hotel Lady (name given to me by Uncle Luke).
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?
Things have been relatively easy as it relates to handling my clients needs. The difficult part is educating the young artists that are out there today, why they need The Hotel Lady. Many are letting the promoters book their rooms or booking them on the internet. Big mistakes- most promoters care about their bottom line and not the artist, so their hotels are not handled as they should. I guarantee each hotel that I book. The internet has its on risks and no guarantee of service levels, hassles making changes, cancellations, etc. I want them to understand how easy their travel should be when there is an advocate for them everywhere they go
So, as you know, we’re impressed with The Hotel Lady/Hotel & Hospitality Concepts – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I am most proud of my reputation that I have built over the years and the trust that my clients have in me and my team, and that means everything to me!! I work hard to ensure that doesn’t change. I have spent decades in the hotel industry, making my hotels successful and I use that knowledge and experience to deliver best of class service, negotiations and planning to all of our clients. My team is made up of former hotel industry people as well, we live hospitality.
What sets me apart is that I am not a travel agent, I am a hotel specialist. I do not book vacations and leisure travel, my clients travel professionally and have certain standards and needs, that require special attention. It’s as easy as giving me the itinerary and budget we book the hotels and communicate with the hotel until check out. When a meeting planning client hires us, they are entrusting that we handle the logistics and make their meetings or conventions memorable for their attendees and an easy process for them. They actually can enjoy their events because we have everything taken care of. Just like the entertainment and sports client, tell me where you need to be and I make it happen. We are available to our clients while they are on the road, we can be reached after 5pm and 7 days a week while most travel agents are not or there is an 800# in a call center that handles the call.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
My plan is for The Hotel Lady to be THE go to person for all hotel accommodations for the entertainment, sports and meetings industry. I want to employ talented individuals and give them an opportunity that they may not happen otherwise. The more successful I am, the more jobs I can provide!
Contact Info:
- Address: 3535 Peachtree Rd, NE #520198
- Website: www.thehotellady.com
- Phone: 4044725867
- Email: liz@hotelandhospitalityconcepts.com
- Instagram: @hotelladyliz
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-wagner-thehotellady/
Image Credit:
profile photo – Sara Hanna photography
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