June Blog: GET TO KNOW Our Team!
GET TO KNOW - Bethany Bohn, Senior Sales Manager, Embassy Suites by Hilton Rockford Riverfront & Rockford Conference Center.
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1. How long have you been in the hospitality business and how did you get your start?
The Embassy Suites by Hilton Rockford Riverfront will be the third hotel I've worked for since making the jump from retail management to hospitality sales in 2016. It can be daunting to switch careers, but it’s the best decision I could have made. No day is ever the same in hospitality and it is rewarding to be a guest’s home away from home. I love my job!
2. What excites you most about the Embassy Suites by Hilton Rockford Riverfront?
I cannot wait to open our doors to Rockford and the surrounding communities. I love that our property will not be just for out of town guests. There are many places that anyone can come in and enjoy. You can stop for lunch and take in the views of the Rock River from the patio or head up to the 12th floor rooftop to see the Forest City from a whole new level. Bring your friends for a spa day or book a room after a concert at the BMO and make it a staycation without having to drive hours away!
3. What makes the Embassy Suites by Hilton Rockford Riverfront different from other hotels in the Rockford area?
There’s so much within walking distance! You won’t have to get in your car if you’re catching a show at the Coronado or meeting friends for dinner at Octane. It’s all right here! And speaking of having everything right here, not only do you get a cooked-to-order complimentary breakfast, but all hotel guests are also invited to our nightly evening reception.
4. What’s one thing you want a potential event host to know about the accommodations at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Rockford Riverfront and Rockford Conference Center?
We offer Meetings Simplified packages so you can quickly and easily book your next meeting, training, or conference. Meetings Simplified packages include bundled pricing for room rental, audio visual, and catering. Just supply us with your agenda and we will do the rest! You can also earn Hilton Honors event planner points and it’s free to join!
5. What’s the most interesting piece of history you learned while overseeing the Amerock building transformation into the Embassy Suites by Hilton Rockford Riverfront?
On each floor, there were steel doors tethered to a rod by a rope flanking the doorways to the stairwell. If a fire broke out in the factory and the flames burned through the rope, the doors would slam shut to stop the fire from spreading to the next floor. The original doors have been set aside so they can be reinstalled as décor. This will be just one of the many historical artifacts in the building!
6. What’s the one thing you would recommend visitors see or do while in Rockford?
Rockford City Market is the perfect place to get a feel for downtown. On Fridays in the summer, you have the opportunity to visit several businesses all in one place. There’s no admission fee and parking is free after 5 p.m. in all city lots. You can stop by for a beer and listen to some live music or have a full course meal, including dessert, from the variety of food trucks and vendors. One of my favorite vendors, or should I say my dog Layla’s favorite, is The Canine Crunchery, Inc. Layla doesn’t mind me leaving her at home, as long as I come back with one of their treats!
7. As a Rockford native who has lived elsewhere, what’s been most exciting to see as Rockford has evolved over the years?
My husband and I returned to the Rockford area in 2017 after living in the Chicago suburbs for eight years. While we were away, we started to see posts on Facebook about more and more exciting events taking place in downtown Rockford like Stroll on State and City Market. I have many memories of enjoying the downtown area while growing up like going to On the Waterfront, First Night, the “Anything That Floats” Rock River Raft Race and riding the Forest City Queen and Trolley. I’m excited for my daughter to now get to grow up in this area and make new memories as a family.
8. What’s your favorite travel destination and why?
Anywhere with a beach! Whether it’s the warm, sandy beach in Barbados where we honeymooned or a cool, breezy beach in northern California, I’ll take it all. There is just nothing more relaxing than the sound of waves crashing against the shore. Which reminds me that I need to make a hotel reservation…the beach is calling.