Associate Spotlight: Sara Thornton

Here at Musselman Hotels we are featuring some of our top associates from each of our properties. We are happy to introduce Sara Thornton from Fairfield Inn Elizabethtown who recently won Associate of the Year company wide! We couldn’t have picked a more deserving Associate!

Tell us a little about yourself… Where are you from? What do you like to do outside work? How did you end up in the Hospitality industry? When did you join the Fairfield Inn Elizabethtown team?

I’m from a small town in South Central Florida mostly known for its good bass and speckled perch fishing. I moved to Kentucky back in 2008 because other than my mother and brother all of my family lived here. When I’m not at work I like to work on crafts. I make all kinds of wreaths and other home décor. I started working in the hospitality industry by pure luck. Was looking for a new job and just happened to be at the right place at the right time. It was the beginning of February of 2016 when I joined the Fairfield here in Elizabethtown.

What was your background (School and/or Work) or experience before joining Musselman Hotels at the Fairfield Inn Elizabethtown?

Before joining Musselman Hotels at the Fairfield Inn Elizabethtown, I had many years already in customer service through retail. I was even an Assistant Store Manager for a couple years. I do enjoy working all types of customer service. You get to meet all kinds of amazing people every day.

Did you know anything about hotels and the hospitality industry before starting with us?

Outside of only being a guest at many hotels, I really had no prior knowledge about what all goes on behind the scenes so to speak in the hospitality industry.

So what was the learning curve like and how is Musselman Hotels different from other places and/or hotels you have worked in?

Learning the ins and outs of working at a hotel was very easy with Musselman Hotels. Honestly this is the best company I have ever worked for. It is the most welcoming company. Everyone makes you feel like family. There is always someone there to help and answer any questions or concerns you may have.

Have you received any awards/recognition since joining the company? If so what did that mean for you?

Not long after I started, just a few months maybe, I received Associate of the Quarter. That let me know that this company really pays attention to hard work and doesn’t let it go unnoticed. Then just recently I was informed that I was Associate of the Year for my property (and most recently Associate of the Year companywide). Which let me know all my hard work, crazy hours and learning everything I could trying to help out everywhere was appreciated by my company.

What types of support do you receive from management and other team members?

Everyone is so supportive. Whether you don’t understand something, to just having an “off” kind of day. Management and my coworkers have always been there to give me the motivation and tools to get through every day and every situation at work.

How have your duties at the Fairfield Inn Elizabethtown changed over time?

My duties at the Fairfield have grown quite a bit since I started. I am always wanting to learn more and do more. So from starting out in laundry to working front desk, I also have learned how to do breakfast, help out housekeeping and even some maintenance.

What is the most interesting challenge you have been faced with at the Fairfield Inn Elizabethtown and how did you handle it?

I would have to say my most interesting challenge is during peak season when the hotel is full of guests. At first it was almost overwhelming. But when you have an amazing company and staff there to support you and help you push through I realized that as a team we could handle it.

What is your favorite thing about your position?

My favorite thing about my position is the chance to meet and interact with all kinds of interesting people. You get to meet people from all over and listen to interesting stories about where people are from and what brought them to your hotel. Also you can get some pretty amazing travel tips and nice locations to go visit.

What is your favorite thing to do outside of work?

Outside of work I like to travel and also spend time with family. One of my favorite places to go is East Tennessee. I love the Smoky Mountains and try to visit at least one time every year. Also just staying here at home and just getting together with family and going out to eat or getting together for the holidays.

If you had to choose one motto and/or saying you live by, what would it be?

“Don’t let a bad day make you feel you have a bad life.”

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In five years I can still see myself working with Musselman Hotels in some way. This is by far my favorite company I have ever had the pleasure to work for. Never before have I felt more involved and appreciated. Musselman really makes you feel like your voice as an individual is heard.