Name: Tom Faust
Title: Vice president, sales
Company, city: Omni Hotels & Resorts; Dallas, Texas
Number of employees: 21,000
Recent project: Finalizing our Omni Meetings University, an online meeting planner educational portal modeled after our successful Omni Travel Agent University
First job: A bellman at Stouffer’s Riverfront Towers in St. Louis
Little-known fact about you: While my weeks are filled with creating memorable experiences for guests, on weekends I unwind with yoga.
Your Business
Essential business philosophy: Say “Yes!” to new opportunities to help you learn and grow. I live by that philosophy and continue to do more than is expected; the rewards always follow.
Best way to keep a competitive edge: By maintaining a healthy body and mind through yoga, I replace negativity with positivity and an eagerness to succeed. I also read daily trade news and participate in professional development.
Yardstick of success: Omni aims to exceed guest expectations, inspire and reward our associates and provide superior financial results to those who entrust us with managing their assets. Developing our team, mentoring individuals and growing market share are vital to our success.
Tom Faust as a Traveler
What is the most important item you take when traveling? My Omni Select Guest loyalty card, offering complimentary in-room WiFi, bottled water, a morning beverage, a shoe shine and garment pressing
How do you spend your time on board? I use the quiet time to read and complete projects with minimal distraction.
What is your favorite restaurant in the world? Radosta’s Restaurant & Deli near New Orleans
What is your favorite destination in the world? I have traveled the world, but Dallas, where I work and live, is still my favorite city.
About Omni Hotels & Resorts
What defines an Omni property? Does Omni plan to roll out amenities designed to appeal to the growing millennial market?
We are a global four-diamond brand offering unique properties that provide exceptional guest experiences. Since our design, décor, food and beverage, services and amenities reflect the destination, no two Omni properties are alike.
While Omni offers amenities that interest younger guests, many of our younger business travelers were exposed to Omni through their employer. Omni’s tradition for creating authentic, memorable experiences and providing exceptional customer service adds value for all travelers; however, we are seeing a generational shift in the needs of business travelers as millennials take on more responsibility in the workforce. New technology, complimentary in-room and lobby WiFi and local experiences play an important role in today’s events. Social interaction is important to this group, so meetings are more collaborative and casual.
How do Omni hotels cater to business travelers? What challenges does Omni face in strengthening brand awareness among business travelers?
No two travelers are alike, and the purpose of travel varies just as much, so we offer a variety of properties to meet the needs of group, business and leisure guests. In the past two years, we’ve added resorts, convention center hotels and city centers, providing access to new desirable locations and robust signature properties in North America. Through the Omni Select Guest loyalty program, business travelers receive complimentary WiFi and other benefits. We offer mobile capabilities for booking and checking in and were one of the first hotel groups to add its loyalty program to Google Wallet.
Our challenge is finding the right communication channels. The way guests receive messages changes frequently as traditional and social media evolve. Our website remains our most useful and popular channel for guests interested in culinary updates, special packages, photos or details about a property and destination.
Industry watchers suggest travel loyalty programs are losing value. How does Omni’s Select Guest program maintain and grow its membership?
Our members enjoy everything from special complimentary perks to free nights at any Omni property. They are automatically entered into the Global Hotel Alliance Discovery, offering benefits at more than 450 luxury hotels and resorts in 62 countries. Guests receive complimentary WiFi in guestrooms instantly when signing up for our free-to-join loyalty program, so our new member numbers grow daily.
Read This Next
Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedeFlyer Reviews
Jun 7, 2023Singer Palace Hotel Review
The idea of a boutique hotel in the center of Rome’s busiest crossroads may seem counterintuitive, but Singer Palace Hotel pulls off the impossible thanks to its minimalist exteriors, 30 gorgeous one-of-a-kind rooms and suites, smart-but-whimsical décor, simple-yet-elegant Roman cuisine and a stellar mixology-driven rooftop bar. It’s a delightful study in contrasts — a quiet, intimate and plush setting nestled within a maze containing many of Rome’s most noteworthy sites.
Sponsored Content
Fill Your Heart with Ireland
Whether it's the people, the craic (fun) or the coasts, travelers always find something to love about the island of Ireland. What fills your heart?
eFlyer News
Jun 7, 2023Uber to Launch Private Chartered Boat Service in Mykonos
Uber app users can now book an Uber Boat in Mykonos this summer to enjoy even more of the Greek island’s beauty. Uber announced the new addition allows up to eight guests to cruise to popular destinations and sites around Mykonos.
eFlyer News
Jun 7, 2023Breeze Airways Rebrands First-Class Seating, Inaugurates 37 Nonstop Routes
Breeze Airways celebrates summer with the inauguration of 37 new and returning routes and the introduction of a new and elevated onboard experience. The airline also recently flew its inaugural and now longest flight from Rhode Island TF Green International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport.
Sponsored Content
Plan Your Escape to Arizona
Indulgent escapes are made even more enjoyable by fast, easy access — and that’s what Arizona offers. Quick, non-stop and direct flights to one of two international airports put all the luxury of The Grand Canyon State within easy reach.
eFlyer News
Jun 7, 2023Hawaiian Airlines Unveils 787 Dreamliners Cabin Design, Leihōkū Suites
Hawaiian Airlines officially gives the world a glimpse into the interior cabin details of its new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, bringing guests a new class of premium service. The Leihōkū Suites, meaning garland of stars, features 34 suites, enveloping guests in a peaceful and elegant space with fully lie-flat seating.
Puppy Pride at The Leta, Santa Barbara
eFlyer Deals
Jun 7, 2023Dad’s Escape at Andaz San Diego
eFlyer Deals
Jun 7, 2023OMNI PGA Frisco Resort Comes to Texas
Daily
Jun 7, 2023Leisure Lifestyle 2023
Jun 7, 2023Gather Insight and Inspiration at Some of the World’s Intriguing Art Shows and Fairs
© FNB ART JOBURG
Sponsored Content
Treasure Every Moment in The Islands of Tahiti
Welcome to The Islands of Tahiti, where every moment is a treasure waiting to be discovered. From the moment you arrive, you will be greeted with warm hospitality, time-honored traditions and an awe-inspiring landscape that will take your breath away.
Daily
Jun 7, 2023art’otel Brings Boutique, Art-Inspired Hotels to Zagreb, London and Rome
Contemporary lifestyle hotel brand art’otel expands throughout Europe with the launch of three new properties in Zagreb, London’s Hoxton and Rome, all slated to open between fall 2023 and early 2024. These three hotels join the brand’s existing boutique hotels in Berlin, Amsterdam, Cologne and another London property.
ShareThis