RICHMOND, Va., June 15, 2022 – White Lodging, one of the country’s largest privately held hospitality companies focused exclusively on highly curated urban and lifestyle properties, announced today the naming of Jeff Schmid as director of events of the Richmond Marriott Downtown and Justin Weeks as dual general manager of the Courtyard by Marriott Richmond and the Residence Inn by Marriott Richmond Downtown.
Schmid started his career as a travel agent at Omega World Travel, where he discovered his passion for leading others. Prior to joining the White Lodging team, Schmid managed day-to-day operations and a team of travel agents and meeting planners at United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) for over 19 years. Schmid plans to bring his planner’s perspective to the hotel side of the business at the Richmond Marriott Downtown, which recently completed an extensive renovation and unveiled local restaurant Fall Line Kitchen & Bar this past September.
“The pandemic has totally changed the dynamics of the hospitality industry,” said Schmid. “My team will be looking for the best ways to create an environment where regardless of which member of our Marriott team our customer interacts with, they have a great experience with us. I want to ensure we focus on what our event customers need and consistently anticipate and exceed their expectations. I will be focused on improving the entire process of how our events are handled from start to finish.”
Schmid studied at James Madison University and has participated in numerous industry and leadership training programs. In 2020, he completed the Association Leadership Virginia training offered by the Virginia Society of Association Executives (VSAE). Schmid has served on the board of the Virginia Chapter for Meeting Professionals International (MPI) including a two-year term as the chapter president. He is currently serving on the board for the Virginia Business Travel Association (VBTA) as the education chair.
Weeks, who boasts more than 10 years of hotel and hospitality experience, has held leadership positions at several White Lodging properties since joining the firm in 2016. He served as the general manager at the Moxy at Louisville, K.Y., before arriving in Richmond as the dual manager of the Courtyard and Residence Inn.
“I am incredibly grateful to continue my career at White Lodging with the Residence Inn and Courtyard,” said Weeks. “It’s an exciting time to oversee two of Richmond’s destination hotels, and I look forward to ensuring our guests have their best stay possible.”
Weeks earned his degree in business administration and management from Bloomberg University of Pennsylvania. In 2022, he was selected to join the 2022 Brand Advisory Board for Marriott (Moxy).
Richmond Marriott Downtown, Courtyard by Marriott Richmond and Residence Inn by Marriott Richmond Downtown are owned by Apple Hospitality REIT, Inc. (NYSE: APLE), a publicly traded real estate investment trust headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, and are managed by White Lodging.
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About Richmond Marriott Downtown
The newly renovated Richmond Marriott Downtown, designed by HotelStudio and //3877, offers the ideal blend of modern amenities, first-class service, and a prime location to make it one of the best hotels in downtown Richmond. Selected by guests as a 2020 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence winner, this hotel is situated in the heart of downtown, within walking distance to the area’s top destinations including the State Capitol building and connected via skywalk to the Greater Richmond Convention Center. Guests can experience the city’s unique ambiance by taking the complimentary shuttle to nearby dining and entertainment venues. The stylish guest rooms provide contemporary amenities, including high-speed Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs with premium movie channels and plush bedding. Guests can upgrade to a concierge-level accommodation for access to our new M Club. With over 26,000 square feet of event space, the hotel’s venues are the ideal location to host corporate events, conferences and wedding receptions for up to 1,600 guests.
About Courtyard by Marriott Richmond and Residence Inn by Marriott Richmond Downtown
The First Freedom hotels are steeped in history while providing all the amenities of modern day. The actual site of the Courtyard Hotel by Marriott and Residence Inn by Marriott is where the Virginia General Assembly passed the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom on January 16, 1786. For the first time in history, the protection of religious freedom was placed into law. Located in Richmond’s historic Shockoe Slip district, the hotels are close to the financial district, state government, Virginia Commonwealth University hospitals, and other downtown historic attractions. It also provides visitors easy access to museums and historical venues.
