Katlyn’s love for hospitality runs deep. Starting with her first job in food service at 14, she has long enjoyed the energy of a busy restaurant or hotel lobby and the chance to connect with people from different places and backgrounds. That passion has grown into a career that has taken her abroad, introduced her to her husband and brought her home to Calgary, where she is now the director of sales and marketing at The Westley Hotel.
For Katlyn, the appeal of hospitality has always been rooted in people. She loves learning about their cultures and experiences and creating an environment where everyone feels genuinely welcomed. The hustle and bustle of restaurants and hotels, with their constant energy, movement and interaction, is something she has always been drawn to.
“My love for hospitality has always come down to people,” she says.
After her first food service job, Katlyn moved into the restaurant world. She studied hospitality management and completed a bachelor of commerce, with a particular interest in international engagement.
In 2012, a connection she had made through the hospitality industry led to what was supposed to be a three-month internship in the Caribbean as a VIP concierge. Those three months turned into seven years, changing the direction of her career and her life.
During her time in the Caribbean, Katlyn progressed from VIP concierge to manager on duty, then into event management and hotel sales, ultimately becoming the senior leisure sales manager. Just as meaningful as her career progression were the experiences and relationships she built along the way. Those years introduced her to people she remains grateful to have met, including her husband.
“Had I not taken that leap into this industry and that three-month internship, our paths may never have crossed,” she says.
In 2019, Katlyn returned home to Calgary and continued building her career at Hyatt Regency Calgary, working in event sales and business travel sales. Her experience eventually brought her to The Westley Hotel, where she now serves as director of sales and marketing.
Looking back, Katlyn sees how much grew from that first job at 14. Hospitality gave her a path to develop her skills, explore new roles and build a career across countries. It also created friendships, a community and connections that have shaped her life far beyond work.
Today, she brings that same love for people to Calgary’s hotel industry, carrying forward the enthusiasm that first drew her to hospitality.
“You never quite know where it will take you or who you will meet along the way,” she says.
“For me, it has created a career, a community and, in so many ways, the life I have today.”