I AM A RESILIENT PERSON , SOMETIMES TOO RESILIENT , IN THAT I MOVE ON BEFORE OTHERS HAVE CAUGHT UP , WHICH IS WHAT KEEPS ME MOTIVATED . BRINGING JOY BACK TO OUR GUESTS AND ATLANTIS TEAM MEMBERS GIVES ME GREAT HAPPINESS .
– AUDREY OSWELL
summer job at the Caesars Atlantic City . What was supposed to have been a months-long stint ended up lasting 21 years .
“ The decision to take that job , which was only supposed to last a few months , impacted the entire trajectory of my career ,” she recounts . “ I worked at Caesars for 21 years , holding various positions in finance and marketing before eventually becoming the property ’ s president and chief operating officer . It was the longest summer job I could have imagined .”
As Atlantis is the biggest private employer in The Bahamas , the pandemic entaileda severe blow for Oswell , forcing her to downsize her team . However , with rebounding occupancy and travel sentiment , the situation has been improving at the hotel .
“ Atlantis is undergoing several major renovations right now , and what is coming next is very exciting ,” Oswell says . “ We are introducing a new hotel set to debut in 2024 . It ’ s called ‘ Somewhere Else ’ and is the former Beach hotel at
Atlantis . We ’ re developing the hotel in partnership with David Grutman of Groot Hospitality .”
Below you will find more from HOTELS ’ interview with Oswell , including her commentaries on rebounding occupancy levels at Atlantis , measures implemented to drive revenue , and some difficult decisions that had to be imade during the pandemic .
HOTELS : Since taking charge in 2017 , you are Atlantis Paradise Island ’ s first female president and managing director . What challenges do you face as a woman leader ? Audrey Oswell : I don ’ t know of any leadership position that doesn ’ t include multiple challenges on a day-to-day basis . While these obstacles can certainly be complicated by gender , race , religion or life choices , I have never allowed those factors to get in the way of what I was trying to accomplish .
There were certainly times in my career when there was inequity in compensation or I had concerns about people knowing my religion . I always did my best to remain focused on goals and not allow others ’ shortfalls or intolerance deter me from success .
I believe that women in leadership positions face greater challenges personally as they are often judged as choosing career over family , which is unfair . The fact that I don ’ t have children leads many to jump to the conclusion that I chose career over family , which couldn ’ t be further from the truth . It ’ s unfortunate that women are frequently judged more harshly than their male counterparts . Add race or sexual orientation to the mix , and imagine what people are confronted with .
H : What advice would you give to aspiring women leaders ? AO : I would give all aspiring leaders the same advice : work hard and work smart . Surround yourself with good people who have a variety of different experiences – both professionally and in life – and be open to their input . Being supported by people whom you trust to be honest with you and taking their input to heart are among the best ways to grow .
I also encourage aspiring leaders to always “ do the right thing .” At the end of the day , you want to feel good about the decisions you make in your career . It seems simple , but it has been a mantra of sorts throughout my career and has positively impacted my personal and professional decision-making in more ways than I can count . The most important thing you can do is establish a routine that enables you to find work-life balance .
H : What defining moment or decision did you make along the way to help you reach this point in your career ? AO : I graduated college with a degree in education , and before the school year started , I took a summer job at Caesars Atlantic City . The decision to take that job , which was only supposed to last a few months , impacted the entire trajectory of my career .
I worked at Caesars for 21 years , holding various positions in finance and marketing before eventually becoming the property ’ s president and chief operating officer . It was
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