New Member Spotlight - Nikki Sydlow

Our second new member spotlight is on Nikki Sydlow, Group Sales Manager for Magnolia St. Louis, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel. Nikki has been with Magnolia for nearly two years and joined MPI St. Louis last July.

She has worked for the Magnolia Hotel Company for four and a half years, starting as a Front Desk Agent at the Magnolia Hotel in Denver and working her way up to Concierge, Sales Administrative Assistant and then Sales Manager. Nikki transferred to Magnolia St. Louis in May 2016.

She got her start in the hospitality industry by joining the Activities Board in college and planned events for her sorority. This introduced her to event planning and she knew then that she wanted to make a career of it. Nikki knew she couldn't jump right into event planning, so she applied for front desk hotel jobs to work her way to sales. When asked what the best part of her job is, she said, "I get to meet new people all the time and constantly learn new ways to execute better events - I am always learning new things about St. Louis which is exciting since I did not grow up here."

Nikki joined the Special Events Committee and worked on the chapter's annual trivia night in February. She wants to continue her involvement and move to committee chair, and someday hopes to become a board member. "Baby Steps," she says, "Right now I am working towards earning my CMP. Networking is also very important to me since I am new to this group sales role and still new to St. Louis."

Nikki grew up in the country near Jefferson City, Missouri. She spends her spare time reading, hiking and taking photographs. Nikki recently discovered pickleball and she is getting drum lessons from her husband, Alec.

When asked about binge watching TV, Nikki says, "I just finished watching The Bachelor - don't judge! Also, I love The Voice, Stranger Things, Black Mirror, New Girl, Game of Thrones, and The Handmaid's Tale - I watch a lot of TV."