Christopher Robinson
Senior Manager Global eCommerce & Digital Services – Europe
Marriott International
Christopher is a member of the HSMAI Europe Digital Marketing Advisory Board.æ
Q:æWhat does a day at work consist of for you?
A:æIt is so varied I run a team of Digital Client Service Managers at Marriott International as part of the Marriott Digital Services Program new for 2015 we manage the digital performance across 160 individual hotels in over 25 countries across Europe. We are responsible for all elements of digital marketing for these hotels from content creation search engine optimization social media to paid owned and earned digital media.
Q:æWhat’s the best part of your job?
A:æDealing with the hotels it is absolutely fascinating there is such a mix of brands from our newest brand in Marriott International Moxy and watching this expand to the luxury of the JW Marriott brand it is such a varied mix. I also get to talk to many different people in any one day we have hotels in Siberia to Scotland and everywhere inbetween! I also get to travel to some pretty amazing locations around the world seeing amazing hotels and working with some very talented people.
Q:æDo you have anyone you’ve looked up to?
A:ææThere are two people really one is the person who gave me my first job in Marriott a lady called Julie gave me the honour of being a Room Service Associate at the Huntingdon Marriott – I still to this day wonder what she is doing and I want to say thank youæ’_æ14 years later I am still here! The second person is my Dad I often look to him to see how he made his children see the world made them travel and see different cultures across all four corners of the worldæ’_æI saw the penguins in the Falkland’s Islands onceæ’_æamazing but I do look back and think if that didn’t happen I wouldn’t be working in travel now.
Q:æDo you have any nice traditions at your office?
A:æMarriott is still a family company at heart there is still a Mr Marriott and that culture really still flows through the whole company we have a mantra “take care of your associates they will take care of your guests and your guests will come back” – it is a pretty simple idea but one that really is alive and kicking here and one that in the digital team we really do live by it.
Q:æHow long have you been a member of HSMAI?
A:æI joined back in 2012 and was awarded the Marriott/HSMAI award at our Global Digital Conference in Las Vegas in 2013.
Q:æWhat do you think is the best thing about HSMAI?
A:æLearning from other experts around the world at Marriott International we people working on digital all over the world and in Europe we have signed all of our team up to the membership program & they are all now Certified Digital Marketers – a joint qualification from HSMAI & Marriott.
Q:æAre there any activities or projects you think HSMAI should start up?
A:æI have always found lunch meetings a fantastic way of sharing ideas with other like-minded individuals.
Q:æDescribe your perfect weekend.
A:æSimply spending time with the family I have three amazing daughters twins who are 5 and another 3 year old – my wife is amazing taking care of them but I do look forward to the weekend and being at home. Stayactions are the best for me I see far too much of airport security during the week.
Q:æIf you were trapped on a desert island what would you take with you if you could choose only one thing?
A:æCan I have two ‘_ My iphone and apple watch I just got the watch a few weeks ago and it is ground breaking I love it ‘_
Q:æWhat is the title of the book about your life?
A:æTough one ‘_ I think one day I would love to write a book all about if I have the attention span to actually do it or not but I might call it: Dad Sport Marriott Family Digital (Not in that order!)
Q:æWhat is your next travel-destination?
A:æI have a few trips plans but the major trip on the horizon is to Austin Texas for our Annual Global Marriott Digital Summit at the new JW Marriott Austin.
Q:æDo you have any special hobbies?
A:æI just bought a “proper” road bike I am absolutely addicted to it ‘_ I regret not exploring it earlier I have seen so many amazing parts of the countryside on my doorstep that I never knew existed!
Q:æThank you for your time. Do you have any personal comments?
A:æIf you are not a member of HSMAI – join now! You will not regret it and you will learn something new every day.
Photo: Christopher Robinsonæ
