By Ryan Hecht, Arvada Chamber of Commerce Marketing Director, and Haylie Kendrick, Arvada Chamber Marketing Intern
The Origin Hotel and Famille Westminster property opened on April 1, 2021 at 8875 Westminster Blvd, Westminster, CO. With 128 guest rooms, 1,800 square feet of meeting and event space, and a from-scratch dining concept, Origin Hotel Westminster is a prime destination for business travelers, families, and locals who are searching for a staycation. With seven properties to its name, the Origin is a service-forward collective, meaning, each property operates with the guest in mind first.
What is unique about your offerings at the Origin?
Hayley Houk, Assistant General Manager: We are a full service hotel! With our modern guest rooms, oversized fitness center, and onsite from-scratch restaurant, we offer everything you may need while you travel in one building! We have 16 different room types. The majority of our rooms are suites, catered to business travelers and families alike. We are extremely unique as there is no ‘playbook’ when it comes to the Origin Collection. Each property is designed differently to seamlessly integrate into its community. Each property also has a different restaurant concept, and we are lucky to offer a contemporary steakhouse!
How did you get started in this industry? What do you find rewarding about this career?
Hayley: I started in this industry 14 years ago. I have always enjoyed people – getting to know them, their story, their history. The service industry is everchanging – it pushes you to your limit, expands your horizons and allows for continued growth. I started my career as a restaurant host, worked my way through various positions in restaurants, and transitioned into the hotel industry to continue gaining tools for my tool box. I almost feel like I’ve learned a different career in my career. There is never a shortage of new information, new resources, new lessons or new challenges. It’s an industry that is lovingly unpredictable.
I have been at Origin Westminster for 3.5 years and have loved every second of it.
How big is your team?
Hayley: Our property has 52 employees! The large majority of our management team just celebrated 3 years at the property.
How has the number of people on staff changed through the years?
Hayley: When we first opened, I think we had 30 employees, so we’ve definitely grown over the years. The majority of the staffing actually comes from the rooms department, so housekeeping holds the most amount of people. Year over year, it stays around 50 or so. This is actually the most we’ve had in three years.
What has been your biggest staffing challenge?
Hayley: That’s an interesting question. Actually hiring is more difficult after COVID in a alot of aspects. There’s a lot more to choose from in a very strange way, so candidates are more selective on where they go. The overarching issue you run into is interview no-shows.
What advice would you give a new business or entrepreneur in Arvada?
Hayley: The best advice I could offer is this – stay connected. Especially after COVID, the dynamics of business has changed. The rules aren’t the same anymore. We have found that it is extremely important to showcase not only the beautiful property that we have, but the people that make it work. You can’t operate a business without the dedicated team behind it, and the consumer likes to see that. Consumers, clients, customers and guests alike, all seem to be more driven and connected to the business if they see behind the curtain. That is why we love to be a part of the community. We show up for the Arvada residents and will continue to do so.
What services from the Chamber have you taken advantage of?
Ryan Pierce, Director of Sales: I think the events that you put on are great. And being a host site for group meetings like Inspiring Women is huge to help with business in the restaurant and spread the word about the hotel. Event sponsorships help also.
How was Taste of Arvada for you this year?
Hayley: It was a lot of fun!
Ryan: It was my first time there and I didn’t realize there were so many people and vendors to see.
Hayley: This year we had a lot of people who were like, “I remember you from last year. My wife and I came in.” So that’s great. And it was the first time we ran out of food and beverage before the event ended.
How much is predictable through the year in terms of capacity?
Ryan: At this hotel specifically, a couple months. We have a shorter booking window than a lot of other hotels. Hotels with bigger event spaces you can predict a little better. We have a couple months that are more predictable but I have no idea what’s going to happen in December. There could be a massive storm that knocks us out of service for two weeks. But we know July will be stuffed all month long.
Do you have partnerships with a lot of the businesses in this area?
Hayley: There’s a new committee that all the businesses in this area formed together and we all help each other out to drive business down here. So if somebody’s down here, they’re probably going to go visit somewhere else.
Ryan: We also have partnerships with a lot of the wedding venues so we can get overflow room blocks. The Butterfly Pavillion and other venues in the area we have a referral for.
What are you hoping goes into the Tattered Cover vacancy?
Ryan: Event space. I’ve been asking for an event space. The Westin and Marriott has over 10,000 square feet. For us to be competitive, we need event space that adds 6,500 square feet with a built-in bar and a liquor license already in there. So yeah, I’m hoping.
What’s your pitch for a staycation at the Origin?
Ryan: The rooms are much roomier than the local competition. They feel like you’re at home. They have a ceiling fan. You can obviously walk downstairs and have a great dinner down here, or we have 12 restaurants and bars, and a movie theater, in walking distance. Everything that you need is right here.
Do you have a memorable customer experience that happened in the restaurant?
Hayley: We have two people that sit at the bar 2-3 times a week. They’re great people. Last week, they were celebrating something, so we made a little plaque for them with their names and it said VIP section. We put candles at the bar. When the wife saw it, she broke down crying. It was really cute.
Origin Hotel Westminster
8875 Westminster Blvd, Westminster, CO 80031
Phone: 720-647-7400
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