Marketing Manager of JW Marriott Cherry Creek, Mason Mills, Shares her Wardrobe Picks For Fall
In this month’s Closet Confidential, the Marketing Manager of JW Marriott Denver Cherry Creek, Mason Mills welcomes us into her home away from home. Mason models her favorite wardrobe picks for the fall season and talks to Editor in Chief ESTHER LEE LEACH about the newly remodeled hotel.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY ESTHER LEE LEACH // LOCATION: JW MARRIOTT DENVER
MAKEUP: AMY DICKERSON // HAIR: MACKENZIE DAVIS
Esther Lee Leach: Congratulations on your new position as the Marketing Manager of JW Marriott Denver Cherry Creek! Tell us more about your background and how you made your way from Texas to Denver.
Mason Mills: Thank you so much! I have loved diving into this new role as Marketing Manager here at the JW Marriott Denver Cherry Creek. The team I get to work with every day is incredible and from a marketing perspective, having what feels like a brand new hotel with a brand new restaurant and a completely refreshed hotel space makes my job all the more inspiring.
I was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, and lived there till I was about 23 years old. Growing up in Dallas was great, there is plenty of southern hospitality, the overuse of the word "y'all", great Texas BBQ, amazing shopping, and most importantly my entire family is there. Somehow my whole family ended up living within a couple of blocks of each other and still does to this day.
Having lived in Texas my whole life, as one could imagine after graduating college I was ready to experience something new. I graduated from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas with a degree in Strategic Communications and a minor in Psychology. At this point, I had a handful of PR and marketing experiences under my belt and had developed a true love and passion for all things marketing. I had had my sights set on Denver for a very long time. Throughout my childhood, my parents would take my sister Lauren and I on trips to Colorado, especially during the summers to escape the Texas heat. Every visit to Colorado I would always think about how amazing it might be to live here one day. Then of course after college graduation, I was in a relationship with an amazing man named Miles who I started dating back in high school and who I am still dating today. We had been doing long distance all through college while he was attending the University of Denver. Having visited him in Denver multiple times throughout college, by the time I had graduated I had fallen in love with Denver and was ready to start the next chapter of life here.
I was incredibly blessed to have the JW welcome me as the hotel’s Marketing Coordinator when my career first began. And now to step into this new role of Marketing Manager is such an extraordinary opportunity. Having the privilege to work at this iconic hotel, work with an amazing team, and promote the JW Marriott Denver Cherry Creek brand has been a very fun, challenging, and incredibly rewarding experience. Each day is different, you never know what the day is going to look like. Honestly, that is one of my favorite parts of my job.
In the lobby with Sean Mcnamara, Director of Sales & Marketing
ELL: JW Marriott was the first hotel in the Cherry Creek area and was known as the place to be for the local community. Over the years, other hotels have been built in Cherry Creek. Recently, the hotel made many changes to the interior design, especially in the lobby and welcome area. Tell us more about these changes and why it was important for the hotel to undergo a refresh.
MM: Yes, it’s true! This hotel holds such a special place in the hearts and minds of so many Cherry Creek locals and is a favorite landing spot for many travelers coming into the greater Denver area. We took a lot of time and detailed care to ensure that the new design elevated the experience without detracting from the feel that has won us such loyalty over the years. The renovation and re-imagination of the space was a true partnership between Beleco Design, Sage Hospitality, our ownership group DiamondRock Hospitality and Richard Sandoval who launched the new Toro Restaurant. All of our guest rooms, public area, lobby, fitness center, and restaurant have been completely refreshed to provide a true luxury experience in the spirit of the JW brand.
ELL: Give us a little sense of what a day in the life as a Marketing Manager at the JW Marriott Denver Cherry Creek is like?
MM: The hotel revolves around four main marketing pillars, neighborhood, wellness, cuisine, and weddings. These four pillars help us align every single marketing initiative we do here at the hotel. A lot of my time is spent crafting and brainstorming various ways to bring these four pillars to life for all guests to enjoy as they walk through our doors. This might involve curating a fun partnership with the community that would allow our guests an exclusive experience or putting together marketing pieces that highlights our wellness initiatives in a fun and innovative way.
The JW Marriott brand is all about creating enriching experiences. At our hotel, that means putting the best of Denver right at our guests’ fingertips. As I have said before, no day is ever the same. Whether it's crafting a luxurious marketing piece in Photoshop or InDesign, creating an authentic experience to offer guests, or strategically planning the best way to communicate a message on our social channels, I absolutely love what I do.
ELL: One of the new amenities at the hotel is Toro, the newly opened restaurant helmed by Richard Sandoval. Describe the atmosphere and menu of this new spot?
MM: Toro brings Latin flair to a casual, yet sophisticated setting of the Cherry Creek dining scene. We were over the moon to welcome our new restaurant Toro this past month. The details that make up the restaurant continue to amaze me. Toro features woven leathers, dark greys, and natural woods that make up the rustic décor with hints of deep purple and olive green throughout the space, emanating a true sense of luxury. Toro is just a fun place to be that is filled with a tremendous staff who loves what they do and that feeling reflects back on our customers.
Chef /Restauranteur Richard Sandoval and our Executive Chef Oscar Padilla did such an amazing job crafting the menu for this restaurant. I highly recommend the Sweet Corn Empanadas and the skirt steak with Chimichurri sauce.
ELL: The hotel now faces competition in the Cherry Creek space. How does JW Marriott Denver Cherry Creek set itself apart from the other properties?
MM: We cater to a discerning traveler that really expects the best in luxury accommodations. We want to set ourselves apart by providing an authentic, inspiring, and comfortable environment that allows guests to leave richer than when they arrived - in mind, body, and spirit. We create opportunities for our guests that allows them to focus on being in the moment and time to take a break from the stresses of the outside world. The accommodations here at the JW Marriott Denver Cherry Creek are so inviting and relaxing and then of course the overall vibe in Toro is so invigorating.
ELL: Let’s talk fashion! How would you describe your style? What pieces are you looking forward to wearing for fall?
MM: Fall is my favorite season to dress for by far! Warm cozy fall sweaters, big chunky grey, and green scarfs, and boots galore are my go-to’s for fall. If I had to describe my overall style I would say my style consists of neutrals with a touch of sass. Although it also depends on the day and can sometimes be all over the place when it comes to fashion. Some days I like to incorporate a more edgy vibe and wear my “The Who” rocker t-shirt, a pair of jeans, and black booties, and other days I go for a more chic looking style. This might mean a pair of white jeans, a top with puffy sleeves, and a pair of heels. Overall, I am all about being stylish and fashionable but being comfortable is my top priority.
Mason Mills: @masonmills
Location: @jwmarriottden
Photography: @estherleeleach
Makeup: @amy_dickerson_grote for @livelovelash
Hair: @kenzehair_studio