'Quick Ten' With New Account Manager, Taylor Levy
Join us in welcoming the newest team member to Destination South, TAYLOR LEVY!
As our newest Account Manager, Taylor will be building and maintaining relationships with hotel sales and events managers, as well as the ACVB, GWCC, and our local corporate accounts. We look forward to our community getting to know her as she spends time networking, giving site visits, and selling Atlanta as a destination by giving city tours. As a hospitality school graduate, Taylor brings a great deal of fresh creativity and expertise to this position. When not laser focused on planning events she loves taking time to work out, volunteer at church, venturing out to experience new Atlanta restaurants, and road-tripping. We can’t get enough of her adventurous spirit – enjoy getting to know more about Taylor in the below ‘Quick Ten’ questions!
DSOUTH: Taylor, thanks for taking some time to chat! We know you live in Atlanta today, but where are you originally from?
TAYLOR: I was born in Wichita Falls, Texas and went to Oklahoma State University. I call Texas/Oklahoma home!
DSOUTH: What led you to your current career in the events + meetings industry?
TAYLOR: It was always my dream (even at an early age) to be an event planner. I went to Oklahoma State specifically for their hospitality program, knowing I wanted to go into event management. I did 6 internships all over the country in college to gain experience in multiple facets of the hospitality industry – Los Angeles, Colorado Springs, Oregon, Texas, and Oklahoma.
DSOUTH: When and how did you know that working in the event + meetings industry was what you wanted to do?
TAYLOR: When I was in high school, I decided that going to pharmacy school would be the ‘safe’ option for my career. When having a conversation with my grandma, she asked what my passion was, and what my dream job would be. When I told her I had a passion for special events and my dream job would be to work in event management, she told me to chase after that dream. It was that moment in time that I decided to look at the top hospitality schools and forget the ‘safe’ pharmacy route. My family had a custom wishbone necklace made for me that I wore every single day in college to remind myself what I was working for.
DSOUTH: What do you like best about being an Account Manager at Destination South?
TAYLOR: I love the satisfaction of seeing an event from start to finish. Helping a client develop a vision and seeing it come to fruition is my favorite part of my job. You get to be creative, dream big, never do the same thing twice, and truly ‘wow’ people you’ve developed relationships with. It’s inspiring!
DSOUTH: Now that you’re in Atlanta, what do you like best about living and working here?
TAYLOR: The food scene is my absolute favorite! I am ‘that girl’ who takes photos of all my food – I even have a separate Instagram page dedicated to all of the food in Atlanta! I joke that my first job is to be an event expert in the city, and my second job is to eat my way through Atlanta. [Click here to FOLLOW Taylor’s foodie Instagram]
DSOUTH: As a foodie, do you have a favorite?
TAYLOR: Everyone semi-jokingly associates me with pizza. I eat all sorts of pizza – weekly – and usually for breakfast. I even have a framed sign on my desk that says, ‘There’s always pizza!’
DSOUTH: What is one piece of advice you would share with others at the beginning of their career?
TAYLOR: Don’t underestimate your ability to do something. You cannot grow if you stay within your comfort zone. Be bold and don’t be afraid to ask.
DSOUTH: If your vacation started today where on Earth would you like to go?
TAYLOR: I’d go back to Spain! I studied for 7 months in Madrid in college, and would love to go back!
DSOUTH: Do you have a favorite quote that you live by?
TAYLOR: I quote Friends all the time – I’ve seen that show at least 12 times all the way through! Also, I have a favorite work quote, ‘Never lose sight of the fact that the most important yardstick of your success will be how you treat other people – your family, friends, and coworkers, and even strangers you meet along the way.’ – Barbara Bush. I try to live my life this way.
DSOUTH: In wrapping up this ‘quick ten,’ is there anything that our readers would be surprised to learn about you?
TAYLOR: I used to drive up to Chattanooga every weekend to be a storyteller on a Christmas Train!
DSOUTH: That sounds like so much fun! Thanks Taylor for a great time chatting – we’re thrilled to have you on the team and can’t wait for clients to experience your wonderful talents!
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