A Look Inside Omni Oklahoma City Hotel: Steve Keenan

As someone who enjoys staycations just as much as international travel, I am excited for the opening of the new Omni Oklahoma City Hotel in downtown. The hotel is another reminder of the impact MAPS continues to have on our growing city almost 30 years since MAPS 1 was first passed. Along with resort features such as an onsite spa, new restaurants, and a rooftop pool, Omni Hotel brings new jobs and a commitment to giving back to our community. Learn more about Steve Keenan, the General Manager of the hotel and native Oklahoman, and what he is most looking forward to coming back to Oklahoma, as well as what went in to choosing our city.

As a native Oklahoman and Oklahoma State University graduate, what are you most looking forward to coming back to Oklahoma?

After living outside of Oklahoma for the past thirty years, it is good to be back home, closer to old friends and my family. I am very excited to have the opportunity to introduce the Omni Hotels & Resorts brand, product and service to Oklahoma City and my home state.

Oklahoma City is excited to have Omni Hotels & Resorts in our community. We would love to understand what went into the decision to open an Omni hotel in our city.

Oklahoma City had and still has a solid vision for the future that was attainable through the MAPS initiative. With the Bricktown and Midtown developments, the Streetcar and now the new convention center, the stage is really in place for us to be a game changer in the convention industry, which will be a huge boost to the local economy.

Over the past year, there has been an increase in local travel and “staycations.” Tell us about the many luxuries guests can indulge in at your hotel if they are looking for a luxury weekend.

In addition to our 605 first-class guest rooms including 29 suites, we have a very attractive selection of amenities for guests to enjoy for a truly memorable “staycation.” Some of the amenities include our full-service Mokara Spa, a large rooftop pool deck that includes cabanas as well as a bar and grill, a two-story sports bar, a fine dining steak house, a coffee and espresso bar and retail shops.

Omni Hotels & Resorts has a unique employee program, the “Power of One.” Tell us about the program and its impact on the guest experience.

The “Power of One” celebrates the potential and actual impact each of our associates can have on the experience our guests have when visiting Omni. It all starts with our focus on hiring genuinely friendly people and thoroughly training our new hires. Quality training instills a level of confidence that allows each associate to be themselves when engaging with a guest. Each of our associates is then empowered to follow through and make decisions on their own in order to satisfy our guests.

It is very apparent that Omni Oklahoma City Hotel is committed to being a large part of the Oklahoma community; even the design of the hotel is rich in Oklahoma history. We would love to understand the many ways Oklahoma’s heritage can be seen throughout the hotel.

Much of the hotel’s interior color palette was inspired by the warm prairie grasses and the deep blue skies found in Oklahoma. The design was also inspired by many of the natural textures found in the state such as stone, wood, and leather. You will see many tributes to the state. For example, the chevron pattern found throughout the hotel represents the scissortail flycatcher state bird, and the wall lamps in our guest rooms represent the oil pump jacks you see throughout the state, including the State Capitol grounds.

Tell us about the leadership style you must have to successfully lead a large team that serves guests 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The key to being successful is surrounding yourself with strong managers and hourly associates. Solid objectives and expectations need to be established and communicated so that every associate in the building is on the same page. Nobody in this hotel is more important than anyone else. We are all here because each of us plays a part in achieving our end objectives. You need to ensure you have an environment that holds each other accountable and you need to stay engaged with all of your associates. Most importantly, have fun! I also think you need to have a style that includes a great deal of common sense. Although in this business you will never be able to say “You have seen it all” because there is frequently something new you encounter, most situations that occur are solved through deductive reasoning and common sense.

When you are not working, what do you enjoy doing?

I like to spend time with my family and travel when time allows. I also like to get out and experience some of the unique restaurants found here in the Oklahoma City area.

Omni Hotels and Resorts is world-wide. As someone who has been in the hospitality industry for decades, it’s safe to say you have traveled extensively. If our readers were to travel anywhere in the world and stay at an Omni hotel, which location have you enjoyed the most in your travels?

Although every Omni is unique and first class, I really enjoyed my stay at The Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville, North Carolina. It is truly a one-of-a-kind hotel located in a beautiful part of the country.

Finally, what is one of your life’s “luxuries” that you enjoy?

I enjoy an ice-cold beer after a long day of work!