CHICAGO, Ill. – December 17, 2015 Kokua Hospitality, LLC, a hotel management firm based in Chicago, has announced Julie Buettner as the new General Manager of the Courtyard by Marriott Long Beach Airport. In this role, she will manage and lead all day-to-day operations for the LEED-certified, 159-room hotel and its amenities, as well as oversee a team of 40 employees.

“Julie has been with Marriott Hotels for 13 years so she truly knows their brand standards, which made her the ideal individual for the General Manager position at this property,” said Clay Spencer, Senior Vice President of Operations at Kokua Hospitality. “She is also very skilled at guest relations and securing the best service from her staff, we cannot imagine another person in this position and are thrilled to have her on board.”

Buettner has worked in hospitality for more than 33 years and brings with her a thorough understanding of the industry. She has vast experience in overseeing and training staff, managing operations, maintaining brand standards and growing vendor relationships. Her career with the Marriott brand began at the Residence Inn Irvine as a Guest Services Manager. Since then, she has held a variety of roles, including Assistance Front Office Manager at Torrance Marriott and Front Office Manager at Long Beach Airport’s Residence Inn. Most recently, she served as the Assistant General Manager at the 248 room Residence Inn in Torrance-Redondo Beach, and as General Manager in Irvine.

“I’ve always loved interacting with guests during their stays and this position gives me the perfect opportunity to this, as well as oversee operations that ensure they have a problem-free stay,” stated Buettner. “I’m excited to be in this role and look forward to working closely with my team, both here at the hotel and at Kokua Hospitality, to continue enhancing the hotel’s consumer satisfaction.”

Located in the Douglas Park District, the Courtyard by Marriot Long Beach Airport showcases a contemporary design with modern and spacious guest rooms and Bistro – a casual restaurant. The hotel also provides the latest state-of-the-art amenities, including more than 2000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting spaces that provide user friendly technology, a fully equipped fitness center, an outdoor pool, a whirlpool, and complimentary Wi-Fi. To make reservations or learn more, please visit http://www.courtyardlb.com/.