Christopher Beyer: Making a Mark in Hospitality

As vice president of operations for the Midwest portfolio, Christopher Beyer helps M&R’s managed hotels in Indiana, Missouri, Illinois and West Virginia achieve profitability.

His responsibilities include helping general managers with operational and supply issues, revenue generation, cost control, guest satisfaction and employee development. He also serves as liaison with the brands and owners.

“My main job is supporting operations staff so hotels can perform the best they can,” he said.

Prior to his current role, Christopher served the Hilton Garden Inn Joplin in Missouri for seven years as general manager. Before that, he was general manager for the Fairfield Inn Joplin and former Baymont in Joplin.

With 34 years of experience, Christopher’s journey through the hotel industry is inspirational. He started his hospitality career in 1990 as a night auditor at a Super 8 motel in Joplin while juggling a second job and working toward his accounting degree at Missouri Southern State College in Joplin.

His strong work ethic and problem-solving skills didn’t go unnoticed, and it wasn’t long before he was entrusted with more significant responsibilities. He transitioned from night auditor to guest services representative and general manager in training. He earned promotions during the course of his career for his ability to innovate and his knack for elevating the operations of properties.

Christopher says he developed his work ethic early on. The youngest of six, he grew up working with his father, a plumbing contractor, and had many interesting jobs prior to joining the industry. He’s been a dishwasher, salted pistachios and even had a stint as a logger. He believes practical work experience is just as important as education.

His story is a testament to the possibilities within the hospitality industry for those who are willing to work hard, embrace challenges, and continuously seek improvement. He attributes his success to a combination of hard work, professionalism and being optimistic. “I don’t allow myself to get too high or too low.”

As he celebrates his sixth anniversary with M&R in July, Christopher is enthusiastic about the future of the hotel industry and his role in it. With his smile and a twinkle in his eye, he is ready to face whatever lies ahead, knowing that with hard work, perseverance, and optimism, anything is possible.