She’s not entirely sure why she got involved in hospitality, but Colleen Vecoli can say for certain this is where she’s supposed to be. A 2012 graduate of the UMass Amherst’s Isenberg School of Management, the Massachusetts native is among a select few who can say they were part of the Weekapaug Inn team since before its re-opening.
As a junior in college, Vecoli said she was introduced to Innkeeper Antonia Korosec, then assistant managing director and director of rooms at the Ocean House, during a career fair her college was hosting on the UMass campus. Though the Ocean House was only an hour away from her hometown of Seekonk, Vecoli said she had never heard of the property but was intrigued nonetheless.
“After researching the Ocean House, I knew that I would have to take the position if it was offered to me,” Vecoli said.
And it was.
Vecoli spent that summer learning all she could about the Ocean House. The naturally personable young woman greeted guests, formed relationships with staff members and saw firsthand the kind of determination it takes to run a hotel. In May 2012, after finishing up her senior year, she was asked back.
But about three months after returning to the Ocean House, Vecoli said she had the opportunity to explore the Weekapaug Inn and instantly fell in love with it. The relaxed atmosphere coupled with the exceptional degree of personalized guest service felt like the perfect fit, she said.
Currently Vecoli works at the second-floor reception desk and is one of the first hotel workers to greet guests as they arrive. She provides prompt assistance to customers’ needs, sometimes making reservations for them, giving them a tour or answering a simple question, ensuring that their experience will be worth remembering.
FUN FACT: Colleen has been dancing since she was three years old.
