From the heart of Northwest Arkansas to the bustling hotels of San Francisco and Dallas, Missouri State University alumna Emily Reynolds has built a successful career in hospitality. 

Her work is grounded in passion, strategy and a deep sense of community. 

Reynolds grew up in Bentonville, Arkansas, a retail-driven community known as the home of Walmart. Instead of following the retail route many assumed, she chose the hospitality path.  

“I was drawn to the people, the energy and the ability to create experiences that really matter to people,” she said. “I could never see myself doing anything except hospitality. It’s deeply embedded in my heart.” 

Finding her purpose 

Reynolds enrolled in Missouri State in 2003 after graduating from Bentonville High School. She was drawn to the university’s Color Guard program and decided to enroll after a campus tour.  

“I instantly fell in love with the feeling of the community and the layout of the campus. It felt less intimidating, very welcoming and the staff were wonderful,” she said.  

While at Missouri State, she discovered her true passion.  

“I took Hospitality 101 as an elective and was immediately hooked. I loved it and was so excited by it that I switched my major to hospitality and never looked back,” she said.   

Reynolds credits the passionate professors with helping her prepare for her future career.  

“We had great conversations, which helped me realistically understand our career paths and how the industry works.”   

She also benefited from internship opportunities that gave her real experiences and the confidence to step into a fast-paced world.  

“I felt safe, supported and encouraged to explore who I was,” she said.    

Moving up in the hospitality world 

Reynolds graduated with a bachelor’s degree in hospitality and restaurant administration in 2007. She joined Hyatt’s corporate management training program – a position she secured from a Career Fair at Missouri State.  

In 2008, she got a job as a sales and catering manager at Hyatt Regency Santa Clara Convention Center in California. Over the next two decades, she specialized in hospitality sales and marketing, developing strategic business plans and commercial strategies to increase sales and revenue.  

She held several leadership roles, overseeing hotels and properties for multiple brands, including Marriott, Hilton, Aimbridge Hospitality and other independent hotels across California, Texas and Arkansas. 

“At a certain point, you move from selling rooms to building brands and culture. It’s about long-term revenue and not short-term gain,” Reynolds said. 

Coming home to Bentonville 

After years of professional growth across the country, Reynolds returned home to Bentonville in 2020, where she now helps influence the city’s growing hospitality landscape.  

“I’ve seen this community evolve and it’s been an honor to come back and share my talents here,” she said.  

In her current role as the director of sales and marketing at The Compton, Bentonville, she leads a team of eight people, overseeing various market segments, including group, catering and business sales.  

She also focuses on building strong community relationships while removing barriers to help her team succeed.   

“It’s not just about attracting people from outside the community. It’s also about honoring the community itself,” she said. “The people who live there can be your biggest advocates and you never know when you need to leverage a relationship like that.”  

Valuable lessons  

Even after decades in the industry, Reynolds remains passionate and motivated to learn. 

“I try to surround myself with strong teams and mentors to learn how to be a better leader. Challenging myself keeps me motivated,” she said.  

Having built meaningful and lasting relationships while at Missouri State, Reynolds encourages students to advocate for themselves and build their own networks.   

“Be curious, ask questions, talk to your professors and say yes to any opportunity, whether it’s volunteering or internships,” she said. “The relationships you build matters as much as your performance.”  

Looking ahead, Reynolds wants to continue contributing to a positive hospitality culture while leading with empathy.

Learn more about hospitality leadership