Recently, I was given the opportunity to travel to Denver as part of SilverDoor’s international secondment scheme. It was an unforgettable experience and a great opportunity for me to learn more about the Americas market, which is one of our top booking locations.
The Application Process
I have always been passionate about American culture after living there for a few months when I was a child. I thought it would be an amazing opportunity to travel back and meet our Denver SilverDoorians.
As America is one of our main markets, I wanted to better understand their business customs and how our clients and partners operate in this region. As I frequently get enquiry requests for the U.S., I thought it was a great opportunity to develop a greater understanding of this area and provide our clients with better service.
As soon as I was selected, I arranged all my visa documents and organised my luggage. When I checked the weather before I set off however, snowfall wasn’t on the forecast, yet I was met with -13°C winds and snow on some days! Thankfully I was able to borrow some clothes from my Denver colleagues to survive the cold.
Landing in Denver...
Where I Stayed
During my time in Denver, I stayed in a one-bedroom apartment at Sentral Union Station. The apartment had a huge walk-in closet, a large kitchen and living areas as well as a comfortable bed, which helped me to beat the jet lag!
The staff at Sentral Union Station were very kind and accommodative during my stay. The Denver serviced apartment was a convenient walk to the office, and close to everything Denver has to offer.
Touring the City
Denver is an excellent city, and from my research there were a lot of things I wanted to do and see during my trip. The downtown area was within short walking distance from the office, so it was convenient to explore after a day of work. During my weekend, I attended an NFL game at the Empower Field at Mile High Stadium. The crowd was electric, and it was an incredible experience.
I also went to a concert with one of my Denver colleagues at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre. It was a breath taking venue and a great way to connect more with the Denver team.
Something which I found hard to get used to on my secondment trip, was the dramatic change in weather. One minute the sun was shining and the next minute there was heavy snowfall, something I’m not used to in my Spanish hometown.
Highlights of the Secondment
One of the highlights of my trip was attending the CHPA Network Connection event and the Americas Partner Appreciation evening. This was a great opportunity to meet our regional property partners and spend more time connecting with the Denver team. The event expanded my understanding of the U.S market, which I believe has given me more confidence to share information and advice with clients.
It was really positive meeting my Denver colleagues on my secondment trip, as it has strengthened my relationships with SilverDoor’s global team. They really made an effort to take me around the city and made me feel so welcome.
Key Takeaways
My secondment trip to Denver expanded my knowledge of how the American market works, as well as the key differences with the Iberian market.
I met many property partners and benefited from hearing their experiences with the Americas SilverDoor team. It was also interesting to learn from the Account Management team to develop a wider understanding of their booking processes, taxes and terms.
Applying my New Knowledge
My secondment experience enhanced and broadened my knowledge of the American corporate mobility market which has already helped me provide a better service to our clients, especially those looking for serviced accommodation in the US. Gaining on the ground experience of this huge and varied market has given me confidence to deal with a larger variety of booking requests, and overall has positively impacted my role at SilverDoor.
Interested in joining SilverDoor and potentially getting the opportunity to go on one of our incredible secondment trips? Check out our vacancies on our careers page - if you think you have what it takes, you can apply by sending your CV and Cover letter today!
