Meet The Margaritaville Team
We’re Here for You
Michael Cook brings more than 30 years of hospitality sales and marketing experience to his role as Director of Sales at Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort, including eight years with the property. Throughout his career, he has held leadership positions with premier hospitality brands including Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, and Westin, with experience spanning group sales, transient sales, catering, property marketing, and work with top national accounts. His well-rounded background has given him a strong perspective on driving revenue growth, leading teams, and building long-term client relationships. As an Executive Committee member at Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort, Michael plays a key role in leading sales strategy and supporting the resort’s continued growth.
With more than 10 years in hospitality, Samantha "Sammy" Mims is passionate about helping companies find the perfect home for their meetings and events. As Senior Sales Manager at Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort, she builds lasting partnerships and creates memorable group experiences, making the planning process simple, seamless, and stress-free.
Whether planning an executive meeting or a more laid-back incentive retreat, her goal is always the same: to deliver exceptional service while creating an experience that exceeds expectations from start to finish. A South Florida native and Penn State graduate with a degree in Hospitality Management, Sammy combines industry expertise with a genuine enthusiasm for connecting with people. Before beginning her hospitality career, she was a college cheerleader—an experience that helped shape her positive attitude, teamwork, and energetic approach.
A Miami native with a passion for hospitality, Katherine or "Kat" began her career in the meetings and events industry in 2016 as an administrative professional, where she quickly discovered her love for creating exceptional event experiences. Eager to learn every aspect of the business, she advanced into an Executive Meeting Manager role, overseeing the entire event journey. This hands-on experience gave her a strong operational foundation and a deep understanding of what it takes to deliver successful meetings and conferences.
Building on that experience, Kat has spent the past several years developing strategic partnerships and helping organizations find the ideal destination for their meetings. After four and a half years at a large-scale hotel, she is excited to bring her expertise, and enthusiasm to Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort. With a bachelor's degree in Hospitality & Tourism and more than a decade of hospitality experience, Kat is committed to helping you plan your groups next memorable experience.
Originally from Mexico City, Kennet Mendez brings a well-rounded hospitality background and a passion for creating exceptional guest experiences to his role as Sales Manager at Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort. His experience spans front office operations, guest services, event management, and hotel sales, providing him with a unique perspective on every stage of the guest journey.
Before joining the resort’s sales team, Kennet served as Hotel Guest Experience Planner, collaborating with each department to ensure seamless stays and memorable experiences. His operational expertise and hands-on approach allow him to anticipate client needs and provide thoughtful solutions from planning through execution. Today, Kennet works closely with our partners, offering quick response times and a commitment to creating personalized experiences that help make every event a success.
With more than 15 years of hospitality experience, Shannon Steffen plays a key role in creating seamless and memorable meeting and event experiences at Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort. Throughout her career with the resort, she has grown through multiple roles, gaining extensive expertise across conference services, catering coordination, and room operations. This hands-on experience provides her with a unique understanding of the entire event journey, allowing her to anticipate needs, collaborate across teams, and ensure every detail is thoughtfully executed.
Known for her dedication, attention to detail, and commitment to exceptional service, Shannon brings a wealth of operational knowledge and a passion for creating successful experiences for both clients and guests.
As Senior Catering Sales Manager at Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort, Michelle Cannici brings more than 20 years of hospitality experience specializing in catering, weddings, and event sales. Throughout her career, she has worked with several distinguished South Florida properties, building a strong reputation for her expertise in social events, corporate functions, and creating unforgettable celebrations.
Known for her personalized approach and attention to detail, Michelle is passionate about turning each client’s vision into reality. Her extensive experience in both sales and event execution allows her to seamlessly guide clients through the planning process, creating memorable experiences that are thoughtfully designed and flawlessly delivered from the first conversation to the final detail.
Christi brings more than 25 years of hospitality experience to Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort, along with a passion for turning each client’s vision into reality through thoughtful planning and attention to detail. Her career journey has led to extensive expertise in catering sales, banquet management, and food and beverage operations, giving her a well-rounded understanding of the industry and the ability to guide events from initial concept through execution.
Christi holds a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from Florida International University and an Associate of Arts in Business Administration from Miami-Dade College. She combines her experience, operational knowledge, and commitment to exceptional service to create memorable event experiences for every client.
Raised in Okeechobee, Florida, Riylie earned her Bachelor of Science in Event Management from the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management. She spent nearly five years building her hospitality career in the Orlando market, gaining valuable experience in event management and revenue before relocating to South Florida to join the team at Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort.
Riylie’s passion for hospitality comes from connecting with people and helping bring each event vision to life. She enjoys creating memorable moments for guests and working behind the scenes to ensure every detail comes together seamlessly.
Guada brings a strong passion for hospitality and a people-first approach to her role at Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort. Her background in guest-facing roles has helped her develop strong communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills, allowing her to connect with a wide range of guests and create positive interactions.
Through her experience, Guada has learned the importance of attentiveness and teamwork. She is excited to continue growing in the hospitality industry while applying her enthusiasm for connecting with people and supporting the team through thoughtful service.
Gianna has always had a passion for hospitality and creating meaningful connections with others. Through her experience in customer service and hospitality, she has developed a strong foundation in food and beverage and event coordination.
Gianna earned her Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from the University of Central Florida, further expanding her industry knowledge and passion for bringing events to life. As Catering and Events Coordinator, she brings a fresh perspective and positive energy while continuing to grow her career and support the team at Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort.
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