In celebration of Women’s History Month in March, the Marriott Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile is proud to share the recent promotion of four talented, accomplished female professionals to leadership roles. The new appointments support the company’s mission to increase diversity and equality in the workplace, particularly within positions of management and leadership. 

Marriott Chicago Downtown welcomes Amy Reynolds to the team as Executive Chef, Jennipher Griffin as Senior Rooms Operations Manager, Tarana Ahluwalia as Senior Food & Beverage Operations Manager, and Zaidia Sarop Macmod as Director Of Meetings & Special Events. All four women have been a part of the Marriott family for the majority, if not all, of their careers. 

Amy Reynolds continues to bring her creative culinary skills to the Marriott Chicago Downtown. Her promotion to Executive Chef was a long time coming, having been a part of the team for more than a decade originally starting as a Pastry Cook. Reynolds was involved in the crew that launched Rush Street Pantry – a to-go concept offering a variety of artisanal goods from local purveyors, crafted meals and snacks featuring seasonal ingredients, and more. Reynolds also spearheaded the rooftop garden that is now used to source ingredients during the warmer months for many of the dishes served in Harvest, Reviver, and Rush Street Pantry. 

Jennipher Griffin turned her love of travel into a career which has served her well as she takes the position of Senior Rooms Operations Manager. Coming to the Marriott Chicago Downtown, this is Griffin’s first experience working in a hotel this size – a challenge she has been excited to take on. She’s looking forward to accomplishing many milestones to add to her already impressive resume and bring the team together with the “Spirit to Serve.”

Tarana Ahluwalia brings her multi-city career to Chicago serving as Senior Food & Beverage Operations Manager for the Marriott Chicago Downtown. Having been a part of the Marriott family for nearly 20 years, Ahluwalia prides herself on creating an elevated dining experience for guests by building strong teams and creating a work culture of integrity, responsibility, and positivity. Ahluwalia’s career has spanned multiple countries and cities but her dedication to greatness was instilled by her father who once said, “anyone can make good food with good ingredients but a good chef can make great food with whatever’s available.”

Zaidia Sarip Macmod comes to the Marriott Chicago Downtown location with over 20 years of experience serving Marriott properties. With a career in an industry that saw two significant challenges from world events – 9/11 and the COVID-19 Pandemic – Macmod has learned that resilience is the most important quality to weather challenges, however unexpected. Macmod takes her leadership and management roles seriously, prioritizing the wellbeing of her fellow employees and nurturing future leaders. Originally from a small town in the Philippines, Macmod’s philosophy and approach has been impacted greatly through her world travel meeting new people and experiencing different cultures.

When asked about International Women’s Month means to them, each woman had to say:

• “Working in a male-dominated industry, it’s important to show people that we can do it. As a full-time Mom of 2 and now Executive Chef, I’m proud to represent a shift in the industry and be a part of the change.” – Amy Reynolds, Executive Chef

• “International Women’s Month is a time to celebrate women of all backgrounds. It’s a time to recognize our accomplishments and contribution to the world and create awareness around societal issues that solely impact us as women and work collaboratively towards positive change.” – Jennipher Griffin – Senior Rooms Operations Manager

• “International Women’s Day and Women’s Month are a celebration of the success and achievements of women from all over the world. Having worked internationally and with people from over 70+ different countries, this is truly an homage to all women who work in hospitality creating unique experiences for our guests.” – Tarana Ahluwalia, Senior Food & Beverage Operations Manager

• “Women’s Month is a time to share stories and be inspired by each other to continue growing. It’s a time to celebrate women’s strength, capacity to reach their highest aspirations, and be our individual selves.” – Zaidia Sarop Macmod, Director of Meetings & Special Events

The Marriott Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile is located at 540 N. Michigan Avenue. The 4-star property provides chic comfort in a vibrant city center location with beautifully appointed hotel rooms and suites featuring modern furnishings, thoughtful amenities, and exceptional views of the city and Lake Michigan.