Mote welcomes new Facility Rental and Service Coordinator
Written by Tim Decker
Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium is pleased to welcome Allison Whitten as the new Facility Rental and Service Coordinator.
Each year, millions of visitors travel to Sarasota to enjoy its beaches and marine life. Mote offers the possibility to rent special locations for weddings and every kind of festivity. Nowadays, zoos and aquariums are becoming popular places for unique wedding experiences.
Mote has just the right venue for weddings, holiday festivities, birthdays and everything in between. From mid-size rooms to larger halls, to The Chickee that provides a unique outdoor setting with a Southwest Florida feel, Mote’s waterfront location showcases everything that is special about Sarasota and her islands.
As of Aug. 9, Whitten is here to make each venue rental experience a great one and to share what Mote has to offer. Mote provides a free consultation allowing potential renters to see the various spaces and speak with Whitten about their needs.
Whitten plans to expand marketing, sales and execution of public venue rentals at Mote. In addition, she will coordinate and execute in-house conferences and seminars and special volunteer events.
Prior to working at Mote, Allison worked for several companies including the Oaks Club in Osprey, Florida, as the Interim Private Events Coordinator/Catering Manager and the last two years she worked for the Sarasota Catering Company as a wedding and event planner.
Q&A with Allison Whitten:
What degrees do you have and where did you go to school?
I studied education and psychology at the University of Louisville. The field I am now in didn’t really exist when I was in college, so I had to go back and get additional certifications; for example, I am certified in Event and Hospitality Management through the ICOES (International Council for Online Education Studies).
What was your last job and why did you choose to go into event planning?
I was a catering and event manager, and with that I did extensive wedding and event planning. Before I worked for the Sarasota Catering Company, I was at the Oaks Club. For this organization, I did something similar to what I am doing here at Mote, in venue management and various private events from Junior League Luncheons, to the four-day Men’s Invitational Golf Tournament. I entered the event planning business in California. I had a lot of friends in the San Francisco Bay area that were chefs, caterers and event planners, and I did temporary interim work there. One of my favorite events was opening night at the San Francisco Opera. I had the privilege of working a private party for Zandra Rhodes, who designed all of the costumes and sets for Aida. It was during this time that I discovered how much I love the event management business. Over the past five years, I have had the opportunity to learn every aspect of the business. In particular, I really enjoy working with caterers, planning menus, deciding how to lay out a space for proper flow and being a part of client’s very special memories.
What kind of potential does Mote have for rental space?
Every venue at Mote is amazing, and in particular The Chickee has gone through a massive transformation. While it is a hidden gem, it is becoming much more popular because of its waterfront location. Many other venues in town only provide an outdoor or indoor location, but Mote offers both outdoor and indoor locations. There is always a backup plan with the New Pass Room at the Keating Marine Education Center or the WAVE Center, which is especially unique in this area. And also our Aquarium courtyard next to the exhibits is covered, just in case it rains. So the people who rent a venue at Mote can rest assured, knowing that there will always be a venue that is right for them. Another aspect that is special at Mote is that the rental and venue fees go right back to Mote and help with research and education.
What about your new job as Mote’s Facility Rental and Service Coordinator are you most excited about?
I am very excited to get to know more about Mote on a deeper level. I was amazed to learn about the many research projects that aim to conserve our marine resources, and I can’t wait to learn more! I feel like at Mote I am more than just an event planner. Because of the enormous staff that is responsible, for example, for the sea turtles, I can learn more about different areas I would not be in contact with anywhere else. Because of this Mote is a very special work place. I also like that I can still keep and grow relationships within the wedding and event industry.
What do you hope to accomplish in your first year here?
I hope to have vendors and other wedding and event planners recommend Mote to more of their clients. I was surprised how many people didn’t know about the possibilities here.
Where can you find more information about the venue rentals and what is your e-mail and extension?
If anyone has any questions, they can always reach out to me at awhitten@mote.org or at (941) 388-4441 ext.139. If someone wants to find more information about the vendors, they can also visit mote.org/venuerentals. Always feel free to call me.