By Jacklyn Mansour
Hottytoddy.com intern
Kevin Klein, general manager of The Graduate Oxford, has an uncompromising commitment to delivering excellent service to Oxford residents and tourists. He is deeply passionate about his work, despite the complexities involved with running a hotel itself.
Klein, a Colombia, Missouri native, has a long history in the hotel industry as a 30-year veteran. Prior to moving to Oxford, he lived in Kansas City managing a hotel. He said he had many friends who went to college in Oxford and said that’s what drew him to the town.
He worked in Mississippi in the ’90s, so he was familiar with Mississippi when the Graduate Oxford opportunity arose.
“The Graduate is unique, and Oxford is such a nice town for it. We like the small-town feel of Oxford, and we were looking for something more relaxing,” Klein said.
Klein said the Graduate isn’t just any ordinary hotel. The hotel offers hand-crafted, charming experiences for guests and their pets during their stay in Oxford. It’s a very unique experience that he is responsible for cultivating. For him, it’s all about one-of-a-kind relationships and delivering quality service that his guests will remember.
“We want them to have a unique experience unlike any other hotel. While the overall theme is the same across locations, each Graduate reflects the culture of the city,” Klein said. “The paintings are made by local artists. The suites are named after famous people in the area. Everything within the hotel, all the small details, are related to the location of the hotel. We want them to truly experience the location. We desire a unique, upscale experience.”
But his contributions to the Graduate extend to more than just its guest services. Beyond the southern hospitality offered at Cabin 82, a southern porch-side café, and The Coop, the fourth-floor terrace lounge, the Graduate enjoys serving the Oxford community through in-kind donations involving weekend packages with charities and partnerships.
“We do a lot of things locally with charities. We have a partnership with the Palmer Home for Children in Oxford, and we have a partnership with Mississippi Mutts,” Klein said.
A special cause Klein is passionate about raising awareness is providing care for vulnerable children. The Graduate works toward this goal through its partnership with the Palmer Home for Children, which works to provide residential care for deprived children in Oxford. Donations from places like the Graduate are critical for maintaining the cause’s service.
Klein said the hotel runs different promotions throughout the year to support this cause. For example, in the last quarter of 2018 they sold special “Graduate Gives” hot chocolate in Cabin 82. All of the proceeds were donated to the Palmer Home for Children.
Having raised more than $403,000 for local charities, the Graduate Gives program strives to do good in its communities. Each time someone buys a $3 cup of cocoa, 100% of the proceeds are donated to a philanthropic organization, according to the Graduate Gives website.
Klein said he enjoys helping people feel welcome when they visit by providing a special stay for people to truly experience the city of Oxford. He hopes to continue providing a creative, unique and charitable stay where guests are able to contribute to the development of Oxford’s community and feel like a part of the fabric of the town.
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