21c Museum Hotel Oklahoma City has promoted Melanie Briley to general manager of the boutique hotel and contemporary art museum. Briley is responsible for the strategic leadership and management of the Oklahoma City location effective Dec. 23, 2022. Briley succeeds Alberto Abreu as general manager after nearly 2.5 years with 21c Oklahoma City.
As the new general manager, Briley will be responsible for overseeing all hotel operations, sales and community and guest relations.
“Melanie’s servant leadership, knowledge, and creativity in the daily operation of many duties have earned her this position. Her background in hospitality, tenure with 21c Oklahoma City and her true talent for leading a top-notch team are valuable assets to 21c,” Sarah Robbins said, Chief Operating Officer of 21c Museum Hotels.
Briley started her career as catering sales manager with 21c Oklahoma City when its doors opened in 2016 and was quickly promoted to director of sales and marketing. Earlier this year, Briley was promoted to additionally oversee operations, before earning the current placement as
general manager. Briley is an Oklahoma City native, and prior to her tenure at 21c, she was the director of operations at Wings Special Needs Community in Edmond.
“I’ve been captivated by this incredible historic property in our vibrant and culturally significant city since day one,” Briley said. “I have witnessed firsthand the growth and success of 21c in Oklahoma City thanks to the overwhelming support from the community and our guests – they’re the people that make this place so special. I’m thrilled to lead 21c in my new role and help elevate the warm and welcoming experience that our guests have come to know and expect.”
Briley currently serves as a board member of the West Village Board of Directors in partnership with Downtown Oklahoma City and previously served as council for Oklahoma Women in Lodging.
About 21c Museum Hotel Oklahoma City
21c Museum Hotel Oklahoma City is a contemporary art museum, a 135-room boutique hotel with spacious guest rooms, boasts more than 14,000 square feet of exhibition space, and is the home of Mary Eddy’s Dining Room, Bodega, and Pool Bar. 21c Oklahoma City presents a range of arts programming throughout all floors of the property, including thought-provoking exhibitions and interactive site-specific art installations. Situated in the former home of a Ford Motor Company assembly plant, which dates back more than a century and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 21c Oklahoma City opened in June 2016 in the West Village District. For more information visit 21cmuseumhotels.com/oklahomacity.
About 21c Museum Hotels
21c Museum Hotels, an award-winning hospitality company based in Louisville, Kentucky, is pushing the boundaries of both the museum and hotel worlds to create a new kind of travel experience. The company was founded as a single property by contemporary art collectors and preservationists Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson, whose mission was to share innovative contemporary art with the public and participate in the revitalization of downtown Louisville. The couple opened the first 21c in 2006 along downtown’s West Main Street, rehabilitating a series of 19th century warehouses to create a union of genuine hospitality, thoughtful design, and culinary creativity — all anchored by a contemporary art museum. Today, guests can enjoy nine 21c Museum Hotels in Louisville, Kentucky; Cincinnati, Ohio; Bentonville, Arkansas; Durham, North Carolina; Lexington, Kentucky; Nashville, Tennessee, Oklahoma City; Oklahoma; Kansas City, Missouri and Chicago, Illinois. 21c projects are also under construction in St. Louis, Missouri. The company is equally focused on creating unique, chef-driven restaurants that are as much a part of the community as the hotel. For more information visit 21cMuseumHotels.com.