Meet Sami Marquez | Creative Director & Marketing Strategist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sami Marquez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sami, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
Through passion. If you still have it for whatever it is that you’re doing, don’t give up. To have passion for something is to love it uncontrollably and the thought of losing it keeps you up at night. It’s something that gives you the motivation to endure rough patches and to face challenges head-on with the fierce hope and faith that you’ll come out of it alive and well. It fills the cup if you will. I’ve experienced this many times over my two decades with my creative work, and in 2023 I’m still as passionate as I ever have been. Sometimes the solution is a birds-eye perspective to get the clarity you need. If that means walking away for a minute, don’t stop it. A desire fueled by passion will bring about the greatest results in life. Trust the process.

What should our readers know about your business?
It hasn’t always been easy, but it’s been worth it and 22 years into my path certainly feels like I’m coasting with speed at this point. My business has had a couple of different iterations over the years due to the evolution of my skill set, but the foundation has remained the same: a creative agency that partners with hospitality businesses to bring their vision to life. I/We do this through strategy, creative development, and creative marketing.

I believe what sets me apart is a combination of the following: 1) the notion of taking a holistic approach to business, 2) my ability to understand the deepest inner workings of my clients’ operations & challenges from first-hand experience, 3) and my heightened cognitive abilities to see their vision well enough to bring it into life.

In the very beginning at the young age of 14, I somehow found my passion for hospitality in my very first job. It felt like home, 22 years later it still feels like home and I’m grateful I’ve been able to combine my passion for the arts with my business.

Starting your own business (at any age) is not for the faint of heart though, it requires fierce tenacity, perseverance, and confidence to make moves that you don’t know the outcome of. I started my first business when I was 21, while living in Las Vegas. At that point I was already 7 years into Hospitality and while I knew absolutely NO ONE when moving there, I found the courage to approach high-end establishments and make my way into places that had waiting lists to work there. When I came back to Arizona, I essentially brought all of that inspiration with me and that is what I believe truly catapulted me, the first time.
To this day those experiences have fueled conversations. Every experience matters. Create many of them!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Phoenix is where I entered this world, but Scottsdale is what truly allowed me to flourish entering adulthood. Both of which have grown significantly and are ever-changing. Personally, I’d take a well-rounded tourism approach by venturing into multiple crevices of the Metro area and finish off with a local mindset by visiting the nearby wide open spaces.

I’d start downtown Phoenix because …. my besties are frequent flyers across the country. I’d show them CARCARA on the ground level of the fully renovated Sheraton for food, drinks, and the citrus grove patio, then move onto the Bitlmore, where we’d do a little bit of shopping and head to the Flint By Baltaire open-air rooftop bar. then settle into one of the hotels with a pool-centric vibe like the Saguaro Hotel, the W Scottsdale, or JW Marriott at Desert Ridge.

The following day I’d suggest we relax at our staycation and enjoy all the food, beverage, spa, and pool amenities. get active and head to Camelback mountain for a hike, and catch a spring training game. To continue with adventure and get back to relaxing, we’d make our way up to Sedona stopping in the Verde Valley wine country at both Merkin Vineyards, and Paige Springs Cellars for wine tasting. Once in Sedona, we’ll visit one of Lisa Dahl’s restaurant concepts, and preferably stay overnight in one of Sedona’s Airbnb’s ensuring it has a firepit with red rock views.

We’d end our trip back in Scottsdale where I’d show them Scottsdale Quarter’s Etta restaurant & Sorso Wine room, and Old Town Scottsdale’s entertainment district for some live music.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Besides my Mother, I don’t credit one individual or entity for my successes. There have been countless people along the way that have contributed to my well-being and the health of my businesses all across the West Coast. If INTUITION was a person, I would name her! Intuition has fueled my path and decision-making every step of the way and I’ve trusted that it’ll continue to lead my way. Vision is everything. Making bold unknown moves is its sister.

Website: https://thedaydream.agency

Instagram: https://instagram.com/samisattva

Facebook: https://facebook.com/samisattva

Image Credits
Sami Marquez Sattva, The Daydream Agency