Whether or not it’s rising via the chief ranks inside franchise firms or administration companies, or getting into the resort possession area, ladies executives are “standing tall” as of late, poised to make a extra significant influence as lodging business decision-makers.
A number of ladies weighed in not solely on their hospitality profession journeys but in addition on how they see the business from a variety perspective and what else might be performed to additional advance variety and inclusion.
Elizabeth Harlow—who joined Sonesta Motels some 4 years in the past as chief model officer—detailed her affinity for the business and why she pursued a profession in lodging.
“My love of hospitality is admittedly because of my mother and father. I traveled with them rising up, each domestically and internationally, and it instilled in me a deep love of journey and actually the way it made me really feel. Journey is so essential; it delivers a lot to us as a worldwide society from understanding tradition and appreciating variations to simply delivering pure pleasure, and in flip, creating these extraordinary reminiscences,” she mentioned.
Harlow received her begin in hospitality working the entrance desk of the Mayflower Lodge in Washington, D.C., within the mid-’90s. She nonetheless refers back to the resort as one in every of “grande dames” as she displays on her time on the resort.
“I’m so grateful for that have as a result of if there’s one method to perceive and respect resorts and the operations of all of it, in addition to the supply of all of it, it’s via the entrance desk. That was invaluable,” she famous.
Harlow subsequently took on a wide range of positions with a variety of massive resort firms, reminiscent of Starwood Motels & Resorts, Loews Motels, MGM Resorts Worldwide, and The Main Motels of the World earlier than becoming a member of Sonesta in her present position.
Harlow famous the corporate’s 13 manufacturers have seen a double-digit enhance in model consciousness throughout her tenure, which she described as “terrific” as she detailed the corporate’s evolution, rising its model portfolio following the acquisition of Purple Lion Motels Company in 2021.
“Initially there have been 5 manufacturers that I used to be overseeing, however they had been 5 manufacturers in title solely. Nobody might let you know who their buyer was, their model promise, or what the positioning of every of the manufacturers was. So, my first order of enterprise was actually defining and positioning these manufacturers,” she mentioned, including, “That entire journey has been great and rewarding.”
Harlow additionally oversees the corporate’s TravelPass Rewards program, which was unified final 12 months following the mixing of the Hi there Rewards program from Purple Lion. Sonesta Journey Go now contains greater than seven million members worldwide.
Amina Gilyard James, in the meantime, noticed an opportunity to get into resort possession and hasn’t seemed again. After buying the 70-room High quality Inn in Memphis in 2023 for $3.85 million, she and her husband, Norland, bought and opened the 120-room Wyndham Lake Charles.
“We had been trying to develop our enterprise portfolio and realized concerning the alternative to personal a resort franchise. It appealed to me particularly as a result of it features a combination of actual property [property] and operations [hospitality]. Motels are additionally very resilient property and might be a good way to construct generational wealth,” she mentioned.
Based on James, Wyndham’s BOLD (Black House owners and Lodging Builders) and Ladies Personal The Room variety packages had been “pivotal” in serving to to safe the debt portion of the venture via its relationship with Lafayette Sq..
“We collaborated to develop a artistic financing technique for us so we might shut on our resort venture. We had gives from different monetary establishments, however the phrases weren’t favorable to us and what we had been making an attempt to perform. Wyndham and Lafayette Sq. actually labored with us to deliver our imaginative and prescient to life,” mentioned James.
Amit Sripathi, chief improvement officer, Wyndham Motels & Resort—who famous that Wyndham Lake Charles is present process a renovation and PIP—acknowledged James as a hit story.
“She’s received goals of proudly owning a number of resorts. She is a superb instance for seeing the total breadth and depth of the help of the packages that we’ve launched,” he mentioned.
James, for her half, did provide some sensible recommendation to different “could be” resort house owners.
“It’s best to undoubtedly be taught as a lot about resort possession as you possibly can earlier than shopping for a resort. I do know it’s an thrilling course of and really totally different than what most of our pals are doing, however I warning people to not rush into resort possession. Take your time and discover the right venture for you,” she famous.
Kimberly Rowell—whose background contains greater than three many years within the lodging business—was lately named EVP of 5 Star Hospitality Administration & Improvement. Targeted on southeastern tasks, the proprietor/operator presently has a various portfolio of 13 resorts, together with financial system, midscale, and extended-stay property.
She touted her early journey roots as a catalyst for her profession journey.
“Because the daughter of a business airline captain, I grew up with a suitcase all the time half-packed. From grand luxurious resorts to quirky boutique resorts in hidden corners of the world, I used to be fascinated by the range of resort operations, every property telling a singular story, formed by its individuals and tradition. That early publicity sparked a ardour that led me to a profession the place no two days are ever the identical, and the place constructing distinctive groups and unforgettable visitor experiences turned my calling,” she famous.
As a part of that hospitality calling, Rowell labored for companies reminiscent of Blackstone, Winegardner & Hammons, and HP Motels earlier than serving to to construct 5 Star. She detailed among the firm’s long-term aims.
“With a various crew of founders and leaders, our aim is straightforward, to raise 5 Star into one of many nation’s premier resort owner-operators. But, past the numbers, it’s about influence. We’re shaping a company the place numerous views aren’t simply welcomed, they’re the driving pressure behind our success,” mentioned Rowell.
The aforementioned executives had been in settlement that whereas circumstances are higher for ladies to get forward than they’ve been in years previous, the business continues to be not the place it must be.
“There was progress sure, however as an business—and as a society for that matter—there’s nonetheless work to be performed. Ladies make up a big a part of the workforce, however we’re nonetheless underrepresented within the C-Suite. And girls should be given the identical alternative as males. I don’t suppose anybody is trying to test a field, however somewhat be a part of a meritocracy. I’ve been lucky sufficient to work with and for unimaginable ladies, and we deserve an equal shot,” emphasised Harlow.
She additional extolled the advantages of variety. “We all know that numerous management brings contemporary views and enhances drawback fixing and displays a broader vary of shoppers, which in the end will result in stronger enterprise outcomes, which is what all of us need. So, whereas I feel the hospitality business is nice for ladies, I nonetheless suppose that there’s work to be performed.”
James provided some specifics on what she’d prefer to see.
“Plan extra outreach to nontraditional and underrepresented teams. For instance, associate with church buildings and different group organizations to unfold the phrase concerning the alternative of resort possession and the advantages.”
James additionally urged the manufacturers particularly “to proceed to uplift and supply instruments to these underrepresented hoteliers who’re seen as position fashions in the neighborhood. When people are stepping into a brand new enterprise, particularly within the Black group, they search for a trusted advisor.”
Rowell concluded, “The hospitality business has made significant strides in variety, however let’s be actual, there’s nonetheless an extended method to go. We’d like extra than simply illustration, we’d like entry to the data and those that result in have a seat on the desk.”