Peer Perspectives Gabrielle Burton, CHS, Assistant General ManagerHilton Garden Inn Columbia/Harbison When Gabrielle Burton walked into the Leadership, Excellence, and Advancement Program (LEAP), she knew she was ready to grow—but she didn’t yet know just how much that growth would shape her path. Today, as the Assistant General Manager at Hilton Garden Inn Columbia/Harbison, GabrielleRead more
INSIGHTS
Strategies for Seasonal Impact By John Hirt, Vice President of Operations, Newport Hospitality Group In hospitality, seasonality isn’t just a footnote in the budget—it’s often the main storyline. Whether it’s summer vacationers filling oceanfront suites, fall group travel spiking occupancy, or citywide events creating compression across an entire market, these seasonal surges are what makeRead more
Peer PerspectivesMeet Molly Peterson, the Director of Food & Beverage, Hampton Inn Jacksonville Beach Oceanfront For Molly Peterson, hospitality isn’t just a profession—it’s a rhythm, a lifestyle, and a long-standing love for the kitchen that started at age 16. Her first job was washing dishes at her boyfriend’s family restaurant, Cheelo’s Café, a short-lived butRead more
Embedding Mission in Daily Operations By Wayne West III, President, Newport Hospitality Group There’s a reason we say Living Hospitality is more than a tagline at Newport—it’s a commitment. And like any commitment, it requires consistent action, not just intention. A few years ago, our leadership team faced a challenge: re-writing our company’s mission statementRead more
Room to roam. Room to stay. Room to connect. This May, we explore three destinations where suite-style stays offer comfort, flexibility, and proximity to seasonal experiences worth traveling for. Asheville, North Carolina After Hurricane Helene swept through Western North Carolina in late 2024, the Asheville community has steadily worked to restore what makes it special—itsRead more
