Did you find the hospitality industry or did the hospitality industry find you?

My first exposure to hospitality was applying for a part-time job in college in the reservations department of San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California, which was part of Auberge Resorts at the time.

I was majoring in Business Economics at UCSB and had never previously thought about hospitality, but this role sparked my falling in love with the industry. I have been hooked ever since. I enjoyed the guest interactions and being part of the team. The leadership team at Auberge allowed me the opportunity to learn and experience several different positions during my time there. I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with an amazing group of leaders and mentors throughout my career.

My time at Kimpton Hotels helped shape the leader that I am today, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities that were given to me. I was put into a senior leadership position there at a young age and felt supported in learning that the business side is just as important as being human and authentic. As a woman in the industry, it is important that you be “you” and not try to be something you aren’t.

What do you think is the importance of the hospitality industry and how do you feel you fit in?

Through the guest journey as hoteliers, we can deliver experiences that emotionally touch people and leave lasting memories. It isn’t what guests do or see, but how they felt during their stay that will carry with them. This belief continues to be implemented across the islands, putting guests’ emotional connections to their experiences above all else. One of my early mentors told me to not look at things in a box. They taught me to be curious, strive to understand, and use that creativity to build something better, always looking to improve everything around me. The best advice I received was to make sure you have fun in your work; if you instill that in those around you, work will not feel like work.

Are there any aspects that excite you the most about the hospitality industry and invigorate your team?

My passion for the hotel industry is fundamentally rooted in a belief that through the guest journey as hoteliers, we can deliver experiences that emotionally touch people and leave lasting memories. I believe it isn’t what guests do or see, but how they felt during their stay that will carry with them. This stems from genuine and authentic hospitality. Service is black and white, hospitality is color.

What do you feel are the most serious challenges facing the hospitality industry and how might they be resolved? What is the industry doing well?

Our industry continues to evolve with changing guest expectations around service levels, the popularity of experiential travel, and new ideas on what vacationing can be. While acquiring new management agreements in Hawai‘i and other markets is a strategic priority, Aqua-Aston Hospitality is equally committed to nurturing and growing its longstanding vacation rental business throughout the Hawaiian Islands where it has operated since 1948.

What do you envision will take place in the hospitality industry in the years ahead and how might the local industry adapt or change?

What excites me the most about my role is the opportunity to continue to transform this company alongside the amazing group of humans who work here. While we have achieved great success as an organization, I want to inspire us to do more.

To do this, we have prioritized innovation in our business centered on our core values and geared towards meeting the needs of our stakeholders, including our associates, our community, our guests, our condo and hotel owners, our industry partners, and our extended family of Marriott Vacations Worldwide colleagues.

Our growth strategy is grounded in a commercial approach to how we do business, including the evolution of our operating model, our marketing and distribution strategies, and a firm commitment to prioritizing company culture and talent development while giving back to the communities we do business in.