Kelsey White, SPHR

Are you looking to be at your very best as a Leader ? Hit the ground running, grow and develop your team? Take a look at our 8 key strategies to create a learning culture and get started toady. #Leadership #Learningculture #2025goals #hospitality #beatyourbest #leadershipdevelopment

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January is when culture shows itself. The holidays fade, routines return, and morale becomes easier to read. For many teams, energy dips and motivation feels harder to reach. Morgan McKinley highlights that the weeks after the holiday break often bring the “January blues,” as employees reset and re-engage with work. Their research points to something simple but powerful: when leaders acknowledge how people feel and make room for connection and flexibility, teams rebound faster. This is the moment that reveals culture. ➡️ How supported do people feel as reality sets back in? ➡️ How heard are they? ➡️ How human does work feel when the pace picks up again? What leaders do in these early weeks sets the tone for everything that follows. 📖 Read more from Morgan McKinley: https://lnkd.in/gfBqqJFJ #BetterCommunication #WorkplaceCulture #EmployeeEngagement #LeadershipMatters #FutureOfWork MaidenCommunications

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Caribbean Hospitality Market 2025: Key Insights from CHICOS Curaçao Featuring takeaways shared at the conference + CoStar News reporting. CoStar CHICOS: The Caribbean Hotel Investment Conference & Operations Summit #CaribbeanHospitality #Costar #CHICOS2025 #Curaçao #HospitalityInsights #HotelDevelopment #CaribbeanTourism #TravelTrends #HospitalityLeadership #HotelInvestment #Tourism2025 #DCGlobalTalent

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We’ve professionalized measurement in learning and development. Dashboards, KPIs, completion metrics, and feedback scores. But transformation doesn’t happen in spreadsheets. High-impact learning experiences are engineered, not just delivered. They’re structured to shift perspective, challenge identity, and create internal movement. If the room doesn’t change, the business won’t either. Information scales. Transformation differentiates. #Leadership #LearningAndDevelopment #OrganizationalGrowth #TalentDevelopment #BusinessStrategy

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As We Approach the Fourth Quarter: Finishing Strong and Shaping What Comes Next For years, Human Resources has been asked to do more with less. We built policies, filled roles, managed benefits, and kept compliance in check. That is tactical. But the leaders who will stand out as we close out this year and prepare for 2026 are the ones who move past tactics into transformation. What does that mean? ·      Shaping culture, not just managing headcount ·      Using data to drive culture and business impact, not just dashboards for reporting ·      Anticipating the shifts AI and workforce expectations will bring, not reacting after the fact ·      Making decisions rooted in humanity, not just policy ·      And, as budget season begins, thinking critically about what you need to add for 2026 from a strategic standpoint, not just what to cut or carry forward What sets transformational leaders apart in this final quarter is the ability to finish strong, while also laying the foundation for what comes next. Tactical HR keeps the lights on. Transformational HR leaders build the future. #HRStrategy #FutureOfWork #Leadership #PeopleFirst #HRTransformation

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Mentorship isn’t about asking for a favor; it’s about creating a connection that transforms your career. Fourteen months into my role as a Front Desk Supervisor, I felt invisible. I was performing well, yet promotions eluded me. The turning point? A single conversation with a Regional Director, which sparked a series of strategic discussions that catapulted me into management. Most people fail at finding mentors because they approach it all wrong. Instead of asking for mentorship outright, focus on building a genuine relationship. Start with value—not a request. Follow up, show your growth, and collaborate on meaningful projects. That’s how you earn advocacy from those in power. In just 11 months, I went from overlooked to a promoted manager with a 29% salary increase. It wasn’t luck; it was a strategy forged through four pivotal conversations. Ready to elevate your career? Dive into my latest blog to discover the full playbook on how mentorship can change everything. #Mentorship #CareerGrowth #Leadership #Networking #ProfessionalDevelopment 🔗 Read the full post: https://lnkd.in/dbPaGdnX

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How Economic Uncertainty Shapes Hospitality HR As the federal government shutdown enters its second week, most discussions focus on Washington politics — but the real story extends far beyond the Capitol. For those of us in hospitality, the economic ripple effects are already visible: Federal employees and contractors are tightening their budgets, postponing trips, and reducing discretionary spending. Corporate and government-related events are being delayed or scaled back. And for HR, the focus shifts to supporting employees whose families may be financially affected. While we can’t control the external economy, we can control our response: ✅ Keep operations agile — adjust staffing and costs based on real-time demand. ✅ Reinforce financial wellness and employee assistance resources. ✅ Communicate with calm, transparency, and empathy. Economic slowdowns remind us that HR isn’t just about compliance — it’s about continuity and confidence. When uncertainty rises, our teams look to us to steady the ship. #HumanResources #Hospitality #HRLeadership #EmployeeExperience #PeopleFirst #EconomicTrends #GovernmentShutdown

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If the phrase “we’re like a family here” immediately makes hospitality professionals nervous… this one’s for you. This week’s The Critical Eye dives into why “family culture” is starting to push great people away instead of bringing teams together — and what smart hospitality leaders are doing differently. A little uncomfortable? Maybe. Necessary conversation? Absolutely. Read here: https://lnkd.in/dSeV3dYZ #hospitality #leadership #hospitalityrecruitment #workculture #hotelmanagement #HospitalityJobsAfrica

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Genuine Guest Relations After years in hospitality, I’ve learned that true guest care isn’t in the checklist — it’s in the connection. It’s in remembering the guest who prefers their room on a higher floor, noticing when someone’s had a long journey, or offering a quiet smile that says, “You’re in good hands.” As a Duty Manager, I’ve seen that genuine care doesn’t need big gestures — just presence, empathy, and heart. Because guests may forget what we said, but never how we made them feel. #Hospitality #GuestExperience #Leadership #FrontOffice #ServiceFromTheHeart

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I would add transparency- for those above and below the line. Too often - attempts to correct “company culture “ comes from lack of trust.

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🎯 Make Your Purpose Stick (Literally!) While filming at Tacky Jack's in Gulf Shores, I realized something simple but powerful: Sometimes leaders need to be a little… tacky. At this restaurant, customers write messages on colorful tape that sticks everywhere — walls, tables, even ceilings. It’s a fun, visual reminder that leaves a mark. And that’s what great leaders do. They make their purpose visible and memorable. 💡 Here’s how you can make your mission, vision, and values “tacky” (sticky): 1️⃣ Display them in work areas. 2️⃣ Discuss them regularly at meetings. 3️⃣ Incorporate them into training, recognition, and onboarding. If your employees can’t see or recall your organization’s purpose, it’s time to make it stick. 📍 Filmed at Tacky Jacks – Gulf Shores, AL #petespoints #peteblank #leadership #purpose #values #vision #organizationalculture #leadershipdevelopment #employeeengagement #tackyjacks #gulfshores #alabama #leaderswhocare #motivation

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This week at HospitalityHued Honors, I had a conversation with a senior leader that stuck with me. They said, “We’re doing everything we can to move faster—but I’m worried about what we’re losing along the way.” That one sentence captured so much of what HR leaders are carrying right now. 𝐀𝐈 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭. But speed without intention is where trust erodes, culture frays, and people burn out. Here’s what that conversation reminded me: ➡️ Culture is infrastructure ➡️ Judgment still matters ➡️ Technology doesn’t lead—people do The organizations that will thrive in this era won’t be the ones that adopt AI the fastest. They’ll be the ones that 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤. This is HR’s moment—not to chase transformation, but to design it with clarity, courage, and care. #HRLeadership #HumanAdvantage #FutureOfWork #Leadership #AIatWork #HospitalityLeadership #PeopleFirst

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At White Lodging we’re reimagining careers around performance and skills instead of just titles. We know that growth in hospitality doesn’t follow a straight line, and by focusing on skills-based pathways, we’re creating more opportunities for associates to expand their expertise and shape careers that align with their strengths and ambitions. One way we’re bringing this to life is through our proprietary Career Journey Pathfinder. This tool helps associates visualize how their current skills translate into future opportunities, highlights development areas, and maps out clear, achievable steps to get there. Our performance-based Career Journey Pathfinder answers these key questions: 1) How will I know when I'm doing it right? 2) How will I know when I have the right skills to be 'ready enough'? Whether someone wants to grow in operations, move into leadership, or explore new parts of hospitality, the Career Journey Pathfinder provides a roadmap grounded in performance expectations, skills and learning. By investing in performance and skills-based careers and tools like the Career Journey Pathfinder, we’re not only unlocking growth for our people—we’re also strengthening the experiences we deliver to our guests every day. #thrive #vibe #perform #performance #skills #associatepromise #careerjourney #pathfinder #genuinecare #guestservice

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At first glance, the phrase “Unreasonable Hospitality” might sound…well, unreasonable. 🙂 After all, don’t we as leaders encourage balance, fairness, and reason in our decision-making? That’s precisely why Will Guidara’s book, Unreasonable Hospitality, has such impact. His story of taking Eleven Madison Park from a struggling restaurant to the best in the world wasn’t built on flawless service alone. It was built on the belief that service is transactional, but hospitality is transformational. Here’s the heart of it: being “unreasonable” isn’t about extravagance. More often, it’s the small, intentional gestures that make people feel truly seen, valued, and cared for. That is what creates the unforgettable moments guests carry with them long after they’ve left. But here’s the part that resonates most deeply for me as a leader: this philosophy doesn’t begin with external guests. It begins with our internal ones - our teams. Because without them, there are no guests to serve. Extending unreasonable hospitality to our people is not only the right thing to do, it’s the only way to create a culture where exceptional service can thrive. When our teams feel cared for, they naturally care for others. Our challenge - and our privilege - as leaders is to foster environments where this mindset isn’t an exception, but the expectation. Where going beyond the expected isn’t just noticed, it’s celebrated. Because when service is the standard, hospitality becomes the story - for our guests and our teams alike. And those stories are the ones that define us. 👉 How are you encouraging “unreasonable hospitality” in your own teams - both for your guests and your people? #Leadership #HospitalityExcellence #EmployeeEngagement #UnreasonableHospitality #CustomerExperience #ServiceCulture #TransformationalLeadership #GuestExperience #TeamCulture

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Strength through Intentionality. ​ We often ask "How did we get here?" and today’s opening session at the Atrium Hospitality Leadership Conference gave us the answer. Atrium’s strength isn't accidental—it’s a multi-year strategy built on three pillars: ​- Values-First: Everything begins with our core spirit ​- Balanced Performance: We measure success not just by revenue, but by productivity and our people ​- Actionable Leadership: We are defining exactly what it means to lead with authenticity and accountability ​ Proud to be part of a team that looks back to learn and looks forward to lead. ​#AtriumHospitality #LeadTheWay #CultureByDesign #LeadershipDevelopment

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Hiring the right culinary and F&B leadership in New England has never been more challenging. If you're leading a hotel, resort, private club, casino, or event company, you’re likely facing: 🔥 A shrinking pool of qualified Executive Chefs and F&B leaders 🎯 Candidates who are highly selective and fielding multiple offers ⚠️ Leadership turnover that disrupts operations and guest experience 📉 “Good on paper” candidates who lack real leadership impact ⏳ Long hiring cycles while your current team is stretched thin Here’s the truth: Traditional hiring methods just aren’t keeping up. At Gecko Hospitality (Corporate), we’ve built our model to solve these exact challenges and deliver results fast. What sets us apart: ✔️ 93% candidate stick rate on leaders we place stay, and perform ✔️ 50% candidate growth post placement, on hires who elevate teams and drive measurable impact ✔️ Lightning-fast time to fill because top talent doesn’t wait around ✔️ 60% candidate response rate from our talent network that others simply can’t reach How we do it: 🚀 We proactively recruit passive, high performing candidates not job seekers 🧠 We vet for leadership ability, culture fit, and operational excellence 🌐 We leverage deep rooted hospitality networks across New England ⚡ We move with urgency and precision to secure top tier talent Our clients aren’t just filling roles they’re building leadership teams that drive revenue, retention, and guest satisfaction. If hiring has become a bottleneck or you’re tired of missing out on top talent, let’s talk. Because the right leader doesn’t just fill a seat… they transform your business. #HospitalityLeadership #ExecutiveChef #FoodAndBeverage #HospitalityHiring #NewEnglandHospitality #TalentStrategy #Hotels #Resorts #PrivateClubs #Casinos #EventProfessionals

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For many resorts, the pressure begins months earlier. Visa uncertainty, limited housing availability, and early staffing gaps can quietly slow operations long before peak winter demand arrives. In our latest blog, we explore how resort leaders are navigating these challenges and why proactive planning is the difference between scrambling to fill roles and staying fully staffed when it matters most.

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