22 February 2022
Room at the Top: More stories from hospitality leaders for Black History Month
This month, we’re recognizing some of our Black leaders across our hotels in the Americas in a two-part series. They discuss their journey within the hospitality industry – and life lessons learned along the way. This is part two of our conversation. (You can read part one of our Black History Month series here.)
Michele Steele-Jordan, Interim Area Director of Human Resources & Training, InterContinental Cleveland & Holiday Inn Cleveland Clinic
Michele Steele-Jordan moved to America and settled in Cleveland, Ohio in 2001, but says she will always be Jamaican at heart.
“It’s where I’m from and where I started my career in hotels. I studied hospitality management & catering in college, interned at several resorts, and in 1998 I joined IHG as a training manager for a Crowne Plaza in Kingston, Jamaica.”
When Steele-Jordan relocated to Cleveland, it was as training manager for InterContinental Hotels & Resorts.
“I love the diversity and excitement of this industry,” she says. “I’m a people person who loves to serve, so it’s perfect, and there is never a dull day.”
Steele-Jordan also says now is an opportune time – especially for Black women – to consider a career in the hotel industry. “There is so much opportunity, and I think the glass ceiling is broken, so there are seats at the table for someone like me. I think where there are still challenges – in that we often feel like we have to work harder to prove our worth.”
Steele-Jordan now oversees training and human resources for InterContinental Cleveland and Holiday Inn Cleveland Clinic. She says that being part of the IHG family has been an excellent platform for breaking barriers.
“There are multiple programs within the company to grow as a Black female, along with opportunities to give back to our communities through IHG’s commitment to True Hospitality for Good. I’m so proud of how we embrace diversity here.”
Aisha Parke, General Manager, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Atlanta N – Woodstock
Aisha Parke has created a second family with her staff at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Woodstock, Georgia.
“We’ve created an AMAZING team at his hotel, and I’m proud of our positive culture,” says Parke. “We enjoy working with each other and doing our jobs, and we see that reflected in our guest feedback.”
Parke began her hotel career working at a Holiday Inn Express during college.
“After college, I was drawn back to hospitality where I wore many hats from guest relations to event management, and more.”
She says the daily opportunity to be a force of joy in other people’s lives keeps her going and what she loves about the industry.
“I try to make every guest interaction a great one,” says Parke. “One of my favorite quotes is from Maya Angelou – ‘People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.’”
Sarita Smith, General Manager for Staybridge Suites Montgomery – Downtown
“My biggest aspiration is to be a larger voice in the dreams of future generations,” says Sarita Smith, general manager of Staybridge Suites Montgomery – Downtown.
“I want to provide access to what’s possible when we define who we are and what we have to offer in an industry where the unexpected is the norm.” And Smith knows this industry. She started working as an administrative assistant in sales, then transitioned to events, then operations.
“My move to the IHG family is recent – I took on the role of GM for Staybridge Suites in May of last year,” says Smith. “I love the unpredictable nature of this industry – the unexpected routine and improvisation that comes with it.”
Smith says setting the bar high and exceeding expectations is a big driver for her, and that hospitality has also given her distinct perspectives on society.
“We experience a high level of diversity in terms of race and culture that’s not often afforded to the corporate worker in an executive role,” says Smith. “It gives me a front-row seat to the state of our world and interactions with people I would normally never meet.”
Paul Neale, Operations Manager, IHG Army Hotels – Fort Bragg
After 24 years of service, Paul Neale retired from the United States Air Force, but he began his hospitality career as superintendent of lodging for operations in Pisa, and Vincenza, Italy.
Sticking with Army lodging after retirement allowed Neale to stay connected with the military world he loved. Neale joined IHG in 2013 and is an operations manager for IHG Army Hotels*
He will be retiring in March after more than 20 years.
“I love meeting our customers who are primarily soldiers and their families. Even the challenges in hospitality are unlike any other – I truly love working in hotels.”
Neale says he faced hurdles early in his career, but let his work speak for itself.
“It was tough getting people to trust that I knew what I was talking about and doing because I didn’t look like some of the ‘powers that be,’” says Neale. “However, I knew I was thorough and good at what I did, so I just let my work do the talking, and it’s been smooth sailing ever since.”
As an industry veteran, Neale says, being able to lead and manage a diverse workforce has been the biggest blessing of his career.
“You grow so much as a human being when you learn about the different cultures from the people you work with. If you treat them with respect, it comes back to you three-fold, and I can assure you that I’m a better leader because of that,” says Neale.
* Established under the U.S. Army’s Privatization of Army Lodging (PAL) Program, IHG Army Hotels include IHG as the exclusive hotel operator and manager and Lendlease as the owner and developer. IHG Army Hotels feature IHG’s well-known and well-loved brands such as Holiday Inn Express, Candlewood Suites, and Staybridge Suites. The portfolio also includes a group of on-post historic buildings converted to hotel accommodations – the Historia Collection. IHG Army Hotels celebrated its 12ᵗʰ anniversary in 2021.
Ends
About IHG®
IHG Hotels & Resorts [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global hospitality company, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good.
With a family of 17 hotel brands and IHG Rewards, one of the world’s largest hotel loyalty programmes, IHG has nearly 6,000 open hotels in more than 100 countries, and a further 1,800 in the development pipeline.
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