What initially inspired you to get into the hospitality business? I was born with a love of travel and hotels, but it was really my grandmother who instilled in me a deep appreciation for beautiful and special places around the world. My father was also hugely influential in my interest in hotels as real estate and creative problem solving.
Who were some of your mentors or role models, male or female, and what were their most valuable lessons? My father, Neil Freeman, has been a huge role model for me. He taught me you can never meet too many people, and how significant that is to someone’s career, and the importance of maintaining a good reputation. At Crescent Hotels, [CEO] Michael George’s mantra was ‘don’t ask, don’t get’ and those are words to live by—professionally and personally!
In your opinion, how is the lodging industry doing in terms of getting women into leadership positions? The industry has made great strides in elevating women to leadership positions. I love looking around the room at a hotel conference and seeing the progress made since I began in the industry. It’s particularly satisfying being a woman within the Ennismore organization, where there are impressive female leaders in every discipline.
