In celebration of National Career Development Month in November, Atrium Hospitality today announced the successful graduation of the inaugural class of WomenRISE, our company’s Female Hotel General Manager Development Program. WomenRISE kicked off in February 2024 and wrapped up in October of this year. Work is underway to select the next group of future GMs for career development in 2025. Alpharetta, Georgia-based Atrium Hospitality is one of the nation’s largest hotel operators. Our company manages a portfolio of 77 hotels, representing well-known brands such as Hilton, Marriott, IHG, and Wyndham, in 27 states. Atrium operates approximately 20,000 guest rooms/suites and 3 million square feet of event space.

Atrium Hospitality is committed to empowering female hospitality leaders through our WomenRISE program. This innovative initiative supports women in successfully navigating the next steps of their career journeys by providing mentorship, resources and opportunities for growth. WomenRISE brings to life an original idea from Atrium’s Diversity & Inclusion Collective, which is comprised of representatives from across Atrium’s national management portfolio.

Supporting Underrepresented Groups at General Manager Level

“Atrium’s first year to offer our innovative WomenRISE program has been highly successful. WomenRISE participants, instructors and mentors overwhelmingly agree that the investment in time and resources is hastening the career paths of women in hospitality,” said Anneliesse Cooper, Chief Human Resources Officer, Atrium Hospitality.

Anneliesse continued, “Through virtual group classes, individual interviews, and 360-degree assessments for identifying strengths and areas for development, Atrium’s WomenRISE 2024 class participants received focused training and mentoring to confidently move forward in their hotel career journeys.”

Over a nine-month period this year, WomenRISE participants:

• Joined in scheduled opportunities to explore their leadership qualities.

• Built their network within Atrium.

• Gained learnings on specific topics related to successful hotel operations.

• Prepared to take the next steps to pursue a Hotel General Manager role.

Feedback From WomenRISE Inaugural Class

Atrium’s WomenRISE inaugural class included nine participants from across Atrium-managed hotels in Arizona, Florida, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas. Program participants were selected during Atrium’s portfolio-wide talent review in 2023 and come from varying departments, including Operations, Sales & Marketing and Finance.

Following is a sampling of feedback from four WomenRISE inaugural class participants, who shared their aha moments from their experience with Atrium’s nine-month Female Hotel General Manager Development Program:

• Leslie Ciccarello, Assistant General Manager, Embassy Suites by Hilton Tampa USF Near Busch Gardens in Florida, said, “I really enjoyed participating in Atrium’s WomenRISE program and have gained much-needed confidence over the past few months. My aha moment was when I received my 360-degree feedback assessment. I was overwhelmed with joy and pride while looking over how my peers, direct reports and managers rated me. All rated me higher than I rated myself, which gave me a lot of confidence.”

• Sarah Reall, Assistant General Manager, Tucson Marriott University Park in Arizona, said, “My aha moment during WomenRISE was that I am not the only one with insecurities and concerns as a woman in a leadership role. The experience affirmed my desire to grow and develop professionally. WomenRISE is a great program, and I appreciate being a part of it.”

• Sheila Smith, Operations Training Manager, Front Office, Atrium Hospitality, said, “While participating in Atrium’s WomenRISE program, I realized I was stopping myself from progressing by not pivoting earlier in my career.”

• Megan Wallstrom, Assistant General Manager, Food & Beverage, Embassy Suites by Hilton San Marcos Hotel Conference Center in Texas, said, “During the profit and loss training session of WomenRISE, I found that I know much more about the hotel P&L than I give myself credit. I realized that my lack of confidence in my abilities was holding me back. Since then, I’ve started leading a P&L review with my team each month and am teaching them how to interpret hotel financials.”

Committed to Boundless Career Journeys

Atrium Hospitality’s six core values of Service, Perseverance, Inclusion, Respect, Innovation and Teamwork guide the Atrium SPIRIT for creating a welcoming environment for all, nurturing personal ambitions, inspiring professional opportunities, and being a responsible community partner.

Atrium Hospitality’s valued Associates are part of an extended family, united in the shared pursuit of service excellence. A career with Atrium Hospitality is a boundless journey enriched by appreciation and teamwork, as well as travel incentives. Go to Your Career at Atrium Hospitality’s website to find out more about professional opportunities at our company’s national management portfolio.