2 CALIFORNIA LODGING NEWS www.calodging.com Lynn S. Mohrfeld CHLA President + CEO IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE. Mariam “Masho” Khabazashvili was born and raised in the nation of Georgia, where history and culture shaped her pursuit of a career in hospitality. “Growing up in Georgia shaped my view on hospitality, and my desire to want to pursue hospitality as a career, because I wanted to bring my cultural roots to my professional life,” she said. In her native language, there is a phrase that translates to “every guest is a gift from God.” It guides her to serve each guest meaningfully and with pride. “It means that when a guest comes to your house, as a Georgian host, it is your responsibility to make sure that they feel comfortable. It’s your responsibility to make sure that they’re feeling spoiled,” she said. (Read more about Masho in our Spotlight on her on page 18.) Masho exemplifies the ambassadorial spirit that defines the dedicated service of so many hotel employees—housekeepers, accountants, dishwashers, revenue managers and bell staff— who make guests, colleagues and communities feel truly special. Every day, they care for guests and co-workers and give back to California communities by donating room nights, beach clean-ups, and volunteering at local food banks. It is through such holistic hospitality that California hotels and their employees make positive, meaningful and sustainable impacts that extend far beyond our hotel walls. CHLA’s Hotel Caring initiative revealed that California hotels donated more than $68 million and volunteered more than 328,000 hours to community causes in 2023. Our hotels and their employees make local communities stronger with their deep investment and support. To sustain these efforts, we must ensure our hotels are well-positioned for success. When tourism is thriving, demand is strong, and the business environment is supportive, everyone benefits. Hotels are then able to hire more employees into good paying jobs, generate greater tax revenue for cities and counties, and give back generously to the communities they serve. Our spotlight in this issue is on the remarkable people and properties driving meaningful change in California hospitality. We explore how hotels are championing employee well-being through initiatives that prioritize their personal and professional growth, unlock new opportunities for guest experiences and positively transform communities throughout the state. The power of hospitality to make guests, colleagues and local communities feel “spoiled” is increasingly clear. It all starts with individuals like Masho, who foster a culture of well-being and giving back that is the foundation for building a brighter and sustainable future for our industry. MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT + CEO
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