ShareAs part of the 2021 Adrian Awards program, HSMAI Hospitality Recovery Heroes is honoring hospitality professionals working toward recovery at the local and front-line levels, supporting hotels, destinations, safety measures, and charitable programs that have helped make a difference for their companies and in their communities. Nominations are open.
HOSPITALITY RECOVERY HERO: Danielle Schneider, head of business development and partnerships for Pathfinder Development, based in Austin, Texas
CONTRIBUTION: Schneider was the heart and soul of the amazing change that came for Pathfinder during the pandemic and beyond. Her leadership inspired Pathfinder teams across the board to find new and creative ways to provide unbelievable experiences to guests at each of the company’s hotels. She also found ways to reinvest in the company instead of counting every penny and figuring out how to eliminate things altogether, and led the charge in hiring for areas of opportunity such as sales, marketing, and talent development — while taking on a new role of her own in business development.
RESULTS: As the industry has recovered and as Pathfinder and its hotels have outperformed in Texas over the last years, Schneider’s initiatives have offered invaluable opportunities for team members to grow and move toward their career dreams in hospitality. This leadership style builds trust, and that trust has allowed four of Pathfinder’s Texas hotels to consistently perform in the top percentages in RevPAR.
NOMINATED BY: Melissa Miller, CHBA, CHDM, director of marketing and business development for Pathfinder — “She inspired me to nominate her, not because she asked or even knows I am doing this, but because her impact on my life and the lives of our teams goes way beyond collecting a paycheck every two weeks. The culture Danielle has built at Pathfinder ensures that it isn’t just the guests that get treated with Platinum Service, but our internal team members as well. Her inspiring work ethic shows us that there isn’t a limit on the way we treat guests and team members with amazing hospitality.”
The HSMAI Adrian Awards recognize travel marketing excellence. This year’s competition will focus on capturing the great work done by hotels, destinations, and their agency partners to get the country moving again, showcase safety and security, and welcome those traveling for the first time in more than a year. The entry process for the 2021 Adrian Awards competition is now open.