During her late 20s, Lea Ann Kish got a crash course in the hotel industry. After being promoted from GM of the Peabody Court Hotel in Baltimore, Md., to director of transitions for Grand Heritage Hotels in 1993, Kish lived out of a suitcase for nearly four years. Moving along at full speed, she oversaw the integration of more than 20 properties, from small boutiques to large convention center hotels. “I went from market to market, doing feasibility studies on the hotels, assisting in the acquisition and transition of those properties, writing the standard operating procedures, training general managers and team members, and setting up sales systems,” Kish recalls.
By 1997, she advanced to VP of operations at Grand Heritage, and helped transition the company when it sold to Patriot American. Squeezing all that experience into five years wasn’t easy, but it paved the way for Kish to help found Milestone Hospitality Management, where she has served as COO since 1998.
Kish took a gamble when she left the corporate world to help launch the small real estate development company in Baltimore. “There’s a vast difference between working within a large corporation that’s very structured to one that you can mold and shape and put your signature on,” she says. “That enticed me to take the risk, and I’m glad I did. It’s been a great ride, with ups and downs, no doubt, but there’s definitely a lot of satisfaction in being able to grow something you have had a lot of input in.”
Milestone currently owns and operates eight properties, after selling off a few originals during the downturn. The company specializes in midscale full-service hotels but also has had success in the focused-service realm. Now that the economy has bounced back, Kish says they hope to add more product this year to round out the portfolio. Barring any major outside frictions, she says the current cycle looks stable on all fronts. “The positive is the inbound demand into the United States that’s helping fuel growth here and, of course, internal demand,” she says. “Anything could happen to disrupt that, but at least if you look at the basics like unemployment and what’s going on in the banking industry in terms of lending and interest rates, those are all positive signs.”
As vice chair of the IHG Owners Association Board of Directors and a member of AH&LA’s Board of Directors, Kish is a determined industry advocate. Hot button issues at the top of her list include the competitive threat of the Expedias and Airbnbs of the world, as well as the Department of Labor’s proposed changes to overtime rules. “For me, it’s what affects the day-to-day operations of hotels specifically,” Kish says. “The other parts of our industry are obviously affected too, but that’s where it’s the most serious.”
Kish also enjoys mentoring students as president of the Hotel and Restaurant Society at her alma mater, Penn State. “It’s all about continuing to train, get certifications, and continue on with your education throughout your career,” she advises the next generation of hoteliers. “Don’t ever stop learning, because that’s when you become stale.”
