Hospitality Tales: Navigating Change, Building Teams, and Creating Memories

In an industry where every day opens like a fresh chapter, hospitality remains one of the few professions where unpredictability is part of the job description. It’s a world built on service, where success hinges not just on operational efficiency but also on human connection. Yet as times change, so do the challenges—finding team members with true service instincts is becoming increasingly rare. In an era driven by convenience and automation, genuine hospitality feels almost vintage, demanding not only skill but empathy, adaptability, and grit. Behind the polished lobbies and smiling check-ins are managers juggling budgets, guest expectations, and the quiet mission of building resilient, motivated teams. These are the unsung leaders who take every guest complaint personally—not out of pride, but from a deep-rooted drive to improve. One of these leaders is Thomas Flow, General Manager of Sonesta ES, whose decades-long journey in the hotel world—marked by unlikely detours, unexpected encounters, and a love for the unpredictable—perfectly captures the spirit of hospitality today.

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