courtesy of Trusha PatelBesides financial support, other barriers to entry include operational support and opportunities to network with other women. “They might be asking: Once I do have the funding, where do I even begin? If I’m a new owner, how do I run a hotel? How do I generate revenue for the hotel? How do I build a hotel if I want to do something new?” says Checchio.
From Left to Right: Lisa Checchio, chief marketing officer; Michele Allen, chief financial officer; and Monica Melancon, chief human resources officer.“My advice is BYOC—bring your own chair. There have been many meetings where I have physically brought my own chair into a room, just so I could listen,” says Checchio. “Exposure is key—to be able to listen in, to understand the dynamics in certain rooms.