In celebration of Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month, we are proud to spotlight Nicholas, Senior Manager of Marketing Technology (MarTech) Operations & Partnerships and champion for cultural connection at Hilton.
An instrumental figure in the planning committee for Hilton’s Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month celebrations, Nicholas brings a unique perspective to this year's theme, “Building Bridges.” He is a first-generation American, and in addition to co-leading the Hispanic/Latinx Team Member Resource Group (HLTMRG), he also volunteers as a mentor through Hilton’s ongoing collaboration with the TENT Partnership for Refugees. Throughout his nearly twenty-five-year career, Nicholas has been a pivotal bridge-builder, fostering inclusivity and understanding within Hilton and beyond. Continue reading to learn how he celebrates his Cuban heritage, what motivated him to participate in the mentorship program, and his thoughts on why you should join the TMRGs at Hilton.
Get to Know Nicholas
“I started my journey at Hilton in 2000 in Tampa, FL, as a Reservation Sales Specialist, providing multi-lingual support. I quickly developed a love for Hilton and was promoted to a lead for the Hilton Honors service, followed by a Development Coach role managing around 30 specialists. In 2006, I moved to Dallas, TX, to manage the Hilton Reservations and Customer Care (HRCC) team, overseeing 10+ Development Coaches and, indirectly, 200+ Team Members. I then transitioned to the Business Development team, supporting stakeholders from various regions, and was even stationed in Watford, England. Eventually, my career path took me from HRCC to a corporate office role as a Hilton Honors Analyst, where I focused on hotel reimbursements and audits. Most recently, I joined the MarTech team, enhancing Hilton’s loyalty platform and connecting with partners.”
How has your personal background and journey influenced your career and contributions to the HLTMRG at Hilton?
“As a first-generation American, my family instilled a love in me for celebrating our Cuban culture through music and food. I was born and raised in Florida to immigrant parents from Cuba, where my mother, father, grandmother, and uncles cared for my sister and me. My family, specifically my grandparents, were entrepreneurs at heart with their textile company, which produced their line of ‘pitusa’ jeans. They taught me a lot about being a leader by employing compassion, understanding, integrity, and humility. I leveraged these personal learnings and applied them in my career at Hilton and with our HLTMRG to ensure we were excellent Hilton ambassadors supporting our community and organization.”
How did you initially become involved in the TENT Refugee Mentorship program, and what inspired you to contribute as a volunteer mentor?
“I have always felt a desire to help our community, being able to relate to those who recently immigrated getting established in a country and learning everything you need to do to navigate the workplace can be overwhelming. Thinking of my family, how hard they worked to support us growing up, and that there are organizations like TENT to help individuals get started, I was inspired to sign up and give back anywhere I can.”
Can you describe a memorable story or experience from your time mentoring that deeply impacted you or changed your perspective?
“When I initially met with my mentee, and we were able to break the ice and connect. People may not always be comfortable sharing details with you, but I remember sharing my family’s story of how my parents immigrated to the US. This opened the conversation and allowed me to learn more about the mentee. I felt invested in their success and progress.”
From your perspective as a co-lead of the HLTMRG and a Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month planning committee member, how does participation in the TMRGs enhance Hilton’s culture and business?
“Being part of the TMRG brings a sense of belonging. It has allowed me to learn about various departments within Hilton and discover more opportunities to serve our community in the marketplace. It has been an excellent way to network and seek advice from other Team Members. Culturally, it has provided me an avenue to learn about all our Hispanic Latinx communities and the various traditions in each country.”
This year’s Hispanic Heritage Month theme is “Building Bridges.” How does this theme resonate with your work with the Hispanic/Latinx TMRG and the Tent Refugee Mentorship Program?
“I love this theme! It is a great metaphor and can be used in many ways: as an HLTMRG member, it helps me understand our organization and connect the dots, building a bridge of knowledge at Hilton. As a mentor for the TENT organization, the theme represents the idea that we are building a bridge for our community to gain the skillset and knowledge needed to be successful and acclimate to the US workplace. It also has another meaning for me: to build a bridge where there isn’t one today, helping us fill the gaps in our community.”
