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Pride Team Member Spotlight: How Jackie and Kate Make The Stay Together at Hilton

Hilton Careers Team

08 June 2023

United States, Canada, Caribbean, Latin AmericaInclusionTeam Member storiesWomen At Hilton

When you work at Hilton, it is more than a job. It is working in an environment that allows you to show up openly and authentically every day.

In honor of Pride month, we sat down with Jackie, Manager, Cross Brand Marketing Enablement (CBME), and Kate, Event Services Manager, who, in addition to being top-notch Team Members, are also partners. Keep reading below to find out how they met, what they love most about working together, and how they each Make The Stay at Hilton.

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Getting to Know Jackie & Kate

Jackie’s Hilton journey began in 2013 as a Guest Service Agent at the  Hilton Garden Inn Orlando at SeaWorld.  “I was a sophomore in college coming off of a part-time stint at Walt Disney World and wanted to remain in an industry that underlined hospitality.” She found her passion for digital marketing and business processes while studying at the  University of Central Florida (UCF), accepted a corporate job on our eCommerce Consulting team after graduation, and joined the CBME team in 2022. 
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Kate’s Hilton journey started after Jackie’s, but her transition to Team Hilton was just as seamless. After graduating with a degree in Event Management, she kicked off her career at  Visit Orlando, Orlando’s Convention and Visitors Bureau before joining Hilton. “This position allowed me to create and support various events and watch them come to life on-site. The more I experienced, the more I fell in love with this career until the worldwide pause on tourism during COVID. Eventually, I found my way back into the industry and joined the team at the  Hilton Orlando (a property I used to work with often while in my previous role) as an Event Services Manager.”

Sharing Their Story

Before working for the same company, Kate and Jackie were first introduced as college students at UCF.  “Jackie and I met in the marching band,” Kate shares. "She was on leadership for her section, and I remember the first time I saw her after rehearsal in the summer before school started. My gut told me she would be important to me one day; I just was not sure how.” Although they knew of each other then, it would be years before the two meaningfully reconnected. “We had similar circles of friends throughout college, even went to the same parties and volunteered at the same on-campus events, but we did not really speak to each other much. What is funnier is that we were each part of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma, which are honorary service and leadership co-organizations, and still seemed to miss each other,” says Jackie.  “A few years after we both graduated from UCF and went our separate ways, I was finally ready to embrace the truth about myself, be brave, and start dating women,” Kate adds. “To both our surprise, we reconnected and, after weeks of talking to each other non-stop, went out on our first date.” 
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They both agree: from there, the rest was history.  “We chalk it up to the universe’s quirky sense of humour, and while we’re sad it took us this long to become such a significant part of each other’s lives, it’s been well worth the wait.” Flashing forward to today, they are not only partners, but they are also co-workers, with Kate joining Jackie on Team Hilton last year.

Making The Stay at Hilton

With Jackie working in brand marketing and Kate in event management, it is safe to say their jobs make The Stay at Hilton in diverse ways. For Jackie, that means empowering brands and hotels to create consistently memorable moments for guests.  “We like saying in our team onboarding that we develop processes, tools, and resources that enable our brands and hotels to deliver the most reliable, friendly experiences.’ When CBME consults and supports our brands effectively, we enable properties to connect with guests in the most authentic way by championing their needs at the corporate level.” Meanwhile, Kate makes The Stay by “[allowing] guests to recognize their Team Members and their triumphs, discuss their ideas and plans for the future, celebrate life’s big moments,” and so much more.  “My role allows me to be a part of so many moments, whether I am simply supporting the planning team or delivering a surprise and delight for a guest. For me, it is a daily reminder of why we spread the light and warmth of hospitality,” she shares. 
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Still, even with different jobs, the two find ways to collaborate at work. Their individual perspectives provide unique opportunities to brainstorm and support one another.  Jackie explains, “Because our roles cover corporate and on-property, I love that we have a wide angle, real-time view of how Hilton provides a great stay to our guests. We get to bounce ideas off each other, offer different perspectives, and of course, enjoy double the Go Hilton benefits when going on vacation.” “We see such different sides of our company daily, but share the same overall feeling that Hilton genuinely cares about its Team Members, communities, and the industry. We both get to feel proud of the company we work for,” Kate says. And part of that pride stems from how Hilton embraces authenticity and encourages Team Members to bring their whole selves to work. Because beyond a job, it is a culture of belonging and an environment that welcomes all.  Hilton empowers Jackie by “providing spaces where curiosity and growth are real Team Member priorities.” She states, “Diversity initiatives, like our Courageous Conversations Series, have provided an amazing layer of continuous, meaningful learning: opening the floor to moderated topics like LGBTQ+ identity, LGBTQ+ travel, and perceptions of equality.” It also stems from the representative and inclusive leadership and colleagues they have met at Hilton. “The experiences that stand out to me the most are the smaller, human day-to-day interactions like being asked about my weekend, how Kate is doing, and our plans. Being able to speak about those things freely and being met with genuine positivity on the other side has filled me with so much joy.” Kate concludes, “Being surrounded by supportive, kind, and curious colleagues brings me a sense of belonging. I found a home within not just my team but in so many others throughout our hotel.”
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