At Hilton, we proudly embrace the unique strengths of our team, which helps make us the best place to work and stay. During Disability Employment Awareness Month, we’re celebrating Team Members like Josefina, a Cleaning Assistant at Homewood Suites by Hilton Santo Domingo. A Paralympic powerlifter who has represented the Dominican Republic on the international stage, she embodies the dedication that defines Team Hilton. Keep reading to learn how Josefina discovered her passion for athletics, and how Hilton has helped her to break barriers both inside and outside of work.
Get to Know Josefina
Josefina joined Hilton just over three years ago. Since then, she has found more than a workplace. She has found a space where she can thrive. As part of the housekeeping team, she takes pride in creating a welcoming experience for guests each day, knowing Hilton provides her with the same care and support in return. “What I enjoy most is the work environment,” Josefina explained. “Hilton’s culture is focused on well-being and growth opportunities for Team Members.”
Her Athletic Journey
Outside of her role in housekeeping, Josefina has built an impressive athletic career as a powerlifter, competing internationally and proudly representing her country. She discovered the sport through a friend who encouraged her to try it, and that moment changed the course of her life. Her goal at the time was simple: to challenge herself. “My inspiration was to find new potential within myself that would help me break certain limits,” she explained. Josefina’s passion for the sport grew over time, eventually leading to her first international competition in Tbilisi, Georgia.
That experience changed the way she saw herself and her potential. As she embraced her new training routine, Josefina says her life began to transform. “My life took a 180-degree turn,” she said. “I never thought I could handle training sessions, but now I can face challenges in my personal life and at work with a greater attitude and skill.” Training has given her a renewed sense of energy and confidence.
Support and Empowerment at Hilton
Hilton’s culture has played a key role in helping Josefina pursue her professional and athletic goals. The hotel’s leadership team worked with her to accommodate her training schedule, something Josefina says has made all the difference. “I have flexible schedules at Homewood Suites Santo Domingo that allow me to train and study,” she said. “The work environment motivates me every day to keep preparing myself for new opportunities within the company.”
Beyond the flexibility, she says, it is the encouragement from her colleagues and the sense of belonging she has found at Hilton that keep her inspired. “Working in a company that thinks positively about its employees, I’ve experienced a close-knit culture with my colleagues and learned more about what Hilton represents,” she said.
Raising the Bar
Today, Josefina balances her athletic ambitions with her professional goals, continuing to study corporate psychology and preparing for her next competition. Whether lifting weights or lifting spirits at Homewood Suites Santo Domingo, she carries the same mindset: success is built one day at a time. “Goals are built through effort,” she said. “By working daily, dreams become reality. My team supports and motivates me to keep striving, and Hilton gives me the tools I need to continue developing myself.”
Josefina’s story powerfully reminds us of what is possible when Team Members are empowered to bring their full potential to work and beyond. This Disability Employment Awareness Month, we celebrate Josefina and Team Members worldwide who show that when opportunity and determination meet, there are no limits to what can be achieved.
